The Gripping Story of an Orphan in Janusz Korczak’s Orphanage
When We Had Wings is a historical fiction novel by Tami Shem-Tov, inspired by the Korczak orphanage in Warsaw, Poland.
“Until they broke my legs no one could run faster than me. Thanks to my amazing speed, I won races, eluded street gangs and bullies, and also managed to grab and run, to steal. I was proud of my running but not of stealing. I especially hated being called a thief and the son of a thief, but that was the truth.”
Janek Wolf is an injured, angry, petty thief. When he arrives to Janusz Korczak’s orphanage, he gets a once in a lifetime chance to change his destiny. It is a place managed by the children, and their society is based on friendship, solidarity, and justice. Will they accept him? Can he break his street life habits and become one of them? And could he possibly find a new dream?
Janusz Korczak, an educator, pediatrician, writer, and champion of children’s rights, established a democratic orphanage for Jewish children in Warsaw, Poland, 1912. It was managed by the children. They were judges in its court, writers in its newspaper and helpers in the kitchen and yard. For 30 years it was a loving home for hundreds of children. They called it “A Garden of Eden for kids”.
TO BE LAUNCHED: 1 February 2023.
Tami Shem-Tov, born in Israel in 1969, is a prize-winning writer for children and young adults. For 20 years she worked as a journalist. Now she is concentrating in writing books, teaching in Haifa University and holding meetings with children all over the country.
She likes writing biographies, stories based on true events and historical novel.
Her books won the Andersen Honor Citation (2014), the Bialik Prize (2014), the Israeli Public Libraries Award (2014), the Lea Goldberg Prize (2013), the DafDaf Prize (2012), the prime minister's Prize (2011), the German Children's Literature Award (2010), the Yad Vashem Prize (2007), and Ze'ev Prize (1999, 2008).
She lives with her two daughters in Tel-Aviv.
