Małgorzata Karolina Piekarska Publishes New Book: „Drzewo Maurycego”(Maurycy’s Tree)

„Drzewo Maurycego” (Maurycy’s Tree) is the first Polish genealogical novel designed to connect generations. It is intended for grandparent–grandchild pairs. The author of the book is Małgorzata Karolina Piekarska, a writer of children’s and young adult literature whose stories often unfold in Saska Kępa in Warsaw — where she was born, lives, and creates. Piekarska has been nominated five times for the ALMA 2020 (Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award) for children’s literature.

„Drzewo Maurycego” (Maurycy’s Tree) – For Readers of All Ages

The book „Drzewo Maurycego” (Maurycy’s Tree), written by Małgorzata Karolina Piekarska, is a novel about friendship, the search for one’s roots, and secrets. The main character, Maurycy, is 11 years old — young, yet already responsible for caring for his grandfather, who has broken both an arm and a leg. The story begins in September, just after the school year starts. A new student, Maria, joins Maurycy’s class. She claims to be a princess — Maria Sobieska — and it turns out she is descended from those Sobieskis! Her ancestor was a Polish king, and she was named after Queen Maria Kazimiera de La Grange d’Arquien, popularly known as Marysieńka, the wife of King Jan III Sobieski, who led the victorious battle against the Turkish invasion at Vienna. Maria stands apart from the other students, refusing to play with most of them because she believes she is better than the rest.

Krzysztof Bąkała – Genealogist’s Recommendation

“Planting the seed of genealogical interest among the youngest is priceless,” says Dr. Krzysztof Bąkała, a genealogist. “Małgorzata Karolina Piekarska has taken on this challenge. The result is the novel „Drzewo Maurycego” (Maurycy’s Tree). The author decided to inspire interest in genealogy using a compelling narrative. The book not only entertains but also has great educational value, helping bridge generational gaps,” says Dr. Bąkała.

„Drzewo Maurycego” (Maurycy’s Tree) – Premiere

The premiere of „Drzewo Maurycego” (Maurycy’s Tree) by Małgorzata Karolina Piekarska will take place on Sunday, November 30, 2025, at 12:00 PM at the Dom Literatury (House of Literature) in Warsaw, located at Krakowskie Przedmieście 87/89. The event will be hosted by Miłka Skalska, a journalist and reporter known for co-creating the TVP cultural news series „Minuta o kulturze” (A Minute on Culture). Excerpts from the novel will be read by Adam Bauman– a voice-over artist, film and theater actor, scriptwriter, and lecturer at the University of Warsaw. The event is organized by: the Polish Writers’ Association, LTW Publishing, the Universal Reading Foundation, and the Wypisz/Wyczytajsocial campaign.

Małgorzata Karolina Piekarska – About the Author

Małgorzata Karolina Piekarska is a writer, press and television journalist, and art historian. She studied art history, librarianship, and cultural management. She debuted in 1986 with four short stories published in the socio-literary magazine „Okolice”. Between 1996 and 2017, she collaborated with Telewizja Polska (TVP), where her reports were broadcast. From 1994 to 2006, she worked with the biweekly „Cogito”, where her column „Wzrockowisko” was later published as a book. She also contributed to „Victor Gimnazjalista”, serializing her novels „Klasa pani Czajki” (Mrs. Czajka’s Class), „Tropiciele” (Trackers), and „Dzika” (Wild One). From 2008 to 2011, she wrote the “Ask Gosia”column in Magazyn „13-tka”. She is a regular columnist for Magazyn Literacki „Książki” and runs the “Gallery on the Island” column in “Wyspa”, a literary quarterly. In 2018–2019, she co-wrote Poland’s longest-running radio drama „Matysiakowie”. Since 2015, she has been an editor for the literary quarterly „Podgląd”.

Małgorzata Karolina Piekarska – Books Published

Piekarska is the author of youth and children’s novels like „Klasa pani Czajki” (Mrs. Czajka’s Class), „LO-teria” (High School Lottery), „Licencja na dorosłość” (License for Adulthood), „Tropiciele” (Trackers), and „Dzika” (Wild One), most of which are set in Saska Kępa — her home district and family’s heritage. She published the documentary book „Dziewiętnastoletni marynarz” (Nineteen-Year-Old Sailor) — a collection of letters from the Maritime School in Tczewwritten by her great-uncle Zbigniew Piekarski. Together with her late father Maciej Piekarski, a renowned journalist and Varsavianist, she co-authored a personal report-style book about the Zamość region genocide during WWII, titled „Syn dwóch matek” (Son of Two Mothers). In 2014, she published „Kurs dziennikarstwa dla samouków” (Journalism Course for Self-Taught Writers) and in 2015, the sci-fi novel „Czucie i wiara czyli warszawskie duchy” (Feeling and Faith, or the Ghosts of Warsaw).

Małgorzata Karolina Piekarska – Other Achievements

Piekarska has created two theatrical plays based on her own scripts („Bubloteka”, „Listy do Skręcipitki”). Online, she runs the virtual gallery „Sztuka i Styl” (Art and Style), showcasing modern Polish artists. She works at the Museum of Independence as Head of the Collections Department. She is a member of the Polish Section of IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People), the Warsaw Genealogical Society, ZAiKS, the Association of Art Historians, and the Polish Writers’ Association (SPP).