The Forest of Vanishing Stars

Kristin Harmel

Publication Date: July 6, 2021 by Gallery Books

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The New York Times bestselling author of the The Book of Lost Names returns with an evocative coming-of-age World War II story about a young woman who uses her knowledge of the wilderness to help Jewish refugees escape the Nazis—until a secret from her past threatens everything.

After being stolen from her wealthy German parents and raised in the unforgiving wilderness of eastern Europe, a young woman finds herself alone in 1941 after her kidnapper dies. Her solitary existence is interrupted, however, when she happens upon a group of Jews fleeing the Nazi terror. Stunned to learn what’s happening in the outside world, she vows to teach the group all she can about surviving in the forest—and in turn, they teach her some surprising lessons about opening her heart after years of isolation. But when she is betrayed and escapes into a German-occupied village, her past and present come together in a shocking collision that could change everything.

My Thoughts:

By now, many people have heard stories of Jewish families escaping the Nazis by fleeing into the woods. But then what? People who are used to living in cities practicing a trade are suddenly living in the wilderness. They have families to feed and clothe in addition to remaining hidden from those soldiers who are sent to hunt them down and slaughter them. This is their story. With the addition of a little fantasy, Harmel delivers her meticulous research in a format unlike any other WWII story. There is a clash of lifestyles, faiths, and cultures in this quest for survival. Yona learns that life is more than just survival. The Jewish people learn all that they are capable of surviving. This book has tales of sacrifice, betrayal, love, and of course, survival. A wonderfully refreshing perspective of the plight of the Jewish people during WWII.

I received an advance copy of this title via NetGalley.