The Forest of Vanishing Stars is inspired by true stories of survival in the expansive forests of Poland during WW11.
The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel
Genre/Categories/Setting: Historical Fiction, WWII, Poland/Germany, Survival, Jewish
Welcome to #ThrowBackThursday where I highlight an older review or post a current review of a backlist title. Today, I’m sharing a compelling and page-turning histfic, The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel.
I’m linking up with Davida @ The Chocolate Lady’s Book Review Blog for #ThrowbackThursday.
*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
My Summary:
Yona is stolen from her wealthy German parents when she is two years old (1922) and raised in the wilderness by an elderly eccentric herbalist and visionary. In 1941 when Yona is a young woman, her kidnapper dies and she is left to fend for herself in the forest. She is surprised to stumble upon a group of Jews fleeing the Nazis. After her fear subsides, she is determined to teach the group all she knows about surviving in the forest. However, they teach her about community and friendship after living her life in isolation. Told in one straightforward timeline from one perspective, this is a story of found family, finding people to trust, and of survival.
“Humans had a responsibility to do more than just protect themselves. In the face of evil, they were compelled to save each other.”
Continue here for my full review of The Forest of Vanishing Stars…
QOTD:
Do you love historical fiction with a theme of survival?
Purchase information here.
I know you have a love of WW2 stories. What was the first book you remember reading that started you on your journey?
What a great question! My love of histfic can be traced to Gone With the Wind. The earliest book I remember reading about WW2 was a memoir, The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. But fiction? Let me think….. 🤔…. Maybe The Book Thief ??
Thanks for the reminder about this book, Carol. I have had it on my TBR, because I enjoy Kristin Harmel’s writing, but it got pushed to the bottom of the pile somehow.
#bookproblems ! So many good books to read!