Author: Mario Escobar
Year Published: 2020
Genre: Adult fiction
Pages: 368
Rating: 4 out of 5
Location (my 2020 Google Reading map): France and Argentina
FTC Disclosure: I received this book from TLC Tours for a fair and honest review
Summary (from the inside flap of the book): August 1942. Jacob and Moses Stein, two young Jewish brothers, are staying with their aunt in Paris amid the Nazi occupation. The boys’ parents, well-known German playwrights, have left the brothers in their aunt’s care until they can find safe harbor for their family. But before the Steins can reunite, a great and terrifying roundup occurs. The French gendarmes, under Nazi order, arrest the boys and take them to the Vélodrome d’Hiver—a massive, bleak structure in Paris where thousands of France’s Jews are being forcibly detained.
Jacob and Moses know they must flee in order to survive, but they only have a set of letters sent from the south of France to guide them to their parents. Danger lurks around every corner as the boys, with nothing but each other, trek across the occupied country. Along their remarkable journey, they meet strangers and brave souls who put themselves at risk to protect the children—some of whom pay the ultimate price for helping these young refugees of war.
This inspiring novel, now available for the first time in English, demonstrates the power of family and the endurance of the human spirit—even through the darkest moments of human history.
I have read a lot of WWII and Holocaust novels and this one kept my attention, but is not one of the best. I didn't know anything about the town of Le Chambon-sur-Ligon, which worked to save Jews, particularly children, and other victims during WWII and I had no idea that large numbers of Jewish refugees ended up in Argentina. Oh, the irony that Argentina was also the destination of many Nazis after the war.
The author does a good job of describing France, the conditions, those who collaborated with the Nazis and Vichy government, those who stood by and did nothing, and those who helped victims. The kindness and networks give hope.
Challenges for which this counts:
For the Pop Sugar challenge, this book is published in 2020.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book from TLC Tours for a fair and honest review
Summary (from the inside flap of the book): August 1942. Jacob and Moses Stein, two young Jewish brothers, are staying with their aunt in Paris amid the Nazi occupation. The boys’ parents, well-known German playwrights, have left the brothers in their aunt’s care until they can find safe harbor for their family. But before the Steins can reunite, a great and terrifying roundup occurs. The French gendarmes, under Nazi order, arrest the boys and take them to the Vélodrome d’Hiver—a massive, bleak structure in Paris where thousands of France’s Jews are being forcibly detained.
Jacob and Moses know they must flee in order to survive, but they only have a set of letters sent from the south of France to guide them to their parents. Danger lurks around every corner as the boys, with nothing but each other, trek across the occupied country. Along their remarkable journey, they meet strangers and brave souls who put themselves at risk to protect the children—some of whom pay the ultimate price for helping these young refugees of war.
This inspiring novel, now available for the first time in English, demonstrates the power of family and the endurance of the human spirit—even through the darkest moments of human history.
Review: I'll be honest and say that I liked this book, but did have a difficult time with the fact that the main characters were only 11 and 8 years old and managed to travel across France on their own. It seemed a little far fetched, but I allowed myself to accept this part of it and found the story of WWII occupied France quite interesting.
I have read a lot of WWII and Holocaust novels and this one kept my attention, but is not one of the best. I didn't know anything about the town of Le Chambon-sur-Ligon, which worked to save Jews, particularly children, and other victims during WWII and I had no idea that large numbers of Jewish refugees ended up in Argentina. Oh, the irony that Argentina was also the destination of many Nazis after the war.
The author does a good job of describing France, the conditions, those who collaborated with the Nazis and Vichy government, those who stood by and did nothing, and those who helped victims. The kindness and networks give hope.
For the Pop Sugar challenge, this book is published in 2020.
Review tour:
Monday, February 24th: Reading Reality
Tuesday, February 25th: Jathan & Heather
Wednesday, February 26th: Helen’s Book Blog
Friday, February 28th: The Lit Bitch
Monday, March 2nd: From the TBR Pile
Tuesday, March 3rd: Living My Best Book Life and @livingmybestbooklife
Wednesday, March 4th: @reading_with_nicole
Thursday, March 5th: Books and Cats and Coffee and @bookncatsncoffee
Thursday, March 5th: Kritter’s Ramblings
Monday, March 9th: The Reading Corner for All and @
Tuesday, March 10th: Into the Hall of Books
Wednesday, March 11th: Hallie Reads
Thursday, March 12th: Blunt Scissors Book Reviews and @
Friday, March 13th: @cassies_books_reviews
Monday, March 16th: Patricia’s Wisdom
Monday, March 16th: Girl Who Reads
Wednesday, March 18th: @bibliolau19
Wednesday, March 18th: Palmer’s Page Turners
Thursday, March 19th: Nurse Bookie and @nurse_bookie
Monday, March 23rd: Carey Loves to Book and @careylovestobook
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