The Forest of Vanishing Stars

by Kristin Harmel

Book Overview

Parade "Best Books of Summer" pick * Real Simple pick * She Reads "Best WWII Fiction of Summer 2021" pick The New York Times bestselling author of the "heart-stopping tale of survival and heroism" (People) 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...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1982158948
• ISBN13: 9781982158941
• Release Date: May 2022
• Publisher: Gallery Books
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Incredible story! Kristen Harmel is one of my favorite authors

Captivating story

I love books from this time and this was one of my favorites.

This is a heartwarming book set in a time of tragedy

Poland/ Belgium world war ll

EXCELLENT READ !! A story of survival and heartwrenching situations and true love. The story begins with Inge being stolen from her German parents at the age of 2, by an older wise woman who lived in the woods her whole life. This woman almost or DOES have the ability to see the future and to know things ..no one else could. She is taken by The old women Jerusza, deep into the forest of Europe ( poland) and is taught a life time of skills, and survial. How to find food and during the harsh winters, how to build a shelter to withstand all the elements and how to kill..if she ever needed to. While she is with the old women Jerusza, She is taught many things about the stars, and plants, which to eat, and which can cure a fever, and infection, inflammation, she learned several languages and religions, but what she did not learn was how to interact with other humans. Years go by and Inge..who from the very beginning is renamed Yona..is now alone..the old women was able to predict her death and did infact die on the exact date...leaving Yona alone. During her years of living alone... her solitary life is interrupted one day by a group of Jews fleeing for their lives from the Nazi's. She is shocked to learn what is happening in the world, and vows to help them...find shelter, how to get food and preserve it for the deadly winters, and how to keep on the move, and erase all their traces of exsistance, should the Germans come looking for them..which is what is happening more and more.Yona is with the group and liking how she feels like she now has a real family, and gets close to a young man her age Aleksander... but after awhile she is betrayed by him..and their relationship changes the whole dynamic of the group. She flees the forest and comes upon a small village, where the Nazi's have just killed a small group of villagers...and she sees a nun rescue a little girl who was shot ..but clings to life..Yona runs to help the nun, and together they nurse the little girl back to reasonable good heath..till they can take her to a women on the outskirts of town who will send the girl with Resistance people who will get her out and to safety. While Yona is in town..she is seen by a high commander and she knows in an instant ..her past and present will collide...and she will have to make decisions that will test her trust, and loyalty and the rest of her life ! Excellent story that grips you and draws you in, once you start..you don't want to Stop !!! So deserving of five Stars ! Great read for Historical Fiction lovers ! Love this Author..she never misses..never fails to deliver. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟