I was a bit hesitant to start this to-be-read novel in my pile, as I've read so many WWII historical fiction books within the last year that I wasn't sure I was ready for another one. Deciding to open it anyway, I immediately found myself immersed in a novel that I could not stop reading!!

Kristin Harmel's descriptive skills, flowing writing style, and strong, memorable characters combine to make this a book that I loved and highly recommend.

The book begins in 1922 when an infant, Inge, is kidnapped from her well-to-do German parents on her second birthday by an eighty-two year old woman, Jerusza. Jerusza is the last of a bloodline of women who know the impossible. Certain that the babe is destined for great things and must be saved from her parents, she takes the child, renames her Yona (which means "dove" in Hebrew), and raises her in one of Poland's large forests, teaching her all that she knows. The girl learns how to use what nature provides for medicines, food, and shelter; how to "disappear" into the woods and leave no trace behind; how to prepare for and survive the brutal winter; how to kill; how to read (using books stolen from Jerusza's rare forays into a village for supplies they can get no other way); understand and converse in multiple languages; and learns the tenets of the world's religions. Jerusza also teaches her to avoid towns and other people, and assures Yona that she will always know what to do when the time comes.

When Jerusza dies twenty years later, Yona is totally self-sufficient. She is startled one day when she spots a man in the forest, and learns that he and other Polish Jews have fled to the forest to escape the Nazis. Yona knows nothing about the outside world, but when the man tells her what is happening, she resolves to help them by teaching them how to survive in the wild. From them, Yona learns how to be with people, and she finds that while she still enjoys solitude, she also enjoys being among others as well.

Following a betrayal, she runs off, going into a town where her past meets her present in a most unexpected and unusual way. Has Yona put herself and the group in harm's way? Is everything lost because of one careless action?

This historical fiction novel is based on real events and people, among them, the Bielskis who with a group of other Polish Jews survived the horrors of the war by hiding in the forest. They built not just a camp, but a society that grew to over 1200 people, almost all of whom survived the war. Harmel did extensive research to portray things accurately.

My thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Gallery Books for allowing me to read a review copy of this novel which is scheduled to be published on 7/6/2021. All opinions (and any errors) stated in this review are my own.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel

I have enjoyed all of Kristin Harmel’s books that I have read, and this one does not disappoint! I would describe it as Where the Crawdads Sing meets WW2 Historical Fiction. Inge (renamed Yona) is taken from her parents at 2 years old and raised by her kidnapper. After her kidnapper dies, she has to survive on her own until she encounters Jewish refugees and helps them survive.

I love stories that examine moral issues. This one allows us to view the horrors of WW2 though the fresh eyes of innocence. I highly recommend this new novel by one of my favorite historical fiction novelists!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I have read a lot of World War II fiction, and it seems that the genre would start to feel boring by now. Yet I keep finding WWII fiction that showcases a completely different group of people and experiences than what I have read before. And so I keep reading!

The Forest of Vanishing Stars is an excellent addition to the WWII historical fiction genre. This story focuses on a group of people that I had never heard about before: Jews who escaped from ghettos and survived through harsh winters, bitter conditions and Nazi soldiers hunting them down in the forests of Poland. It is a wilderness survival story set right smack in the middle of the World War II war scene. Wow, it made for a fascinating story and even more fascinating to know that it is based on real life events.

The story centers around a woman named Yona, who was kidnapped as a baby and raised in the woods by a mysterious old woman. There is the slightest hint of magical realism in this story, and I really enjoyed that touch! Yona, who knows the forest inside and out, is able to help the escaping Jews survive and stay alive.

This is the third book that I have read by Kristin Harmel, and all three were set during World War II. Yet all three books were so different and unique, each with their own story to tell. Harmel does a great job of writing characters, researching history and putting it all together to make a compelling story. I did feel like this one lost a little steam towards the middle/end, and the ending felt kind of abrupt and sudden. Maybe I was just sad that the book was over too soon!

Still, I highly recommend this work of historical fiction for an intriguing look at a little known (to me at least) part of World War II history!

Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for sending me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Kristin Harmel, author of The Forest of Vanishing Stars, draws readers in with her mysterious opening sentence: “The old woman watched from the shadows outside Behaimstrasse 72, waiting for the lights inside to blink out.” If that’s not enough to capture readers' attention, Harmel quickly reveals that the old woman has been watching the house and the couple inside for two years and “knows things about them, things that were important to the task she was about to undertake.” Gifted with knowledge ordinary people never have, the old woman, Jerusza, is responsible for “saving the fate of a child, and perhaps a piece of the world, too.”

Jerusza soon vanishes from Behaimstrasse, never to return. However, she doesn’t vanish alone; she has stolen little Inge Jüttner from her crib and her parents on Inge’s second birthday, July 6, 1922. Rather than growing up as the daughter of privileged Berliners, Inge will spend her childhood and youth ever on the move, learning from Jerusza how to survive in the forest, even how to kill. Too young to know her identity, Inge grows up as Yona, the new name Jerusza gives her.

Jerusza and Yona live alone, avoiding human contact, Jerusza teaching not only how to survive in the forest, but also what to think. Although Jerusza sees that Yona learns about the world from stolen books, she also imbues the girl with the belief that the forest is the only safe place.

Yona grows up, and Jerusza ages and dies, leaving Yona on her own for the first time, but with the knowledge that Jerusza thinks Yona has an unknown destiny to fulfill. How will Yona get along on her own? How closely will she follow Jerusza's many lessons? What will happen when Yona encounters strangers in the forest, not just once, but several times? Will she discover her destiny? Will she ever see her German parents again?

Just when I think historical novelists will run out of ways to approach World War II, one of them surprises me. This time it is Kristin Harmel, someone with several World War II novels already to her credit.

Don't miss the extensive Author's Note at the back of the book. Harmel discusses her meeting with a Holocaust survivor related to events in the book, describes her research process, and reveals the many elements of the novel closely tied to historical events.

If you like World War II novels, if you have enjoyed Kristin Harmel’s earlier books such as The Book of Lost Names and The Room on Rue Amélie, pick up a copy. If you are a fan of Alice Hoffman’s novels, this book is also for you, for several elements remind me of Hoffman.

My thanks to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Kristin Harmel for an advance reader copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

This was a different kind of story about WWII and especially the plight of the Jewish people trying to escape the clutches of the Nazis. More than that, this is a story bout connection and family, the family that you choose.

Yona was taught how to survive and be one with the forest. She later used this to help protect people trying to survive.

This story was emotionally heavy and jarring at times, but was always laced with hope. There was happiness interlaced with sorrow, The heart of the story was beautiful and strong. I honor those that lived through the terrible tragedy that was the Holocaust.

This story was well written and pulled me in quickly and thoroughly.

For those that are concerned about sexual content - there were a few intimate encounters, but no graphic descriptions. The first one was the most descriptive leaving no doubt what was happening, but leaning more into the connection than the steam value.

I received an early copy through NetGalley and this is my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery books for the eARC.

Calling all historical fiction fans! This is a MUST read! The Forest of Vanishing Stars is one of those books that makes me wish there was a sixth star to give.

While this novel is based during the second WW, it’s not just about the war and the atrocities that happened. There is a lot of focus on how they survived in the forest without being found by the Nazis, starving, or succumbing to the elements. It is also about Yona discovering who she is after years of isolation, and learning to be a part of something more than just herself for the first time in her life. I loved that there was an element of magical realism but that it wasn’t central to the story.

Be prepared to have your heart broken and put back together numerous times so keep the tissues handy. This is one of the few books where I read the authors note and I highly recommend you do too, you’ll need the tissues for this also.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars is now up there on the pedestal of favourite books ever.

4.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published July 6, 2021.

I’m not a fan of historical fiction but I really enjoyed this book. The first half deals with Yona, who was kidnapped at an early age and raised by a woman in the forest. They live off the land and this lady teaches Yona survival skills.

The second half of the book introduces the Jews who have had to flee due to the Germans coming to execute them. Yona offers to teach them how to survive in the woods and in return she learns about family.

I appreciated the author’s notes at the end and learning about her research for this book.

Original review posted on GoodReads.

The start of this book is a little weird, but once I got into it, I was enraptured. In 1921, an 82 year old clairvoyant named Jerusza is led by her visions to kidnap a 2 year old girl from her Berlin home. Jerusza takes Inge, who she rechristens Yona, to the forests of eastern Europe to raise her in the wilderness, avoiding civilization, and teaching her things like how to live off the land, how to survive winter, and how to kill a man with her bare hands --because Jerusza can see the future and knows what Yona will need to know to survive. In 1941, they are still living in the forests with WWII raging around them. After Jerusza dies, Yona meets a group Jews who have fled the ghetto to avoid being killed like so many of their loved ones. She joins their group to help them survive in the wilderness, but they are saving her too by providing her a sense of purpose and family. The book is very well researched and beautifully written, and while there were times I found it incredible that groups of people could have lived in the forests for years, avoiding capture by the Nazi's, the story has its basis in true events. I couldn't put it down.

I'm sure everyone has a large TBR pile to get through, but do yourself a favor and just move "The Forest of Vanishing Stars" to the very top. It is a wonderful, heartbreaking, inspiring work of historical fiction and NOT to be missed. The storyline felt unique and is perfect for fans of "All the Light We Cannot See" and "The Nightingale". I honestly will be thinking about and recommending this book for a long time to come.

Kristin Harmel is truly an amazing writer, to the point where I am now looking up and ordering any previous titles I have missed. Thank you Netgalley and Gallery Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love this cover! I’ve read a lot of WW2 books and this one was so different from any of them. It takes place in the forest, a place Yona has called home all her life.
Yona is a strong female capable of surviving alone in the forest. She teaches those skills to others who come to the forest to hide.
This is a hard to put down book, one you will want to stay up to finish. Definitely recommend this book and all her other ones too.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Since I finished this book several weeks ago, it has stayed on my mind. The story of Yona and life in the wilds of Poland and Russia provided a fascinating look into the world of Eastern Europe during WWII. Her story begins years before the war when she is just a baby and is kidnapped by a woman who believes she must fulfill a prophecy. Yona, the daughter of a German Nazi party member, stolen from her home, is taken deep into the forests and swamps of Eastern Europe. Jerusza, her mentor and surrogate mother, teaches her survival of the fittest in the harshest of climates and terrain. These skills honed over her youth give Yona the strength and sharpness needed to lead the partisans hiding deep in the wilderness to survive not only the German onslaught but also the brutal weather of Polish and Russian winters.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel differs from the traditional narrative of female freedom fighters so popular now. (Lilac Girls, Nightingale, Baker's Secret. and scores of others). The stories of female partisans are a very rich vein in historical fiction and currently in vogue. Most of the works focus on women in the French Resistance. These stories focus on brave, scrappy women who defy gender roles and play a part in the fight to defeat Nazism in western Europe. Very few of the books in this genre focus on the women in the East where the occupation was much more deadly. The occupied countries of Eastern Europe were not just fighting for liberation but for actual survival. The German plan of lebensraum and Judenrein created a deadly potion for the people of the East. Plans to liquidate not only the Jews but the Poles, Russians, Ukrainians, and others in that sphere almost completely destroyed the populations and their cultures.

Harmel recreates a very mystical world of Yona and Jerusza in the first third of the novel as these two women eek out a survivalist's existence, hidden deep in the forests and marshlands. Jerusza, a prophetess, seer, and a healer, keeps Yona isolated from other humans, teaching her how to hunt, fish, build a shelter. prepare herbal healings, and teaching her to read. Keeping Yona isolated and unknowing of her true identity, forces the young protege to be dependent on her mentor. As the old woman passes away, Yona is left on her own in a land occupied by a brutal enemy with no friends or family to help her. Here Harmel's novel delves into a very difficult part of the war , the sheer survival of the Jewish and Slavic people of Eastern Europe.

Yona, by a series of cataclysmic events, finds herself the leader of a partisan pack struggling for survival. She teaches them the lessons Jerusza shared with her and becomes the leader of men who don't necessarily want to recognize her importance to their cause. Knowing that she is driven by destiny, Yona struggles along side of the freedom fighters as they hide from the Germans and also from other partisan groups who would betray them. Harmel's story does not gloss over the brutality of the war and the occupation. The sheer horror and racial hatred of the Nazis permeates the novel and reveals all the ugliness of war. But it is not only the Germans who show how evil people can be. The partisans also have to cope with those who collaborate openly with the occupiers and with those who will sell their souls to protect themselves.

Harmel has done her research and it resonates through the novel. Many of the incidents she includes in her narrative are based on factual events and occupation policies. She relies heavily on the stories of the Bielski brothers and their Jewish partisan group made famous in the movie Defiance. Other resources she uses are the actual stories of the liquidation of people from Mir, Voloshin, Lida, and other Jewish ghettos. She does not shy away from the virulent anti-Semitism of the Germans but also the racial hatred exhibited by many Poles and Russians. One of the most touching stories in the tale is when Yona interacts with the nuns. This story is based on the Blessed Martyrs of Nowogrodek. Harmel lists the numerous books she read to prepare to write her story. Not only did she study the history she writes about but delves in the cultural, ecotourism and survivalist guides for the Naliboki Forest. This last entity really gives her novel a sense of realism and the difficulty of trying to survive in such harsh terrain. Her reading list also includes numerous works on mysticism, Judaism, and philosophy, giving Forest of the Vanishing Stars a semi-mystical feeling.

My interest in the work of partisans goes back over twenty years as a completed my MA in history. My thesis was a very detailed look at female partisans in France. It also became the backbone of what was to be my unfinished doctoral dissertation, the role of female partisans in Europe. While works on women in the West have proliferated over the years, the story of women in the East are far and few between. Much of this has to do with the Cold War and the West's unwillingness to recognize the Russian impact on the war. In the last decade, more and more works are being written, giving credit to the Eastern theatre of war. The Soviet-Nazi War from 1941-1945 is the single largest conflagration in history, causing more human death and misery than any other time in history. Also with the fall of the Soviet Union, researchers have access to archives that were closed to them for over 50 years. Even with all the new work emerging, the role of female partisans of Eastern Europe are few and far between. These women defied cultural and social gender norms to emerge as true fighting spirits and saviors of their countries and history. We need more works like Harmel's Forest of the Vanishing Stars to bring their stories of courage and bravery to light.

“By the grace of God, may we all be vanishing stars.”

I think we all get a little burnt out on the WWII historical fiction every now and then, but that is NOT the case with this book. It was such a unique story that I think even those who don’t prefer historical fiction would enjoy. Based on true events, Harmel tells the story of a Jewish group surviving in the forests of Poland and eluding the Germans with the help of our main character, Yona.

This story grips you from literally the first chapter and is an inspiring tale of survival against what are almost impossible odds. I love the focus put around the faith of God and the way He provides miracles. Reading the author’s note really helps grasp the amount of research that was put into this book, which made me appreciate it even more. The plants, the forest, the swamp... everything is described in such great detail that you are just immersed in the story. I only wish there had been a bigger revelation to Yona’s “purpose” and Jerusza’s intuition.

As with many books like this, it’s difficult to read about the horrors people endured, but it’s important to keep telling these stories. I will definitely be checking out more from this author!

Thanks so much to Net Galley and Gallery Books for the earc in exchange for my honest review!

(4.5 stars rounded up)

Harmel returns to WWII in this gripping story with overtones of a dark fairytale. Two year old Yona is stolen from her parents in Germany by an old woman named Jerusza who raises her and teaches her to survive in the deep woods of Poland. Growing up in isolation, Yuna, was told to avoid human contact. When Jerusza dies, Yuna is left on her own, but WWII has arrived in the forest. Yuna meets a group of Jews who have escaped the Nazis and feels drawn to help them survive. Based on the true stories of survivors, the novel is filled with danger and heartbreak along with faith and hope. A must-read for historical fiction fans.

This reads- thanks to the plot and the writing style- almost like a fairy tale at first but then it turns urgent and distressing due to the very real situation. Yona is taken from her parents home in Berlin when she's toddler by Jeruza, an old woman with special talents. They live in the forest, where Jeruza keeps her away from people and trains her in all the knowledge she can provide about survival. This becomes critical then Jeruza dies and Yona later comes upon a family of Jews who have fled the Nazis. Ultimately, she bonds with another group, which she Shepards from place to place to keep them safe until one day things, well, things go very bad. A trip into town leads to an unexpected twist that creates a propulsive quest for survival. The characters are standouts- not just Yona but Alexander, the nuns, and the others she helps. The tension slowly ramps up to the point where I was unable to put this down. It's thoughtful, emotional, and doesn't spare the reader. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. One of the best WWII novels this year- and don't skip the afterword. Highly recommend.

Whenever I get to the end of a Kristin Harmel book, I always feel like I said goodbye to my best friends. I miss the characters terribly. The story is about a young woman, Yona, who uses her knowledge of the wilderness to help Jewish refugees escape the Nazis.

The description of the skills necessary for survival in the forest was absolutely incredible. I will say that the way that Yona ends up in the forest seemed a little random and was super quick. I was confused by it for the first couple of pages. The amount of research done to write this must have been incredible, which is further emphasized by reading the Author’s Note. I love the significance of the title and though this was such a beautiful story that I highly recommend picking up.

This book is just a triumph from one of my favorite authors. It is The Nightingale meets Crawdads and it is simply brilliant. We follow the story of Yona, stolen from her parents at a very young age and raised in the forest by an old woman who taught her survival. She becomes a somewhat unlikely hero to Jewish refuges during WWII. Reading about Yona learning to be a part of a family group and her reactions to all of the evil in the world at that time was just breathtaking. This book is not easy and it will not leave you for a long time, but it is important and honest and beautiful.

This is a fascinating Word War II historical fiction novel that gives a glimpse of what the Jewish people had to endure to survive the hands of the Nazis.

I adored this book, especially the main character-Yona. Yona has experienced it all-betrayal, happiness, love, survival, friendship. She is a leader and a fighter. I really enjoyed her journey and her resilience. She never gave up and went out of her way, despite the consequences, to help those in need.

Yona is a very likable character, a strong and resilient woman, a fighter-never backing down or giving up. The other characters in the book all look up to Yona and view her as a leader-with value and respect.

The things that the Jewish people had to endure and experience during this awful time in our history is heartbreaking and devastating. The author does an amazing job at giving a glimpse into what life was like for the Jewish during this awful time and what they had to go through in order to survive.
This story is beautifully written, descriptive, captivating, and left my heart aching. @kristinharmel wrote such a wonderful book that I will recommend to everyone! The story & its characters will stay with me for a long time.

A week after finishing this book I’m still thinking of the people who survived WWII by seeking refuge in the forest in Poland. The heroine of the story is fictional, but the ways Jewish people survived is based on true stories. Kristin Harmel’s plot blended the two beautifully. For any fan of WWII historical fiction, this unique book is a winner. If you also enjoy an innocent heroine who comes of age amid moral dilemmas and grows strong in the process, then this books is a winner. Now you have two choices: preorder the book now or head to your library and start the waiting list. You won’t be sorry!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

A little different WWII story based on factual accounts but not a person.
Very informative of the Jewish people and how they learned to live in the forest.
A young girl is kidnapped by a older lady and taught how to survived in the forest while hiding from the Germans.
She found other and showed them how to find food,built huts. hunt and just stay alive.
Very good interesting story.
Voluntarily reviewed.

Kristin Harmel’s The Forest of Vanishing Stars is an inspiring and heartbreaking novel set in World War II. This is my first book by this author, and I’m looking forward to reading more of her work.

This was a page-turning story of survival with nuances of folklore and legend. The wonderfully researched survival information reminded me of Jean M. Auel’s The Clan of the Cave Bear. Knowing there were real life stories of survivors/partisans in the forests of Europe during humanity’s foray into the pit of cruelty, makes Harmel’s novel even more plausible.

While there were sensual moments in the book, the story focused on Yona’s journey of discovery and how her strong sense of justice and integrity came shining through.

A very worthy read.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my review.