This is another book I could just not put down. I have read so many stories about World War II, but this novel of resistance, perseverance, hope and love still touched me in so many ways and was different from the others I have read, giving a new insight into the atrocities of WWII. Yona, the main character, is raised in the woods after being stolen from her parents by a woman, Jerusza, who could see things others could not and Yona becomes the savior, if that's not too strong a word, for a group of Jews fleeing the Aktions of the German military who sought to destroy them.

Yona, although raised in isolation, learns the ways of the forest so she can teach these escapees how to survive so they can live again and she herself learns how to become part of a "family" again.. In the midst of savagery and hatred, this small group learns to survive and to fight despair with hope. At one point in the woods, Hanukkah arrives and Yona carves a Menorah from a limb of a tree that is so recognizable that people are brought to tears as they gather to sing praises to a God many fear has forsaken them.

The birth of a baby is risky as the cries of a newborn could give away their position to Germans searching for their hidden encampment, yet Yona helps that mother give birth, albeit a bit earlier than expected, and that baby survives. People who had little themselves gave of their food allotment so the mother of the newborn could heal and be able to nurse her newborn daughter. Moments like this throughout the novel bring the horrific events of their struggle to life.

There are so many different stories in this novel that are worth reading about, but I'll leave it to you to search them out for yourself. Based on true stories of people who DID flee into the forest to survive, this book is a fictional representation of those fighters who endured and fought back so they could live again in freedom.

I am sure that like many people, I picked up this book because I loved "The Book of Lost Names." When I saw that Kristin Harmel had written another WWII novel, I was all in.

What I wasn't expecting was a WWII novel quite like this one. Most of the interactions between the Nazis, the Jews, the Poles, and the Russians happen "off stage." There are some violent interactions amongst them, but most of the novel takes place in the forest, where innocent people (with few survival skills) have had to flee to escape the Nazis.

Their reluctant leader is a sweet, innocent survivalist named Yona, who is actually a kidnapped German who was stolen from a high-ranking Nazi. Yona has lived outside of civilization her whole life. The woman who stole her, Jerusza, has been her only exposure to another human being and has spent years prepping Yona for some unknown future mission.

After Jerusza dies, Yona's mission becomes a bit more clear. She must help groups of fleeing Jews survive with few provisions and winter approaching. She feels responsible for keeping everyone safe, but in exchange, Yona finds family and belonging for the first time in her life.

There are some impactful twists that I'm not going to spoil here. I will say that while I had some reservations about the format initially, I shouldn't have worried. This book is very different from "The Book of Lost Names," but it is no less impactful and satisfying. I recommend this book and author without reservation.

I only deducted a star because the tempo of the book didn't pick up until around 40% in. After that, it was hard to put down.

This is a great book for the world we live in right now. We're all down about COVID, but reading this book (based on true events) makes one realize how much one can endure and overcome. I'd imagine this book would appeal to a very wide audience - it has a bit of everything - survival, history, romance, and suspense.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to read this great book.

First, my immediate impression of this book is that it is weird. A toddler gets kidnapped from her wealthy parents by a woman who is 80+ years old, and then taken into the forest to learn the most basic survival skills. The woman, Jerusza, teaches her reading, math, science, and a bit of politics. Jerusza also changes the toddler's name from Inge to Yona-meaning dove, because of the dove shaped birthmark on her wrist. Jerusza has pre-sight into the world that is coming and teaches Yona what she must know to survive in the forest and what Yona must know to teach others the same survival skills.

Soon after Jerusza dies, Yona meets a very ill young girl and her family on the edge of the forest. She nurses the girl and her father back to health, but they refuse to allow her to take them deeper into the forest and lose their lives because of it. Yona does encounter more people who are escaping the Jewish ghettos in Poland and teaches them the skills they need to survive, up to and including building underground bunkers for the winter months.

Yona's experiences are confusing at best. She's been taught to live a solitary life, but gets thrown into a community of people who are trying to escape the evil in the world. She knows much of the healing arts with herbs and other plants, she knows how to forage for food and what forest plants are safe to eat. She knows when to move, and how to cover her tracks.

Kristin Harmel has put together a book that is based in fact with some creative license thrown in for good measure. It is a cohesive story, but the weirdness really threw me for a loop. I can't really put my finger on what makes it seem weird to me, it just is.

Three stars

Gallery Books and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Kristin Harmel is one of my favorite authors because she creates characters that are so relatable. They are human. They are flawed. They feel. The Forest of Vanishing Stars is the story of survival, strength, faith and love that I needed right now. During one of the darkest times of history, these characters made their way through unimaginable horrors of the shoah, but they did not lose their humanity. This book will make you think about the world today and how there are always parallels to the past. This book is a must read, in my opinion. It will stay with you.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars is a different take on WWII stories focusing on Yona, raised in the forest by her kidnapper, trained in herbal remedies and taught to be wary of others. These skills become very helpful to a group of Jews who are hiding in the woods hoping to escape German detection. As Yona teaches survival skills, she also learns the joys and despairs of interaction with other people, something she has never known. While fiction, the story has a basis in fact. This was a totally unexpected and wonderful read. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.

What a magnificent read! A baby kidnapped by a strange women, taught to survive in the forest, becomes a unique heroine finding her purpose in life and saving jews. There are never enough stories to tell about that horrible time in history and this is one that fascinated me and kept me reading until the wee hours of the morning. Just lovely. A huge five star achievement. Krisin Harmel is becoming one of my favorite writers of historical fiction. Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the privilege to read this wonderful novel.

At first look, it might be tempting to write off The Forest of Vanishing Stars as too improbable. A forest-dwelling loner (basically a European Kya the Marsh Girl) who gives a group of Jews a fighting chance at survival as the Holocaust ravages Europe? Surely something so heroic couldn’t have ever happened in real life, right? However, I’ve read enough about WWII to know that overcoming insurmountable odds was indeed possible, though often not without profound loss and heartache. Kristin Harmel touches on all of these topics in her latest book. Betrayal, survival, love, loss, and moral dilemmas are explored in this meticulously researched story, whose characters were loosely based on the Bielski group, a group of Jewish refugees numbering a staggering 1200, living in the depths of the Nalibocki Forest of Belarus (then a part of Poland) in order to survive the war. Yona, the main character, casts aside her life of solitude to assist a group of Jews she encounters in the forest while her family history is causing her to question her true identity.

It is astounding the number of WWII stories that have been told, and I’m sure there are countless others left to write. I always appreciate a book that teaches me about the war from a new perspective, and The Forest of Vanishing Stars did just that. If you enjoyed We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter or All the Light we Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, you will appreciate this gut-wrenching tale of survival.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I had the opportunity to visit #poland in late 2019 and absolutely fell in love with the culture. I can’t wait to go back and explore more of the country. A top priority of our trip was to visit Auschwitz and to learn from the memorial site of the horrors inflicted upon Polish Jews. In @kristinharmel author’s note she states that 84-91% of Poland’s Jewish population was killed by the end of #WWII. That is a staggering number. This extraordinary book details the fictional tale of Yona and her life lived in the forests of Poland and Belarus. By the time the war arrives, Yona is well equipped to help Jews who have escaped the ghettos and are attempting to survive in the woods. I loved Harmel’s #thebookoflostnames and this #historicalnovel cements her place as one of my favorite current authors. This ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read is a must to add to your #summerreadinglist (publish date July 2021) and an opportunity to learn about how faith in God is the answer to survival, no matter what religious background you identify with. 📚📚📚 #netgalleyreads #netgalleyreview #netgalley #theforestofvanishingstars #bookstagram #booklover #bookrecommendations #kristinharmel #defiance #gallerybooks #simonandschuster

A new story in the historical fiction WWII genre, with a hint of mystical and a strong lead character to love. Yona was taken as an infant by the strange elderly neighbor who has a sixth sense about the future. Raised in the woods, Yona was taught everything that could keep her alive, except how to interact with other humans. Yet as terrified Jews begin to flee in the forest desperate to try to survive the terrors of the Nazi regime, Yona is forced to decide what role she is willing to play.
A beautiful story. I recommend!

The Forest of Vanishing Stars is an absolutely fantastic WWII historical fiction novel! Yona was two years old when she was stolen from her parents by an old woman who lives in the forest. At the start of WWII, she finds herself living alone in the forest and stumbles upon a group of Jews that escaped ghettos and Nazi horrors in the surrounding villages. What follows is a fascinating story of perseverance, growth, friendship, and love.

This was such a unique story and the incredibly special character of Yona will stay with me. This book definitely goes into my category of favorite WWII books! I highly recommend it and will be going back to read more Kristin Harmel books!!

Thanks to #NetGalley, Kristin Harmel, and Gallery Books for this ARC of #TheForestofVanishingStars.

There are hundreds of stories about World War II by this is the first story I have read about the survivors living and hiding in the Polish and German forest. The Forest of Vanishing Stars is a wonderfully researched tale of survival but it is also a tale of how people who are different can bond together in friendship. Yona, who is a German, I raised in the woods and is raised to trust in God, but not the notion of a particular religion. When Yona, comes across the fleeing Jews and learns of their plight, she uses her trust in God and the forest to help them. Yona learns a great deal about the Jewish people and a great deal about her place in the world.
The Forest of Vanishing Stars is a book about survival, friendship, love, and duty to help your fellow humankind. It brings the plight of the Jewish people into a harsh reality but shows you that despite their toils, how they still held on to hope, community, and family. It makes you feel fear, sadness, anger, but at the same time love and compassion.
Kristin Harmel is an excellent storyteller. This is another example of her bringing a story to life with strong characters who develop complex relationships. I look forward to reading many more books written by her.
Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery books for the advanced copy of the book. The opinions are my own.

This was my first book by Kristin Harmel and after seeing so many rave reviews for all of her previous books, I was excited when I was approved for this one. A story of survival during the the most horrible times of WWII! This is why I've grown to love Historical Fiction! Learning things I knew nothing about. Yona is taken from her parents home by Jerusza, whom then takes her to the forest and raises her, teaching her everything she needs to know to survive. When Jerusza dies, Yona is alone. But not for long...she comes across a group of jews who are escaping the Nazis and hiding away in the forests. She teaches these jews the things she learned, so they can survive! Yona learns alot from them too, about being part of a family, and love! Wow, I really loved this story so much. I highly recommend you add this one to your list. I will definitely have to check out more of Kritin Harmels books after reading this one!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy! All opinions are my own!

Kristin Harmel writes wonderful historical fiction, specializing in W W II. Yona is a Young woman, who was stolen from her German parents as an infant and who has spent her life living in the forest with her abductor, an elderly Jewish woman, who teaches her survival skills. After the woman's death, Yona encounters a Jewish family who is escaping from the Germans and she attempts to help them elude their enemy. This encounter ends in disaster and Yona vows that she will find ways to assist other Jewish refugees. She encounters a small entourage of Jews who have escaped from the ghetto and she teaches them all she knows of forest survival. Throughout her life Yona, which means Hope) has wondered about her parents and at last she is given the opportunity to meet her father. Who is now a German officer. Through a series of surprising events, Yona learns of her true heritage and must decide what person she will become.
This is one of my favorite books for this year. Beautifully written and so carefully researched, the reader finds herself immersed in the forest with this raggedy group of pilgrims fighting for their lives against nature and against the Germans who scour the forest looking for runaways. The story is suspenseful; the characters are memorable and the fates of some will bring you to tears.
Recommended for anyone who likes historical fiction or just enjoys reading about strong women, the fight for survival, and for live that triumphs during the worst of tines.
Thank you, Kristin Harmel, for writing this wonderful story.

Reviews for “The Forest of Vanishing Stars” by Kristin Harmel are universally 5 stars. I agree- this was a creative, lyrical and profound book that I will always remember.

With an aura of a fairytale or folktale, filled with gritty characters and experiences, this book will haunt you with its beauty and wisdom. “Once up on a time” there was a mysterious young woman who lived in the forest and spoke to nature and nature spoke back to her. Yona is the main character and she lived in the isolated forest in Poland, with an old crone from age two until the start of World War II. The crone has prepared her with many skills, from how to build a shelter, survive on the flora and fauna, even how to kill a man. But why has the crone taken her and educated her? When the war begins, Yona meets her destiny.

World War II is shown through the eyes of Yona, who knows nothing of politics or governments. But she does know the beauty of the first spring, day, snow falling from stars, and the need to love and connect with others. She becomes a guide for Jews escaping into the forest.

Finding one’s purpose, through the filter of love, caring and honesty is the heart of this historical fiction book. I commend the author for creating a story that is filled with the details of a life in the woods, the hearts of people, and the source of it all.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advance review copy. This is my honest review.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel was captivating from Chapter One. I loved her character development, and her deep descriptive storytelling in this book.
This is a look at the War from the character's perspective as they fight to survive.
As the Germans are occupying Poland,
a young girl (name changed to Yona) is taken from her parents by a woman who believes she must 'save' her. They live in the forest and this is how the young girl learns the ways of the forest. She is taught to hunt and gather food, how to use herbs, flora and fauna for medicine, how to build shelter and most importantly, how to watch for the enemy.

In the story, Jews were rounded up and forced to live in ghettos and the necessary decision to flee the ghettos was not only because of the abhorrent conditions but they were witnessing other Jews that were just shot at random and they knew they must escape.

As Jews were fleeing for their lives from German occupation and the Nazi murderers, this story tells how they survived in the forest on what nature provided.

As the story progresses, Yona teaches those she encounters the mysterious ways of the forest, and what they must do to survive. She must teach them
how to gather their food, and to tell "basic poisons from basic sustenance", how to build shelters, to hunt without weapons, and to listen for and stay out of the path of those hunting them. She teaches them such things as how to weave willow bark into baskets, and to gather certain herbs to be used for medicinal purposes.

In the forest, there were certain things they needed to do to stay alive. They would travel deep into the forest at night and would "navigate by the stars, to walk by the light of the moon."
One of my favorite lines was "Above her, the stars stretched across the heavens, a familiar canopy that would be with her wherever she went" The stars would always be there for Yona.

This story tells us more about the human condition as these people were living in the forest and how one girl taught them how to survive and how to appreciate the beauty of the forest but to 'listen' for the enemy.

I really appreciated the Author's note. How she explained her research and introduces us to people who told their stories of survival like her characters in the book.

Fans of Kristin Harmel won't be able to put this book down. It's a story of strength, love, honor, determination and despair in difficult times and the will to survive. For anyone who reads this book, be prepared to devote hours to a story that will amaze you.

This is such an incredible book. I'm so thankful to NetGalley and Gallery books for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Harmel has done it again. I’ve like all her books and this was no exception. It was well researched and reminds you of Delia Owens writing also while still remaining historically accurate. So very good

The old woman is watching Siegfried and Alwine. I like the name Alwine. It's 1922 and she's been watching them for years. I liked the descriptions.

Loved this book about a girl growing up in the forest to later help a group of Jews survive there during WW2 because of her knowledge and sacrifice. Ms Harmel did a fabulous job painting a story that was difficult to put down. The characters fought to survive insurmountable odds and worked to look out for the good of each other even though it was difficult instead of taking the easier and more self-serving road they could have chosen often. They wrestled with grief and hope, sorted thru evil that was forced on them and tried to find the good, and they wrestled with purpose and belonging. Excellent book.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for and honest review.

NetGalley gave me the incredible honor of being able to read an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Forest of Vanishing Stars by one of my all-time favorites: Kristin Harmel! Upon learning that I was given this honor, I immediately started shaking, crying, and aching to go home form work and start reading, and that's exactly what I did!

Yona was taken from her family and brought to live in the forest with Jerusza, who taught her how to survive and thrive in times as grim as those they were currently living in. Yona would go on to save the lives of countless men, women, and children, but would also lose many lives along the way. World War 2 was an awful time, but that goes without saying. It was even harder for the Jewish people in Europe. Being Jewish, I identify very strongly with these types of books, and Historical Fiction has quickly become my favorite genre. Kristin Harmel goes into vivid detail, making this book hard to read at times, but that did not and would not slow me down. I cried multiple times while reading The Forest of Vanishing Stars, and I had expected nothing less. Kristin Harmel, yet again, wrote a story about a bad-ass woman, and I for one, find that fantastic!

This story is going to stay with me for a while, and I cannot wait for my pre-ordered hardcover to arrive in July so I can read it all over again! It goes without saying that I gave this book a very enthusiastic 5 out of 5 stars!

It's moments like this that I wish I could articulate better, maybe that's why I am not a writer LO

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Forest of Vanishing Stars. It was phenomenal, and I am still reeling from all of the emotions that Yona's character evoked in me. Her character is a perfect example of grit, strength, bravery, intelligence, selfishness and compassion. Yona's life started out much different than most, being abducted as a child, and raised in a forest by a complete stranger. As she grows, we watch her hone in her survival skills and eagerness to learn years leading into the war and the invasion of the German Army. As Yona, moves throughout the forest alone, she encounters a group of refugees that have fled a nearby village. Against, her better judgement she immediately recognizes the group's inability to survive the harshness of the forest and chooses to join them while teaching them how to find food, shelter and most importantly safety from the unkind world around them.

Kristin Harmel weaves the stories of several characters (who quickly become family) so beautifully. and powerfully that I just couldn't stop reading. Late into the evening, I came across the passage of the characters describing themselves as vanishing stars and I was completely blown away by the goosebumps and feelings those few sentences stirred in me. Times of trouble do really define us and the way we chose to act speaks volumes. Yona always put the needs of others first - often referencing Talmud, “He who saves a single life, saves the world entire.” This story will stay with me - I walked away from it feeling blessed, inspired to do better, do more and be a better neighbor and friend.

Order your copy today!