The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel is the story of Yona, stolen as a baby from her wealthy German parents and raised in the wilderness of Eastern Europe. When the war arrives, she uses her knowledge of the forest to help Jewish refugees escape the Nazis.

As with Harmel's historical fiction release last year, I enjoyed that this one shared a new piece of the war I wasn't familiar with - loosely based on the true story of Aron Bielski, who, after escaping the Nazis, survived in the woods of Eastern Europe along with a group of other Jewish folk that grew to 1200 over two years. This one was also a unique blend of folklore, historical fiction, and romance, which made it an interesting read.

The descriptions of the forest and the swamp were stunning - imagine if Where the Crawdads Sing and a WWII novel had a baby - and I was, as always, in awe of the strength and tenacity of people of this time. Yona is one of those characters you just can't stop thinking about after you read her story.

As with Harmel's The Book of Lost Names, however, I was disappointed to find this one also had an extra thriller/adrenaline type scenario near the end. These types of endings, for me anyways, take away from the realistic and beautiful story that's been told throughout the bulk of the novel and just seem abrupt, out of place and entirely unnecessary - stories of the Jewish people in this time are impactful in their own right and do not need to be sensationalized.

I recommend this one for those who love strong female protagonists and for all lovers of historical fiction, especially if you've been on the hunt for something fresh.

Thank you so much to @simonschusterca for the gifted copy 💕

Yona was kidnapped from her wealthy German parents by an old lady who believed her parents were bad people and it was the right thing to do as Yona was only 2 years old. Juresza just snatch her and took her to the forest, living off the land and moving frequently in case of danger. The skills she learned became very useful in an unexpected and dangerous way.
Well worth the read. I highly recommend it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon&SchusterCanada for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is my 4th Kristin Harmel read and I feel that this author has certainly hit her stride in writing compelling WWII historical fiction. This is a very engrossing tale of how a young woman who has learned to live in the forest comes to the aide of small groups of Jewish refugees who are trying to survive their occupiers. A fantastic unputdownable read that kept me on the edge of my seat!


Publication Date 06/07/21
Goodreads review 25/07/21

I always love a good Kristin Harmel book! I absolutely loved The Book of Lost Names and when I saw this one come out, I jumped at the chance for an ARC.

Brief Synopsis:
Yona was just a baby when she was stolen from her wealthy german parents and raised in the wilderness of Eastern Europe. When she stumbles upon a group of Jews fleeing from the Nazis, she is shocked to learn what is going on in the world. Teaching others her ways of the wilderness, Yona forms relationships she's never had the opportunity to before. However her past soon catches up with her present and things start to change.

My thoughts/opininos:
I enjoyed this one! It did feel a little bit long at some points and I did skim a couple pages here and there but it was really interesting to learn more about the groups that fled to the wilderness during World War 2 and survived. I thought it was really interesting to learn how Yona survived in the wilderness all her life & some of the knowledge that she acquired. Also, the author's note at the end was very interesting and I would recommend reading that!

Could you live in the forest your whole life?
📚📚The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel 📚📚
This was the life for Yona. Stolen from her German parents at the age of 2 years old, she was raised in the Polish forest. After her guardian dies, Yona is left alone, but not for long. She encounters many people at different times, Jews fleeing ghettos as the Germans have invaded and started liquidation.

As I find with a lot of World War 2 novels, I feel a sense of heartbreak, not fully understanding how people can treat others the way the Jewish community was treated. I cried for bits of this book because I know the story wasn’t far from the truth. Although, these “broken edges” did create a beautiful story that reminded me of the importance of finding joy, love, and most of all hope in the edges of the darkness. Even though I may not be able to see the stars through the trees, it doesn’t mean they’re no longer there.
Thank you to #netgalley for the opportunity to read this as an ARC for an honest review.

What a beautiful novel. Truly a 5 star read. The narrative follows Yona, a child who is literally snatched from the cradle by a mysterious wisewoman, as she is taken into the woods and learns to survive. Her life intersects with the lives of many Jews who have fled into her woods in an effort to save themselves from the Nazis.

For fans of WW2 and historical fiction this is a must. I didn't want to put this down.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this beautiful novel. My opinions are my own and not influenced by anyone. Ever.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars, by Kristin Harmel, is a wonderfully written, exceptionally researched, heart-wrenching and suspenseful historical fiction novel.
Inspired by true stories of survival against overwhelming odds this is the WWII story of a young woman stolen from her German parents at the age of 2. Yona is raised in the wilderness of Eastern Europe until her kidnapper dies when she is just a young woman. She uses her understanding and awareness of the wilderness to help Jewish refugees escape the Nazis. In turn, the Jews teach Yona some unexpected lessons about opening her heart after years of being alone.
This is my first novel by Kristin Harmel and I am sure it will be among my favourites of the year.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

☆☆☆,75 /5

Je ne lis que très peu d’historique pour ma part. Je ne suis pas attirée en général par ce genre-ci et généralement, je ressens de la difficulté à entrer dans l’histoire.
Pourtant, pour ce roman-ci, je dois dire que l’intrigue m’a totalement emportée. Et facilement en plus.
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Née au sein d’une famille allemande riche, puis soudainement enlevée pour être élevée dans la nature sauvage impitoyable de l'Europe de l'Est, une jeune femme se retrouve seule en 1941 après la mort de son ravisseur. Son existence solitaire est cependant interrompue lorsqu'elle tombe sur un groupe de Juifs fuyant la terreur nazie. Abasourdie d'apprendre ce qui se passe dans le monde extérieur, elle s'engage à enseigner au groupe tout ce qu'elle peut sur la survie dans la forêt -et à son tour, ils lui enseignent des leçons surprenantes sur l'ouverture de son cœur après des années d'isolement. Mais lorsqu'elle est trahie et s'échappe dans un village occupé par les Allemands, son passé et son présent se rejoignent dans une collision choquante qui pourrait tout changer.
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Bien que je n’aie retenu que peu d’informations, si ce ne sont les grosses lignes, concernant la Seconde Guerre Mondiale, c’était une partie de l’Histoire que j’ai beaucoup aimé écouter lors de mes années scolaires. Ce roman a été une redécouverte de cette époque de l’Histoire pour moi car, tout comme Yona la protagoniste, on va apprendre tout ce qui se passe dans l’Europe avec les Nazis, les juifs et la guerre qui s’approche.
Yona est une protagoniste que j’ai apprécié découvrir et voir évoluer. Elle part de rien, elle essaye de se débrouiller afin de vivre dans le contexte dans lequel l’histoire se déroule, elle prend des initiatives pour survivre… Elle évolue. Son personnage évolue et je trouve que son évolution se fait de manière lente et réaliste. Au fil des pages, elle est confrontée à certains secrets, certaines révélations qui vont mélanger le passé et le présent et qui vont l’ébranler. Dans ses doutes, dans ses confusions, dans ses frustrations, j’ai trouvé Yona si humaine. Elle m’a touchée.
Je qualifierais ce roman d’apprentissage car on y apprend beaucoup de choses. Les personnages apprennent aussi. Il y a l’apprentissage de la survie, l’apprentissage des événements se déroulant à l’époque, l’apprentissage et l’adaptation d’une vie dans un contexte inconnu, l’apprentissage d’une partie de l’Histoire qui est plutôt connue.
J’ai appris beaucoup de choses et j’ai apprécié. Malgré les longueurs et l’ennui que j’ai pu ressentir parfois dans ma lecture car je trouvais que le récit n’allait pas assez vite, cette lecture aura été agréable et enrichissante.

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ENGLISH REVIEW:

Usually, I don’t read historic books. I am not generally attracted to this book genre and also, I always have difficulties to enjoy the story.
However, for this book, I must say that the plot has totally won me over. And easily.
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After being stolen from her wealthy German parents and raised in the ruthless wilderness of Eastern Europe, a young woman finds herself alone in 1941 after the death of her captor. Her lonely existence is interrupted, however, when she stumbles upon a group of Jews fleeing Nazi terror. Stunned to learn what is going on in the outside world, she vows to teach the group all she can about survival in the forest - and in turn, they teach her surprising lessons on how to open up. her heart after years of isolation. But when she is betrayed and escapes to a German-occupied village, her past and present come together in a shocking collision that could change everything.
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Although I learned little, if not the broad lines, of WWII, it was a part of history that I really enjoyed listening to during my school years. This book was a rediscovery of that time in history for me because, like Yona the protagonist, we will learn all that is happening in Europe with the Nazis, the Jews and the approaching war.
Yona is a protagonist whom I enjoyed discovering and seeing evolve. She starts from nothing, she tries to fend for herself in order to live in the context in which the story unfolds, she takes initiatives to survive... For me, the evolution of her character was slow and realistic. I really liked that. Throughout the pages, she is confronted with certain secrets, certain revelations which will mix the past and the present and which will shake her. With her doubts, her confusion and her frustrations, I found Yona so human. She touched me.
I would describe this book as an apprenticeship because it teaches a lot of things. The characters also learn a lot of things. There is the learning of survival, the learning of the events taking place at the time, the learning and adaptation of a life in an unfamiliar context, the learning of a part of history that is rather well known.
I learned a lot and enjoyed it. Despite the lengths and boredom that I may have felt at times in my reading because I found that the story wasn’t going fast enough, this reading was enjoyable and rewarding.

This historical with strong magical elements opens in 1922 Berlin, where old Jerusza steals a 2-year-old girl to raise her in the wilderness of Eastern Europe.

After Jerusza dies in 1941, Yona shows Jewish refugees how to hide from the Nazis and survive in the forest. She fights alongside them and learns to love truly, even though it might lead to loss.

Thanks to netgalley, simon&schustercanada, and the author Kristin Harmel for the ARC of the forest of vanishing stars.

This historical fiction takes place during World War II where young Yona is stolen from her crib in her Berlin home by an 82 year old woman named Jerusza. This coming of age story takes us on a journey through Yonas early life, being raised and taught how to survive in the woods by Jerusza, who felt a calling to take this child from her wealthy German parents. Jerusza does not show love and affection to Yona, who finds herself feeling lonely for human contact and questioning the only upbringing she knows. When Jerusza dies at the age of 102, Yona is alone and begins to venture closer to the city, where she meets a group of Jews who are fleeing from the ghetto to avoid being killed. Yona uses her skills and knowledge to help her new friends to survive in the forest.

I was intrigued by this book from the very first page and found it very difficult to put down. I love the way this story was told and found it had a very different approach than most historical fictions. Kristen Harmel did extensive research for this book and I loved the section in the end that tied her research into her story. This was a 5 star read for me and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or coming of age stories!

Everytime I read Historical Fiction, I am drawn in by the descriptions, the characters and the events that surround the people in these stories. The last few years, I have read many books that have taught me so much about history and events I knew nothing about.
The Forest of Vanishing Stars is one of these books. What I have read, will stay with me for a lifetime.
A child of two, stolen from her German parents, by an old woman. She grows up in the woods of Poland, not knowing that she is destined to be someone remarkable. So many Jewish people hid out in these woods, and so many more died in camps, towns and villages. They went through so much, fighting to stay alive during German occupation.
So much history here. So many atrocities that should not be forgotten.
But, in the horror, there is hope--survivors. And love.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. And to Kristin Harmel, for all her research and bringing this story to light, Thank you. I rate this 4,5 out of 5.

Harmel’s new novel takes place between 1922 and 1943, deep in the primeval Naliboki Forest near the northwestern border of Belarus. In 1922, two-year-old Inge is kidnapped from a German couple, by Jerusza, an old Jewish woman with powers of foresight, and taken across Poland and into the forest. Inge, renamed Yona, spends the next twenty years living in the forest, Jerusza educating her and teaching her survival; how to forage for food, hunt and trap, build shelters, steal necessities, kill in a dozen different ways and how to remain unseen. All the gifts she is taught serve her well, when, after Jerusza’s demise, Yona comes across a small group of Jews fleeing the ghettos and brutal mass murder.
This is a heart-wrenching and beautifully rendered novel based heavily on meticulous research about the Belietz Family Camp which saved hundreds of Jews from death, but, the otherworldly framework used by the author felt contrived and didn’t serve the book as well as I had hoped. I read the Afterword after finishing the novel and wished I had read it first. Knowing the novel is steeped in reality would have helped to offset some of the events which felt far-fetched. Having read the author notes, what the refugees achieved is remarkable, but Yona’s journey didn’t quite work for this reader. I have read and thoroughly enjoyed several of Harmel’s books, but was a bit disappointed here.

Kristin Harmel is an author that knows how to write a beautiful, heartbreaking story in a way that will stay with readers. I have loved every one of her books, and “The Forest of Vanishing Stars” is no different.

In 1922, a baby girl was stolen from her wealthy German parents by an elderly woman who lived in the forest. For 20 years, this woman raised the girl and taught her everything she needed to know about survival before the old lady died.
Yona, now in her early twenties, is left alone in the wilderness. Eventually, she comes across a group of Jews who have fled to the forest following the Nazi occupation of their village. To avoid being sent to concentration camps, the Jews try to survive in the forest. Yona steps in and is resolved to help as much as she possibly can.
The story goes on to tell of her trials and bravery, betrayal, love, loss, growth and change, and everything in between.
There are suspenseful moments, moments of heartbreak, heartwarming moments, and truly extraordinary moments that show the length that some people went to survive in a horrific time in history.
I loved the author’s note at the end and learning about Harmel’s process, as well as her inspiration for this novel which is based on true events.
Harmel is masterful and though there were slow moments in the novel, it all paid off in the end with a beautiful story.
I LOVED this book.
Thank you for the ARC.

The blurb for this book intrigued me and I quite enjoy a well-written survival novel, so I thought I would give this one a go. I was very impressed! The survival details that Harmel put into this book were superb and clearly showed that she had done her homework. She didn't just decide to write this book and then wing it. No, she obviously spent hours thinking it through and researching for it.

The main character, Yona, has had a rocky past and spends much of her time alone. I think we could easily say that things have been traumatic for her. Yet, I found myself really liking her. She had a maturity and purity that was beautiful to read about. She was naïve as was made obvious by the first man she fell in love with and the way he eventually treated her, but she grew and she learned and she did not become bitter because of it. Her relationship with her father was absolutely heartbreaking. I wanted so bad for her to be reunited with her family and to be able to build a relationship with them, but that was not to be. I think, however, that this was an important point of the plot. Because in losing her biological family, she became ever closer with her adopted family - the Jews she risked her life to save.

Unfortunately, this was not a clean read. Yona is intimate with Alexander and then Zus which surprised me. I thought that there would at the very least be more push back at this because of their strong Jewish faith. Instead, it was easily accepted and hardly spoken of. At least, though, Harmel did not go into detail for these scenes and mentioned them, but did not feel the need to elaborate.

Despite this, I do plan to read more books by Kristin Harmel - I did very much enjoy this one.

A Very Different WW2 novel

This novel, The Forest of Vanishing Stars is a bit of a different WW2 historical novel. It evoked such a sense of determination and hope in me; much more than the usual novels based on the resistance groups or concentration camps. An interesting plot is melded with some very unique characters. Highly recommended.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-constrained e-arc via Netgalley with no obligation. This review is optional and my own opinion.

I really loved this one! Much like her last novel the Book of Lost Names, this story is set in Poland and revolves around the holocaust, focusing on those who are trying to survive, and those who try to help them survive.

Stolen from German parents in Berlin and raised by Jerusza in the wilderness in isolation, Yona craves belonging and searches for her place in the world. Never understanding where she came from or what her purpose is, Yona pieces together her earliest memories and the few snippets of information from Jerusza to try to understand why she was taken and kept from parents that seemed to love her.

As she slowly begins to trust others, she uses her survival knowledge to help save Jewish survivors who have fled the ghettos of Poland. There are some great twists and turns as her past unravels and as she struggles to figure out who she is, she begins to understand those around her with greater insight. I especially loved how through the story took us from the beginning of Yona's life, right to the end.

There is love, romance, sacrifice, hope and resilience, characters to love and hate, and all set in a historically accurate timeframe. Now I just need some of my friends to read it so that I can talk about it. There are so many things to discuss about Jerusza, her real parents, how isolation affects a person and how Yona overcame her fear of people and began to trust others. I highly recommend!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for the netgalley preview.

Kidnapped when just a baby, the only home Yona has ever known is the forest she was raised in. Her kidnapper Jerusa is an indifferent caregiver but believes Yona is destined to be a light in the coming darkness. When Jerusa dies, Yona is left alone and is uncertain of her purpose.. Then she helps a family fleeing from German soldiers. While she is vastly knowledgeable about the forest, she is a neophyte when it comes to human interaction. This novel tells the tale of how Yona finds purpose and meaning against insurmountable odds and how a chance encounter puts all of that at risk.

I enjoyed this book, it was a nice break from the paranormal novels I’ve been reading lately. it’s a tale of hope, courage and the connections between people—I’d recommend it to others who enjoy stories set during World War II.

Such a beautiful, well written story. The characters had so much depth and I felt like I was there with them. An emotional read for sure!

Another win for Kristin Harmel!! First off, what a STUNNING cover! Based on actual events, this is an incredibly moving story with memorable, original characters whose lives you can't help but get invested in.

I love that this year there has been a number of WWII historical fiction novels that focus on a new aspect of the Jewish Holocaust experience I haven't read before. In this book Harmel writes about the Polish Jews who survived by living in the forest and the harrowing experiences they endured. The main character is a young German woman who was kidnapped from her parents at two years of age and raised by an older Jewish woman in the forest who ends up dying and leaving her alone. When she comes across a group of Jewish refugees, she can't help but do everything she can to teach them how to survive life living in the forest.

I couldn't put this book down and found it incredibly compelling and utterly heartwarming, illustrating just how good people can be even at the worst of times. Written during the pandemic, the author's note details just how much Harmel believes WWII novels have the power to "remind us that there is always light at the end of the tunnel and that as a human race we can all triumph over the darkness." HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend this one, especially for fans of The woman with the blue star or The Warsaw orphan. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copies. If you enjoy WWII historical fiction, this is going to be one you need to read this year!

This WWII Historical Fiction story, inspired by real events, follows a young woman named Yona who was stolen as a toddler, raised apart from society, and educated in various subjects by her captor to allow her to survive in the forests during the Nazi occupation of Poland.

The premise has lots of potential, the cover is stunning, and it is clearly well-researched. But the story fell flat for me in plot and character depth and required me to suspend disbelief well outside my comfort zone. The story starts with an unexpected, whimsical feel that includes Yona's abduction at the age of two by a mysterious 80+ year old woman who managed to scale a home, steal a toddler and the live with the child in the woods for another two decades. Okay, so it's a bit of a fantastical start.

I appreciate that Harmel tried something different by adding this magical realism element, but it is only briefly and vaguely described and except for mentions of Yona's gut feelings/Spidey Sense, it felt ignored. The story focuses on Yona's day-to-day survival which got a bit tedious but allowed readers to see Yona's mad survival skills - hunt, forage, build tools, whip up a herbal remedy and know how to go unnoticed in the forest. That's a lot for a 20-year-old who learned everything from a few books and her captor - a woman who doesn't like her and has unexplained foresight which she's somehow passed on to Yona. Clearly, readers will have to suspend disbelief about Yona's abilities, her vivid memories from her toddlerhood and how adept she is at socializing even though she spent her life away from all but one person.

I feel like I'm poo-pooing this book, but I did like the larger story arc about a woman doing what she could to help Jews escaping the war. The strength of this book is in its themes of friendship, family and building our own sense of home and belonging. I also learned new things about WWII - specifically the cool bunker-like, rudimentary dwellings that some people used. And while not my personal preference, readers who enjoy religion in their books should like the scripture quotes within the story.

I had hoped to enjoy this book more. I appreciated that Harmel tried something a bit different, but I was left with too many unanswered questions and a less suspenseful story that often felt more Bear Grylls than Historical Fiction. Inspiring but not quite believable, this slower paced, character focused story gives readers a unique perspective of WWII with some grittier elements, but generally keeps readers outside the major atrocities of the war. Readers will find the author's note at the end helpful in explaining some of the plot points.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.