Disappointed by this book.
It felt like there was something missing... I’ve really enjoyed Harmel’s other books, but this one just fell flat.
However, I am really happy I read it as the storyline was really unique.

This is an incredible story of survival and full of hope, love and heartbreak. I’m a sucker for stories based on female heroines of World War II, and this one doesn’t disappoint.

The forest offered a sanctuary for so many Jews during the Second World War. Through the character of Yona the forest came alive. It offered food, shelter and became essential for the persecuted Jews to escape their plight from the Germans. This story is one of survival in the midst of so much hate. It shows how working together and sharing talents and knowledge good things can happen . A solid historical read that was thoroughly researched and offered the reader an insight on how survival instincts are in most people when they are placed in a dangerous situation.

Stolen as a child, Yona is raised by Jerusza in the forest and taught the ways of nature. Left on her own after Jerusza's passing she encounters a group of Jews fleeing the Nazis but unable to survive on their own. Although forewarned to avoid humans Yona takes them under her wing and teaches them the survival skills they need. As the group grows the danger increases. Will they survive the war or will they be found and executed like the millions of Jews in wartime Poland and Belarus. Based on a true story Kristen Harmel weaves a tale we wish could be unbelievable but rings so true. The acknowledgments at the end include snippets of an interview with a 93 year old survivor. A quote from that interview that resonates as true today as all through history,"Hardship teaches a person life."
#TheForestofVanishingStars#NetGalley#SimonandSchuster

If you read The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Hamel and loved it, you’ll want to get your hands on this book as soon as it’s published.

It reads like no other book; it’s a historical fairy tale for historical fiction lovers. You’ll feel like you are a child again, curling up with a blanket and a flashlight to devour a great tale undisturbed. You’ll instantly be captivated and Harmel will continue to hold your attention THROUGHOUT the entire book.

Why fairy tale? You’ll read of an old woman who lives in the forest and sneaks into town to steal a little girl. She raises her in the forest as her own and teaches her how to survive in the wilderness. After many years, the old woman dies and the little girl, who has grown into a capable young woman, is able to use her skills to help Jewish refugees evade the Nazis.

Like a great fairy tale, you’ll be entranced because Harmel’s meticulous research into the Bielski brothers as well as the Nalibocka Forest, draws you into her story due to its authenticity of place and people. The rich descriptions of flora and fauna and the swamp experience will have you feverishly flipping pages because you’ll feel as though you are in the forest with them. You’ll be hyper-aware of your surroundings because the protagonist has trained you to listen and watch.

I love that in the middle of a country at war roams a soul who opens up her heart and shares her knowledge to help others who have lost everything. The forest itself has become a character in this tale. It knows no difference in race, religion, nor gender. It treats everyone the same, through protection and peril.

I loved Harmel’s message about home, identity and faith:

“The woods are where we learn who we really are.”

“I think that losing people you love changes you forever, but I think that God finds a way to let the light in.”

“Home is not a place, but the people you love.”

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

Please don’t miss the symbolism in the child’s birthmark nor in the title.

With a market saturated with WW2 novels, this one stands heads above the rest and you need to put it on your radar come July 6, 2021.

I was gifted this phenomenal tale, an advance copy, by Kristin Harmel, Simon & Shuster Canada, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

This was an incredible story of the power of survival during nazi occupied Poland. Both fantastical and realistic it weaves the tale of Yona/Inge and a group of Jewish people escaping the horrors of their previous homes. Love, survival and need are pitted against each other in this amazing story. This is my first Kristin Harmel. It will not be my last. Thank you NetGalley for the free digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

When a elderly healer is directed through her inner voice to steal a German baby from Berlin, it sets in motion a series of events that will change the future.

Yona is raised within the sheltering embrace of the Nalibocka Forest of Poland, learning survival skills, healing techniques, and methods to kill from the cantankerous Jerusza. The old woman refuses to tell her anything about her past until the she lays dying and reveals Yona’s parents’ names, but little more.

Left alone for the first time in her life, Yona is torn whether to remain in the forest as Jerusza ordered, or seek out her parents though they were far away. Before she could make a decision, her solitude ends when a group of Jews fleeing German soldiers stumble into the forest, weak and starving.

Yona takes it upon herself to teach the families how to live in the forest and ends up in love with one of the men. Danger follows them and keeps the group on the move while preparing for the upcoming harsh winter conditions.

Though Yona is experienced in the way of the woods, she is a novice when it comes to people’s emotions and has to learn how to interact with differing opinions- often getting hurt along the way.

This story tells of horrific crimes during WWII, some not easy to read. It boggles the mind how people can be so cruel in the name of their country.

While I found parts of this book repetitious, overall it was an engrossing read and introduced me to the plight of the Jewish people during the war.

“I voluntarily read an ARC of this book which was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.”

i am sorry ms. hamel for the low review. i did not like the almost witchcraft feel of this book. i expected more history, more war. jovi was like a walking encyclopedia with her knowledge of botany, history, seasons and the weather. as unbelievable as it was to have her "mother" know her death date at 102, it was impossible to wrap mt head around jovi knowing hers at 100, too. i am glad netgalley allowed me to sample this book because i would have been terribly disappointed to have spent money on it. sorry.

Okay... I loved this book!! I read a lot of historical fiction, primarily WWII books and this one is so different and intriguing. I loved how the protagonist is a strong, independent woman who people look up to and how her character develops throughout the book. This book differs from other WWII books I’ve read because the story of survival is based in the forest opposed to the usual attic/cold cellar havens. It has moments of love, moments of heartache and moments of adrenaline. Overall, it was such a pleasure to read and I’m sad it’s over.

I noticed just a few errors. This book was definitely well thought out and executed. Thank you for this book!

I was fortunate to get an ARC of this books. Historical fiction is my favourite and especially WWII. This is a wonderful book about a young girl kidnapped from her German parents and raised by an old woman in the woods in Poland. As an adult, she rescues Jewish refugees fleeing from the Germans. . It's a bit of WWII history I wasn't aware of - based on real stories of Jews hiding in Poland. It's a combination of historical WWII fiction, a survival story, love, sacrifice with a bit of a mystical element. "In times of great darkness, the light always shines through, because there are people who stand up to do brave, decent things."

Forests and the wild things in life have always fascinated me and I love to wander in them. But, if I was forced to hide and live in the forests, I’m not sure I would survive. Unless you have studied the stars, you could be lost very quickly! And without survival skills, you will be hungry too!

Kristen has written a story of the many people who were displaced during the war. Jews forced to leave their homes ended up in ghettos. They were then systematically sent to work camps. The other possibility was concentration camps or just shot outright! While many people helped the Germans, there were others who did not. They would listen and learn about upcoming campaigns to rid the towns and villages of all the Jews. They would warn all who would listen. Many took the chance and ran for the forests where they could hide!

The forest though can be unforgiving if you don’t know it’s secrets. Foraging and building shelters without being seen are things that most people don’t need learn for their everyday lives. But these are the very things that will keep them from being seen.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars begins with a young girl being kidnapped from her wealthy parents! While there is a brewing of hatred starting, it is well before the war actually begins. She is scurried away into the forest by a woman who knows all of the secrets of survival. She can move through the woods without detection. It is important for her to teach her young companion these things and more. Her education in the ways of the forest include healing with herbs and how to forage for food. She becomes fluent in many languages as well. Self defense, being able to “hide in plain sight” are tools that will be used many times.

Should the need arise she can also incapacitate or kill a person if they become a threat to her survival. She hunts, fishes, builds shelters, forages and ultimately becomes like a woodland elf. She learns how to make herself disappear into the woods and to listen to the sounds of changes around her too. Her compassion is fostered by her “forest mom”, and she learns all about the different religions and customs. She seeks “God” in all things around her. She truly has had an education that no one could imagine.

Her teacher knows that bad things are coming and the need to be able to hide successfully will save many lives. When the war begins, she is alone as her “forest mom,” has died. The lessons that she learned at her side will help her survive the onslaught that is about to happen.

She won’t be alone though! The compassion that she has learned will help her to become the leader of many hiding in the forests. They will need her help in order to live!

This story is powerfully written and has you on the edge of your seat waiting for what happens next. I don’t want to spoil it for you so I am reining myself in!

Suffice it to say that if you don’t read any other book this summer, you really must read this one!

It should be on bookshelves July 6, 2021 and you will not regret getting it!



As a member of Netgalley, I was given this book through Simon & Schuster Canada!

I promised to give a book report and truly I am pleased to be able to do just that. This book is amazing and really keeps you totally immersed in a period of time that we hope never happens again.
This Review is available on my website https://grammieknows.ca/the-forest-of-vanishing-stars-kristin-harmel/

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W.O.W!!! I have just finished reading this incredible book and what an unbelievable journey it was! This story was at times fantastical, bordering on biblical. Nonetheless it was completely captivating. I had a hard time putting it down. This book reminded me of a combination of "The Book Thief" and "Where the Crawdads Sing". The story is of a young girl, taken from her parents at a young age and raised in the woods somewhere near Poland and Belarus just prior to the outbreak of World War II. She is raised by an old woman who has seen many sad things and has premonitions of bad things to come. She prepares young Yona to learn to survive in the safety of the forest. This training comes in handy as Yona encounters Jews fleeing from the ghettos and her mission becomes to help them survive. This story is based on true events.

This is going to be a big summer hit and one that will be talked about for a long time. This book will be released on July 6. Run and preorder your copy now!

Thank you to Netgalley, Simon and Shuster Canada and Gallery books for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

5 Stars out of 5
Available July 6

Kristin Harmel has written a beautiful WW 11 historical novel . The storyline of a young woman living in the woods in Poland was what interested me and once I started I couldn’t stop! It is very descriptive writing and the reader experiences everything the characters in the book experience. It is a story of survival, atrocity, love, empowerment, and so much more. I highly recommend.

Author Kristin Harmel has done extensive research to produce a historical fiction novel of WW 2 in Poland that has more fact than fiction in it. I found this to be a very moving story of survival and destiny. Characters are intense and compelling,

The Nalibocka Forest of Poland is the home of Yona and Jerusza, the woman who stole a German toddler and raised her to live life with the forest as her natural habitat. When Jews fleeing death at the hands of the Nazis infiltrate the forest, Yona feels it is her duty to help them survive in the woods. Yona's solitary life opens when she lives amongst strangers while teaching this group how to manage every situation in every season.

The details were fascinating and some horrifying as the Nazis hunted Jews through the area. Reading of Yona's survival and details of the real Aron Bielski in the ending notes was a real eye-opener.

I highly recommend this novel.

I am grateful for the opportunity to read this book via Netgalley as an ARC. I must admit that this is the worst book I've read by Harmel. It was a slug to keep reading but I persisted as I feel obliged to provide feedback on the book generously offered up before its release date. I think the author attempted to incorporate locations and bits of true incidents but completely did no justice to those historical events.

First of all, the story features two women who are dubbed "extra-ordinary" because of their super sensory powers which renders the whole story like a mystical fable/fairy tale. Chapter one introduces the reader to a wizened old woman who kidnaps a two year old German girl from her biological parents in 1920. Jerusza has other worldly visions of events in history as well in the future including the exact date of her own death. The baby she stole is of German descent; her parents being Alwine, the mother and Siegfried Juttner, the father. Jerusza changes the baby's given name of Inge to Yona, which is Yiddish for dove and is the shape of a birthmark on Yona's wrist. The baby is described as having eyes of two very distinct colour. Immediately one can predict that both the birth mark and the colouring of the child's eyes will feature later in the book as identification.

Life with Jerusza is about survival in the forest which forms the basis of Jerusza's teachings. Jerusza tells Yona that her super powers are unique to a special class of Jewish women who may pass on this trait to a newer generation. She insists that Yona never leaves the forest and advises that Yona avoid men at all cost and stay away from civilization. Yona is in her early 20s when Jerusa dies at the age of 102 having kept her away from civilization and never really showing her any love. Jerusza is blunt about Yona not being her daughter and despite Yona's constant query about her background, it was only close to Jerusza's death when she provides some information and reveals the names of her parents. However, as the book progresses, it is clear that Yona has some of the same super sensory powers recalling her parents looking lovingly at her in her room in Berlin and being able to sense danger and threat ahead of time.

The bulk of the book is a slow crawl as Yona encounters varied family units and groups of fleeing Jews in the forest. Yona commits to help them survive and teaches them critical skills such as winter fishing, smoking fish, basket weaving, making soap, medicinal herbs, edible mushrooms etc. Embedded in these sections are some spiritual teachings and advice imparted such as "it doesn't matter what you were born to be; it matters what you choose to become" or "besa" which is a word of honour and an obligation to help their fellow man in moments of need. Or, "we all come to God in different ways." These spiritual teachings are intermingled with two superfluous love entanglements with Yona and two Jewish refugees.

In my opinion, this book needs strong editing to wipe out sections which simply drag the story along; people reciting the psalm and endless repetitive dialogue. At one point, Eva is erroneously inserted as the name for Yona. I simply did not enjoy this book. The protagonist is disconnected from the world, communicates with the dead, has super powers, and becomes part of a soapy love story. It is unfortunate that the author's intent to capture the story of the Naliboki Forest survivors falls flat. A generous rating of 2 stars which is definitely not aligned with what others may think. Disappointing for me.

A big thank you to Net Galley, Kristin Harmel and Simon & Schuster for giving me this opportunity to read this book. I have read many books about WWII but nothing like this one. This book went in to how the group survived during the war. I had every emotion going while reading this book. I cried, smiled, got mad at some characters. I loved Yona (Inge)) what a girl/young woman. The book was well researched and written. This is the fourth book of Kristin Harmel's that I have read. I have to say it's one of her best. Will be looking forward to more books by this talented writer. Again a big thank you to Net galley, Kristin Harmel, Simon & Schuster.

Kristin Harmel books for me, are like movie sequels - every other one in the sequence seem to be a dud.

I loved The Book of Lost Names. I hated The Winemaker's Wife. I loved the Room on Rue Amelie.

It should be said that while I usually enjoy WWII era books, this one just didn't work for me. I'm not sure if it was the setting or the storyline (which to be honest I'm not quite sure exactly what the storyline was).

It was very whimsical and mythical, and if that's your bag - and you love WWII historical fiction - then this will be a hit for you.

Sadly, it was not a hit for me.

This book is amazing.
This is the third or fourth Kristin Harmel book I have read, and much like the others, it does not disappoint.
Like a true WWII historical fiction novel, it is filled with great tragedy, survival against all odds and amazing characters that stand out.
I won’t give you a synopsis of the book, as I don’t particularly like when people reiterate what they can read on the back of the book or from the blurb on the good reads app. But, part of the plot of this book is about a girl who is raised in the woods and helps a group of Jewish people survive and hide in the woods. I was intrigued to find out after I finished the book (in the authors note), that this was inspired by true events. There was a whole group of Jewish people that did this and that made me like this story that much more.
I would 100% recommend this book to any reader.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars is a fictional story during World War Two that has been well researched to add depth to this amazing story. I would highly recommend this book and author for your reading enjoyment. #netgalley

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, so much so I power read through it. This is the third book Ive read by Kristin Harmel and I must say her storytelling is captivating. I can never put her books down.

The Forest of the Vanishing stars almost felt a bit like a fantasy in the beginning with tales of an abduction and fleeing to live among the forests, I was intrigued right away.s the story progressed and the history was spun into the novel I was mesmerized. I had no idea of this past for Jewish people and about the camps they lived in deep in forests. It was heartbreaking. The story is about love, friendships, betrayal, survival, loss, finding ones self and during a time when the world was full of hate.

I love that the author included her notes on research at the end of the book....it shows she has researched the history and stories, even communicating with a survivor from these forest camps....

I can’t wait for this book to come to print at my local bookstore so I can add it to my library!