The Dance Teacher of Paris is a wonderful well written dual time line, forming an intriguing story as you follow a Grandmothers journey sharing her untold past with her Granddaughter.
Paris in 1942, under Germany rule, we follow Adele Basset as she continues to try to bring some solace to her students during the darkest time. But when the Germans demand the names of Jewish students and start the roundups of Jewish families, she can’t just do nothing. Hiding her friends, Jewish pupils in the school attic she puts her life on the line. With the help of her long-time friend, Manu, they begin forming a plan to help those hidden to escape.
Suzanne Fortin captures the strength of ordinary people risking their lives for others. Along with the bravery, determination and courage while also sharing the beauty of love.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Embla Books as I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

From the very first page, I knew that I was going to be hooked on this book and have a hard time putting it down. Suzanne Fortin has crafted a very compelling story showcasing the struggles of a school teacher and ballet teacher, Adele, as she navigates her way through living in Occupied Paris. This book is dual timeline setting that alternates between 1942 and 2015. One thing that really grabbed my attention from the beginning was it was not very obvious how both timelines were connected. It really drew me deeper into the story as I tried to figure out the connection, all the while falling in love with both timelines, their characters and their stories. The way Suzanne crafted each chapter and subtly blended them together to piece together puzzles of the story was very smoothly done.

This story shows the great lengths that many ordinary people of Occupied Paris went to in order to save Jewish people, especially children. This is a story of bravery, selflessness, determination, love, compassion, strength that is displayed by Adele and her co-conspirator Manu. They work together to craft a mastermind plan to help Jewish children escape from the school that was once a safe haven to them, but in a short time, became like a prison.

This is one of those books that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

I loved this book! In fact I didn’t want it to end. It’s difficult to understand just how bad things were for many people during WW2, but this story illustrates it in a way that although shocking, is not too graphic.

“What more could anyone ask for these children as the war in Europe raged on? The hour after school each day was an escape for them and for her after a long day teaching. Here at the classes, through the medium of dance, they could be anything and anywhere they wanted. Goodness knows, they deserved a little pleasure and respite the hour brought - they had already witnessed horrors children had no right to see.”

Suzanne Fortin’s latest book, The Dance Teacher of Paris, explores the pressures teachers felt under the Nazi regime. It’s a powerful homage to those educators who refused to let their belief in a compassionate world give way to hatred and extremism.

Alternating between Paris in 1942 and England in 2015, Fortin’s book enables readers to see how the past and the present inform each other. As I reached the vanishing point (where the timelines come together), I finally realized what the two stories had to do with each other. Fortin’s ability to (1) write equally compelling timelines and (2) keep me intrigued by sharing just enough facts to propel the story forward, was outstanding. Her transitions were beautifully choreographed. In addition to realizing the strength of the human spirit and the courage of ordinary people, readers are reminded about what it takes to be a great educator - a willingness to take the first step beyond their duty and make a life-changing impact.

I was hooked from the first page! As the options for Jewish children in Paris dwindled, Fortin ramped up the tension and I needed to see if the dance teacher could find a solution to keep her students safe. I’ll remember Manu and Adele’s story for quite some time because Fortin appealed to my emotions, placed me in the action, and quickly drew me in, enveloping me in a fantastic story.

As I turned the last page I was reminded of Maya Angelou’s wise statement about the influence I have on children. Adele Basset, the dance teacher of Paris, is holding out the torch. Take it and become intentional about how you make children feel.

Do you have a place of influence in a child’s life? If so, you’ll want to put this book on your 2023 reading list. I can’t think of a better book to kick start the year running alongside our quest to become better people in the next 365 days.

This five-star book will have a place in my top three historical fiction reads of 2022!

I was gifted this copy by Embla books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.