I love historical fiction, and I love it when an author is inspired by a true story and then makes it come alive. Keeping their heroism and example alive for future generations to learn from.

Hidden yellow stars was special. In Belgium Andree was not Jewish, but she was horrified when she started seeing antisemitism in the classroom when some of her students started wearing stars on their clothes, due to the new laws. I loved her quick thinking to try and keep it out of her classroom. When students and families start disappearing, Andree feels there’s more she should be doing.

Ida Sterno is a Jewish woman that works with the Committee for the Defense of Jews in Belgium, a clandestine group working to hide Jewish children from the Gestapo. She recruits Andree due to her good heart and Arian looks and together, along with other brave souls, work to place Jewish children in homes and boarding schools where their identify will be hidden.

The stories of their work with children and families was heartbreaking and beautiful. Andree and Ida constantly put their own lives at risk to try and hide these children, and keep records hidden that will allow for reunification after the war.

This book was beautifully written and I’m so glad the author could preserve the legacy of the true story of Andree Geulen and Ida Sterno, who dedicated the war years to the safe keeping of children.

If you love historical fiction, don’t miss this one!

I really enjoyed this story (based on the lives of two women's true stories). The courage they showed as they rescued thousands of children is beyond admirable. The thing I loved the most is that they saw a need and knew they couldn't stand by and watch terrible things happen. They were truly remarkable women.

The only struggle I had was with the amount of names in the book - I would have to remind myself of the characters' real names and code names. But that was just a personal struggle.

The last quarter of the book is where things got really tense and I couldn't stop reading.

I also loved the author's personal connection that she mentions in the author's note at the end, that she found family members who perished in the Holocaust.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing, NetGalley, and Rebecca Connolly for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Hidden Yellow Stars by Rebecca Connolly

An emotional, love and heart-breaking WW2 book. Here is a book about a schoolteacher and hiding the Jewish student. The story setting was gripping and utterly get my attention. I read the book in two sittings.

I always eager to read more about holocaust and ww2 and this is the book that allows me to hook from the beginning!

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for my copy..

Pub date: Mar 5, 2024

This book packs a punch. It never fails to amaze me how much depravity we are capable of as people. The hate that was shown to Jewish people throughout WWII and even now continues is incredibly sad. I love reading and hearing about people who take a stand against injustice. Especially when taking a stand endangers not only themselves but people close to them. I think there lies within us all the power to be a hero or a villain in someone's life. I hope in reading and learning about the past that we would all choose to be a hero. I loved learning about Andree and Ida and all those who sacrificed so much to save children and families. I think these books are so important to read and I would highly recommend this book to all.

I adore all things WWII and the Holocaust. I am very avid that authors write without inserting their own opinions into the work so that the book is as historically accurate as possible. Rebecca did a fabulous job writing this story and in such a way that it holds the readers interest. From the beginning I was drawn into the story, to the point that I didn't set it down until I was finished reading it. As I was reading I doubled checked a few facts, as I typically do with a story like this, and everything I checked lined up with the historical facts.
If you are looking for a book that gives the reader the true story without diving off the deep end with explicit scenes that detract from the story this one is definitely for you. If you are looking for a book that draws your emotions to the surface, this book is it. My emotions included heartfelt tears as well as a bit of laughter. The fact that I was so emotionally involved with this story says a lot since I am generally not very emotional with books. This story is well written with just the right amount of character building, situational awareness, and truth. This will definitely be one I purchase for my home library!

Hidden Yellow Stars is based on true events that are so horrific that makes yku so grateful to be alive! The world could hardly fathom what happened so how were they!! Despite this a courageous group of people rose to meet the tragedy with a measure of bravery I could only hope I would have if faced with such circumstances and adversary. Its well written and upsetting to read but its definitely a must read!

“All they wanted to do was save the ones they could.
As many as they could.”

I truly love and appreciate stories from WWII. Especially WWII historical fiction books based on real people. Rebecca Connolly is one of my favorite authors and she has a perfect way of writing. These inspiring, real people working to save as many children that they could.

The chapter headings were powerful reminders of this horrible time in history. Real quotes from Nazi officials spreading so much hate and lies. The author does an incredible job of recreating this time of history and sharing this story inspiring story of those who didn’t stand for these horrors. The risks and decisions made are inspiring and this story will stay close to my heart.

“Ironically, the goodness was taking place because of the evil and sadness around her.”

I received Netgalley approval from the publisher and a paperback ARC. All views and opinions expressed are my own.

HiddenYellowStars #NetGalley

Hidden Yellow Stars is the true account of Jewish children who were hidden by host families, convents,schools. The story is told in told in fictional form. This book brought me to tears, how hard it must have been to hand your children over to strangers not knowing if you would ever see them again. How brave were the people who were the ones to deliver the children to the various locations. How kind to open your home or other establishment to house these young children. The children didn't always have an ideal situation in which they were placed, some people were cruel and the children were the ones who suffered. This story and its effects will linger in my heart.

Hidden Yellow Stars by Rebecca Connolly is based on true events so horrific, the world could hardly fathom it. Yet a courageous group of people rose to meet the tragedy with a measure of bravery I could only hope I would have if faced with such circumstances. This is my first book from this author and I’m certainly looking forward to more from her.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions expressed are completely my own.

Readers will follow the footsteps of Ida and Andree as they set to save Jewish children when the Germans invaded Brussels. The two worked together rescuing and finding places to hide the children as well as concealing their identities. A hard but important read. Recommended.

If I taught high school, this would 100% go on my reading list for my students. Fourth graders just wouldn't understand or appreciate it. I LOVED this. I am a student of WWII history, but I've not yet delved into Belgium's role. This was fascinating. I loved literally everything about it. I was on the edge of my seat for a great deal of the book, wondering how Andree and Ida were going to manage. I was cheering for them and hoping everything would work out. Even better, this is based on a true story. Now I will seek that out and learn more!

A teacher in Belgium, Andree, feels for her students that are now faced with wearing the big yellow star that marks them as Jewish. The children shouldn’t suffer for their religion. But what can she do she is only one, until she finds many more helping the children and joins them putting her own life in peril for the children. But Andree makes a friend fast in Ida who is Jewish, and they work themselves night and day to help save as many children as they can.
This book has so much action and suspense that it will have you holding your breath. The girls and the feelings portrayed are so realistic. This is most certainly a can’t put down kind of book. I really enjoyed it a lot and yes it kept me up past my bedtime several nights.

Thank you net galley for giving me this opportunity to read this book.
It's 1941 and a young school teacher Andree Geulen is summoned to the headmistresses office at the boarding school in which she works.
In the office of the headmistress she meets Ida Sterno who is part of a resistance group in Belgium.
When Andree notices that certain students are missing. She is relunctant to join the CDJ, but because it involves helping children she agrees.
The people who work at the CDJ are Jewish and Andree is not.
Ida sees something in Andree which would benefit the CDJ in helping to hide the Jewish children.
Andree vows to reunite the children with their families at the end of the war.
These are my own opinions and was not paid to give a review.
This was an excellent book.

Beautiful, heartbreaking, educational. Thank you to the author and the publisher for the advanced copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hidden Yellow Stars is a compelling book based on a true story of two women in Belgium who joined a resistance movement to save Jewish children from the Germans in WWII. Schoolteacher Andree Geulen and Ida Sterno work together with others to hide the children, painstakingly changing their names and keeping track of them in order to, hopefully, reunite the families later. Knowing their very lives are at peril, they selflessly risk all to give these children a chance of surviving.

This poignant and heartbreaking story has been carefully researched by talented author Rebecca Connolly. I recommend this book to those who enjoy well-written historical fiction based on actual happenings. 4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Shadow Mountain Publishing through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

It really pulled on my heartstrings. It still amazes me how cruel peiple can be to eachother, but it also show the strength in people and how they are able to put glimmer of hope in a black era. A must read.
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

Hidden Yellow Stars was a fantastic read for someone who loves to learn some history while reading a story. I found it really interesting and enjoyed learning more about the time period and what World War II looked like in Belgium. It made me more aware of the plight of the Jewish people in Belgium (while prior the focus was always on Germany). I really enjoy Rebecca Connolly's writing style and attention to detail. It was a fantastic story and a story worth telling.

This was an interesting book. The story is heartbreaking, watching how people treat others. And yet hope is there too with how others work to help others. The facts behind this are amazing and this group was able to save so many children.

I struggled with the format, there is a lot of back and forth between characters and the narrative felt disjointed for me. At about 70% in the tension started to build.

All in all, an educational read.

5 stars, Pulls at the Heartstrings

HIDDEN YELLOW STARS
by Rebecca Connolly

This book affected me strongly. I was only able to read it in short spurts. Not that it is hard to read, but it pulls at the heartstrings. Books that have anything to do with children usually affect me more strongly, than others, that's a good thing.

A teacher tries to make everyone comfortable at school by hiding the new yellow stars that some children have to start wearing. She gets creative and makes a difference to her young students.

The resistance made up of different people, a lot of women gather together to do what they can to rescue the Jewish children from the horrors that are coming at them. Some of the new places the children are sent to are safe for the children, but some places are not safe.

"Children are not naturally vicious" and "...protecting those who were no longer able to defend themselves." are memorable quotes.

I specifically didn't care for Fat Jacques, a man who turned traitor to his own people and was aiding the Nazis by turning in Jewish families.

Thinking of the courage of the resistance taking the risks, the children and their parents putting their trust in the resistance to keep the children safe and to help reunite the families, after the war is over.

I received a complimentary copy of #HiddenYellowStars from #NetGalley #ShadowMountainPublishing I was under no obligation to post a review.

#WWII #Resistance #Traitors #StarOfDavid #RescuingChildren #HighlyRecommend #RebeccaConnelly #strongfemaleprotagonist

I just finished reading "Hidden Yellow Stars" and I'm still reeling from the emotional rollercoaster that this book took me on. It's set during World War II and tells the story of two women, Andrée and Ida, who risk everything to save Jewish children from the Nazis.

I'm not gonna lie, this book is intense. It deals with some heavy themes like war, loss, and trauma, but it's also about hope, resilience, and the power of human connection. The characters are so well-written that I felt like I was right there with them, feeling their fear, courage, and determination.

Andrée and Ida are total badasses. They're like superheroes, but instead of superpowers, they have courage, compassion, and a willingness to risk everything to do what's right. I was inspired by their bravery and selflessness, and I felt like I was learning about history in a way that was real and relatable.

The writing is amazing, too. Connolly's descriptions are vivid and immersive, and she weaves together historical facts with the characters' personal stories in a way that's engaging and easy to follow. The pacing is perfect, with moments of action, suspense, and quiet reflection that kept me turning the pages.

This book also made me think about my own life and the things that matter to me. It's a reminder that even in the darkest times, there's always hope and that we all have the power to make a difference. It's a powerful and emotional read that will stay with me for a long time, and I can't recommend it enough.

So, if you're looking for a book that will challenge you, inspire you, and make you feel all the feels, then "Hidden Yellow Stars" is the book for you. It's an emotional rollercoaster that's totally worth it, and I promise you won't regret reading it!

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley and publisher for generously providing me with a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.