This book told the story of the rescue work two remarkable women did to save Jewish children from the Nazis. It made me feel the suspense, fear, and danger involved in each rescue. I understand why the book ended when it did but would have loved for it to be a bit longer to show some of the work Ida and Andree did after the war. I also would have liked to have seen more of the friendship that existed between them. I appreciated the author's notes at the end.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for the early read.

An eloquent exploration of the human spirit, "The Hidden Yellow Stars" weaves a poignant narrative deeply rooted in historical veracity. Andree Geuten, an erudite non-Jewish schoolteacher, serendipitously crosses paths with Ida Sterno, a Jewish woman clandestinely engaged in noble endeavors for the CDJ—Committee for the Defense of Jews—in Belgium. The crux of their shared commitment lies in safeguarding Jewish children through any conceivable means, shielding them from the ominous specter of German soldiers poised to consign them to an untimely demise.

The novel unfolds with meticulous attention to the intricacies of their altruistic endeavors, each assignment fraught with perilous implications. As the pages turn, the narrative gains momentum, reaching a crescendo in the latter part of the book where the stakes escalate to unprecedented heights. The narrative's immersive quality beckons readers into a world where courage intertwines with danger, forging a compelling tapestry of resilience against the backdrop of wartime tribulations.

This literary opus transcends age demographics, offering a profound and enlightening experience suitable for readers from middle school onward. Its significance lies not only in its storytelling finesse but also in its contribution to a nuanced comprehension of a lesser-explored facet of the Holocaust. Moreover, the temporal parallel drawn to the disquieting events of October 7th imparts a visceral urgency to the narrative, rendering the horrors depicted therein all the more palpable and immediate.

In encapsulating the triumphs and tribulations of its protagonists, "The Hidden Stars" emerges as a testament to the indomitable human spirit in the face of unspeakable adversity.

What a fabulous story of two women who risked everything in order to save Jewish children from Belgium. It was sad, heart-wrenching, and hopeful in equal measure, and definitely an emotional read. It was a beautiful story and definitely worth checking out.

Although there are so many true stories about WWII, Jewish children, and rescuing a minority group during such a horrific time, this book is phenomenal and will tug at your heartstrings. I personally think it is another wonderful book to add to a classroom library and the holocaust unit as well.

Wow. This story was heavy and hopeful and sad and inspiring all wrapped up into one.
To follow these women as they searched out and rescued Jewish children from the Nazis was amazon. Very inspiring!

This is a beautifully compassionate story about two women working to save Jewish children in Belgium from the Nazis.
Connolly tells this story with depth and heart. I was drawn into these characters worlds from the beginning and kept holding my breath wanting to know what was going to happen. It is a story that needs to be told and I am glad it is out in the world.
A good story for book clubs, with lots to discuss.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Belgium, 1942-45

Based on the true story of two young women during WWll who risked everything to save Jewish children from the Gestapo by hiding them throughout Belgium. Ida and Andree work around the clock to move as many children as they can before the Germans can find them.

Hidden Yellow Stars is not for those who lack courage, this story shows those who were lionhearted, and steadfast in their resolve to save as many Jewish children as possible despite the obvious risks to their own lives.

There is a heaviness to the pace of this story that can’t be avoided and this made some of my reading slower but I am still heartened by learning about these exceptional people during this time of peril. If I had a hard time reading this, I can only imagine what it was like for Ms. Connolly to write it.

My gratitude to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain. All opinions expressed are mine.

WOW! This is a fabulous story about those that operated the underground CDJ and helped hide and rescue thousand of children during the invasion of Germany to Brussels. We get to follow Ida and Andree as they navigate Brussels finding and bringing children to safety. This book will stay with me for a long time- the heroism displayed by so many in the face of certain torture and/or death for their actions is inspiring. I cried, I laughed and I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about real heroes. These women and men were nothing less.

What a delightful and engaging read, I absolutely loved the historical detail and the storyline was absolutely riveting. Excellent character development. I high recommend!

This was a heartbreaking, yet hopeful story, to read. My heart went out to those brave souls who tried so hard to save so many children from the fate the Nazis tried to ensure. It’s hard for me to understand how anyone could be so cruel and heartless, especially when it comes to innocent children, yet I was uplifted by the strength, courage, and resilience of those rescuing them in spite of fear for their very lives. Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing I received a free ARC copy. These thoughts and opinions are my own

Brussels, Belgium 1942-1945

What a beautiful way to recognize two women that gave so much to save Jewish children during WWII.

Andree Geulen was not Jewish, but didn't like what she was seeing in her classroom of young pupils. It was clear that the Jewish children were meant to stand out and not in a good way with their yellow stars. The other children were being taught in places other than her classroom to treat their Jewish classmates as lesser humans. Her opposition began small with having her students wear aprons all day hiding the stars. Then she transitioned to helping in a more tangible way despite risking her own life.

Ida Sterno was a Jewish woman committed to finding safe homes for Jewish children. This work was incredibly complicated and dangerous.

There are so many details in this novel based upon the actions of Andree and Ida. The details bring the reader closer to what it was like for those trying to be a light in this time of darkness. The impacts were a little different for the children, the caretakers and the children's parents. How my heart broke for parents willing to release their children in hopes of saving them.

Hidden Yellow Stars is both heartbreaking and hopeful.

Wow what a powerful story.

The book follows Andree and Ida as they rescue Jewish children during WW II.

The headings of each chapter are real quotes from news, leaders and people during that time. The quotes were so disturbing- what people thought of the Jewish people.

There were so many journeys the women took to ensure Jewish children were safe. Countless abbeys assisted by housing children and paying for costs to transport children. Smiling at the enemy even though one wrong move could mean you were arrested or worse.

I didn’t realize it was based on real women and stories until the end . These women were heroes who risked their lives to help innocent children to ensure they were safe and would not be rounded up by the Nazis. Many of them wouldn’t reunite with their families later as their families were killed in concentration camps but Many were reunited due to the amazing records the women took to ensure that even though each child used fake names they would be found after the Nazis left.
The book brought many emotions out- it was incredibly sad , but a powerful story of a few doing something to fight against injustice and wrongs and what an impact it made. Beautiful.
Thanks to Netgalley for a free download in exchange for an unbiased review.

Oh WOW! I love stories of history. This one has many amazing people working together.
When Jews are being rounded up by Nazis, a group of people in Belgium, work together to hide Jewish children right under their noses.
Incredible stories that are part of a whole. Some close calls and exciting get aways.

I love stories based on real people, and these people were so courageous and clever. The hiding of Jewish children in Brussels in WW2 was so well organised. Andree and Ida were amazing characters to read about. I particularly appreciated the quotes from Nazi literature about the Jews and the overt racism involved. In trying to recreate this time, Rebecca Connelly has done a great job of showing the need, the fear and the heartbreak involved. Truly a story that shows what ordinary people can do in the face of injustice.

This TRUE story is almost unbelievable. As many books as I've read about the horrors of WWII and the way people were treated, this one really wrecked me.
First of all because they were children. How and WHY?!!?
But mostly, the positive nature of the rescuers- the angels that risked their own lives and freedom to save and hide these children from the evil forces coming for them. The hardest part was imagining them caring so much for the families and children they were helping, and having to go through it time and time again. They truly loved those that they rescued, and it showed. That would have made it much more difficult.

It reminds me of this quote: WHEN I WAS A BOY AND I WOULD SEE SCARY THINGS IN THE NEWS, MY MOTHER WOULD SAY TO ME, 'LOOK FOR THE HELPERS. YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE HELPING.'
- FRED ROGERS

The chapter headings- ACTUAL excerpts from nazi officials, propaganda, and even children's books- just blew my mind. I've heard it before, I've read about it- but this story is written in such a beautiful way- I FELT it.

So many fav quotes:
"Humans were flawed, but they were capable of great things.
Horrible, evil, atrocious things, as well as daring, honorable, generous, and good things.
The latter just needed to be more powerful than the former."

It will be a long time before I forget this incredible book. Being a retired teacher, I was immediately drawn to it because Andree Geulen was a teacher. I instantly understood why she was so adept in this role of hiding Jewish children from the Nazis in Belgium. She instinctively knew how to put children and parents at ease, even under these monstrous circumstances. When plans went awry, she quickly improvised because that is what good teachers do every day. My heart broke with hers as she hid her emotions just as she hid the children and I cried my way through a brand-new box of tissues. Ida Stern was a similarly gifted social worker with the added burden of hiding her own status as a Jew. Together they were formidable, a force to be reckoned with.

These were real people who managed to save the lives of 3,000 Jewish children by hiding them all over the country. They never lost track of them, reuniting them with surviving family members after the war when possible. This book will enrage and inspire you. As Andree said to herself, "What a privilege it was to DO something in this world rather than just wish to." We owe it to their memories to fight the rising tide of anti-Semitism and neo-Nazis marching in our streets once more. Never again.

I am grateful to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this digital ARC. All opinions & the review are my own.

This book was very well written.
I didn’t realize till the end that these characters were real people- I learned a lot when reading it.
I also didn’t realize that the Nazis were so invasive in Belgium- it made me want to freshen up on my history.
This was not a romance, but is was so good! Had some sad moments, but it was a story of courage and triumph. These women were remarkable and deserved to have their story told. Great read!

To face danger with untold courage
This book is so touching even with the setting. The rounding up of the Jews for extermination during WWII is not generally a topic that would touch or impress you but this book will. This is the story, based in fact, of a group of women and men working silently behind the scenes in Belgium to save as many Jewish children as they can. Each mission places them in mortal danger. Each encounter could lead to arrest and imprisonment or even transportation with the Jews to the camps. Yet they continue unceasingly, working to save as many children as they possibly can. The book follows the lives of Ida Sterno and Andree Guelen as they rescue so many keeping carefully coded records to allow reunification with the parents at the end of the war. Their works and feelings they shared brought tears to my eyes more than once and total awe at the bravery and the determination of these people. An absolutely fantastic read. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy. This is my review and all thoughts are my own.

Loved this one! This book follows the story of two women in Brussels who help hide children during WWII. I enjoyed reading about their code notebooks and how they kept. track of children. I hope that I would have offered to take children in had that situation happened to me. I didn’t like that little Nicole’s story wasn’t finished, Andree was going to get her out of the restaurant and then the gestapo came so they couldn’t get her that day but the book never talked about them going back to get her or nay thing like that. I worry about her now, my ending is that she is safe still.

HIDDEN YELLOW STARS by REBECCA CONNOLLY tells the true story of the incredible bravery of Ida Sterno and Andree Geulen, amongst others, who belonged to the Comite de Defense des Juifs in Belgium and who worked tirelessly to save Jewish children from death at the hands of the Nazis. We see their compassion, bravery and unconditional love, as opposed to the vicious hatred and cowardice of their inhumane attackers.
I found this book a real inspiration, in spite of the harrowing stories of betrayal, imprisonment and death camps, as these resistance workers risked everything to not only find placements for the children with other mostly brave souls, but to check on them and to keep records so that after the war some families could be reunited.
These stories of one of the most horrific times of brutality and hatred in history need to be told, and we need to not only honour those who saved so many from the death camps, but also those who suffered so much brutality, most of them not living to tell their story. The book is well written and the author is to be congratulated for her honest recording of the facts, and her insight into the peoples’ emotions.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Shadow Mountain Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.