“I’m broken, too. But sometimes it’s the jagged edges that allow us to fit together. Sometimes it’s the breaks that make us strong.”–Kristin Harmel, The Forest of Vanishing Stars

I am a big fan of Kristin Harmel. She is a wonderful storyteller and often centers her novels on actual historical events. This book is no exception. This book focuses on Jews who escaped from various Polish ghettos to the forest in an attempt to escape the Nazi death machine. Be sure to read the author notes at the end of the book as she tells some of the real life stories.

In 1941 a young woman finds herself alone in the woods. Kidnapped as toddler from her home in Germany by a woman who took her to the forest and raised her there, she was taught how to survive in the forest and her contact with other humans was slim to none. When her kidnapper dies, she continues alone in the woods until she comes across a group of Jews who escaped from a Polish ghetto. They know very little about surviving in the forest, so she agrees to help them. They in turn teach her about community and relationships. The story has unexpected twists and turns–love, betrayal, heartache, and impossible choices–so sit back and enjoy the ride.

Content Advisory: Some language, sex, violence, disturbing war images