Safiyyah's War
| Modern Age |
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 Safiyyah's War
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World History > Modern Age > WWII
Inspired by the true story of how the Grand Mosque of Paris saved the lives of hundreds of Jews during World War II, Hiba Noor Khan weaves a breathtaking tale of suspense, compassion, and courage, starring an extraordinary young heroine readers will never forget.
Safiyyah loathes the brutal Nazi occupation of Paris, even though her Muslim identity keeps her safe—or, at least, safer than her Jewish neighbors. Violence lurks in the streets, her best friend has fled, and even her place of refuge—the library—has turned shadowy and confusing, as the invaders fear the power of books.
Safiyyah longs to fight back and hates feeling powerless to help her Jewish friends. Worse yet, her father—who taught her to always do the right thing—is acting strangely and doing nothing to help them either.
Or is he?
Unravelling the mystery of her father’s odd behavior draws Safiyyah deep in the heart of the perilous underground resistance to the Nazis, where her bravery is put to the ultimate test…
Emily's Review
I am always excited to read a World War II story from a new perspective, which is hard to come by these days. By now, it seems that every story has been told. And yet, this book surprised me! I thought I was pretty well versed on this subject, but I had never heard of the Grand Mosque in Paris and their efforts to save as many Parisian Jews as possible.
Safiyyah and her family live in Paris, where there is a vibrant Muslim community. Thus far, they have been left alone by the Nazis in an effort to protect their interests in North Africa. So they were able to hide Jews and relocate them right under the Nazis noses. Safiyyah finds out what her father is doing to help the Jews and she wants to help, especially when one of her school friends turns up in the Mosque in need of help after her parents were arrested.
This story is full of excitement and emotion. Khan's writing is beautiful, and she really draws you into the story. Safiyyah is a wonderful protagonist, giving us a great view into what it was like to be a Muslim in Nazi-occupied France and showing us that even when it is scary and hard, it's always better to do what is right.
I am thankful that the author chose to tell this story now. We need the reminder that we were once friends, and this book gives me hope that we can find our way back to that friendship.
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