The Night War
| Modern Age |
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 The Night War
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World History > Modern Age > WWII
From the two-time Newbery Honor-winning author of The War That Saved My Life and Fighting Words comes a middle grade novel set at the border between freedom and fear in World War II France, at the Chateau de Chenonceau, where a Jewish girl who has lost everything but her life must decide whether to risk even that to bring others to freedom.
“We don’t choose how we feel, but we choose how we act.”
It’s 1942. German Nazis occupy much of France. And twelve-year-old Miriam, who is Jewish, is not safe. With help and quick thinking, Miri is saved from the roundup that takes her entire Jewish neighborhood. She escapes Paris, landing in a small French village, where the spires of the famous Chateau de Chenonceau rise high into the sky, its bridge across the River Cher like a promise, a fairy tale.
But Miri’s life is no fairy tale. Her parents are gone—maybe alive, maybe not. Taken in at the boarding school near the chateau, pretending to be Catholic to escape Nazi capture, Miri volunteers one night to undertake a deadly task, one that spans the castle grounds, its bridge, and the very border to freedom. Here is her chance to escape—hopefully to find her parents. But will she take it? One thing is certain: The person Miri meets that night will save her life. And the person Miri becomes that night could save the lives of many more.
In her return to the era of The War that Saved My Life and The War I Finally Won, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley brings a new and different story, one with a mystical twist, that explores a little-known slice of World War II history, a highly unusual friendship, and the power of choosing courage even when—especially when—there are no good choices to be had.
Emily's Review
This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024, and thankfully, it did not disappoint. Brubaker Bradley is a magician - she can create characters you immediately fall in love with and then weave a captivating story around them. I couldn't put this book down.
What I loved most about this book was the ghost story element. I knew this was a more speculative story, but I wasn't sure how. The way the author weaves two histories together to tell the story is well done. I had watched the TV series The Serpent Queen about Catherine de Medici last year, so to see her turn up in a middle-grade story about WWII was a twist I didn't expect but ended up thoroughly enjoying. Miri is also a fantastic protagonist. She is properly distrusting of those around her, calls them on their antisemitism, and is incredibly brave. I think a handful of twists and turns will make this a page-turner for middle-grade readers!
I could tell that the author put a lot of research and love into this story. However, my one caveat would be to make sure this isn't your child's first story about Jews during WWII. I think the best way to go about it would be to start with a nonfiction book, like Just a Girl: A True Story of World War II or a fiction book based on a true story, like Catherine's War, and then pairing it with this book.
Other Similar Books
Other suggestions on the subject of World War II (European Front).
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