Hardcover: 368 Page
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (February 25, 2020)
From international bestselling author Mario Escobar comes a story of escape, sacrifice, and hope amid the perils of the second World War.
Synopsis
August 1942. Jacob and Moses Stein, two young Jewish brothers, are staying with their aunt in Paris amid the Nazi occupation. The boys’ parents, well-known German playwrights, have left the brothers in their aunt’s care until they can find safe harbor for their family. But before the Steins can reunite, a great and terrifying roundup occurs. The French gendarmes, under Nazi order, arrest the boys and take them to the Vélodrome d’Hiver—a massive, bleak structure in Paris where thousands of France’s Jews are being forcibly detained.
Jacob and Moses know they must flee in order to survive, but they only have a set of letters sent from the south of France to guide them to their parents. Danger lurks around every corner as the boys, with nothing but each other, trek across the occupied country. Along their remarkable journey, they meet strangers and brave souls who put themselves at risk to protect the children—some of whom pay the ultimate price for helping these young refugees of war.
This inspiring novel, now available for the first time in English, demonstrates the power of family and the endurance of the human spirit—even through the darkest moments of human history.
Review
✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️/5
Each time I pick up a historical fiction novel I wonder if WWII fiction, in particular, has run out of plot lines. But once again I was surprised, this time by Children of The Stars. The telling from the perspective of the boys was fresh and took on an innocent quality that kept this book from becoming too heavy – a slight concern of mine prior to starting the book.
I read this book in an evening. Historical fiction isn’t typically a page-turner for me but this book was different.
The writing was beautiful and the translation was excellent. I didn’t feel like I was missing anything which can sometimes be the case in translated fiction. With this book, the author’s voice was clear and captivating.
I loved nearly all of the characters and the book took on a tone of hopefulness. If you’re looking for a different perspective in a historical fiction book, you will most likely love this book. It’s available today from your favorite bookseller!
Purchase Links
Amazon | Books-A-Million | Bar
About Mario Escobar
Mario Escobar Golderos (Madrid, Spain) has a degree in History, with an advanced studies diploma in Modern History. He has written numerous books and articles about the Inquisition, the Protestant Reformation, and religious sects. He is the directs the magazine Nueva historia para el debate, in addition to being a contributing columnist in various publications. Passionate about history and its mysteries, Escobar has delved into the depths of church history, the different sectarian groups that have struggled therein, and the discovery and colonization of the Americas. He specializes in the lives of unorthodox Spaniards and Americans.
Connect with Mario
Website | Facebook | Twitter
Thank you to TLC Book Tours and the publisher, Thomas Nelson for a copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
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