"The Forest of Vanishing Stars" by Kristin Harmel

The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel
Call Number: FICTION Harmel
Harmel returns with an evocative coming-of-age World War II story about a young woman who uses her knowledge of the wilderness to help Jewish refugees escape the Nazis--until a secret from her past threatens everything. After being stolen from her wealthy German parents and raised in the unforgiving wilderness of eastern Europe, a young woman finds herself alone in 1941 after her kidnapper dies. Her solitary existence is interrupted, however, when she happens upon a group of Jews fleeing the Nazi terror. Stunned to learn what's happening in the outside world, she vows to teach the group all she can about surviving in the forest--and in turn, they teach her some surprising lessons about opening her heart after years of isolation. But when she is betrayed and escapes into a German-occupied village, her past and present come together in a shocking collision that could change everything.

Character Development:
- Explore the character of Yona and her journey throughout the novel. How does she evolve as a character, and what factors shape her personality and choices?
Historical Context:
- Discuss how the novel portrays the historical context of World War II. What aspects of the war are highlighted, and how does the setting contribute to the overall narrative?
Themes of Identity:
- Analyze the theme of identity in the novel, particularly Yona's struggle with her own identity. How does her background and upbringing influence her sense of self?
Survival and Resilience:
- Consider the theme of survival and resilience in the face of adversity. How do the characters in the novel demonstrate resilience, and what challenges do they overcome?
Family and Belonging:
- Explore the theme of family and belonging. How do the characters in the novel navigate their sense of belonging, and what role does family play in their lives?
The Forest Setting:
- Discuss the significance of the forest setting in the novel. How does the forest serve as a backdrop for the characters' experiences, and what symbolic meaning does it hold?
Ethical Dilemmas:
- The novel presents various ethical dilemmas, particularly in the context of survival during wartime. Discuss the moral choices made by the characters and the impact of these choices on their lives.
Cultural and Historical Accuracy:
- Assess the novel's portrayal of cultural and historical details. How accurately does it depict the time period and the cultural context in which the story unfolds?
The Role of Mythology:
- Explore the role of mythology and folklore in the novel. How do these elements contribute to the storytelling, and what themes or lessons can be drawn from them?
Resistance and Activism:
- Discuss the themes of resistance and activism in the novel. How do characters resist oppression, and in what ways do they actively work against the challenges they face?
Connections to Other Works:
- Consider any connections or similarities between "The Forest of Vanishing Stars" and other works of historical fiction or literature set during World War II. How does it contribute to or deviate from the broader genre?
Ending and Resolution:
- Without giving away spoilers, discuss your thoughts on the ending and the resolution of the novel. Did it meet your expectations, and were there any surprises?

The timeline of World War II escapees is complex and varied, as individuals and groups sought to escape from occupied territories, prisoner-of-war camps, and other dangerous situations during the conflict. Here is a general timeline highlighting some key events related to escape attempts during World War II:

1939-1940: Early War Period

September 1939: Germany invades Poland, marking the beginning of World War II.
1940: As Germany advances through Europe, many individuals and groups attempt to flee from occupied territories to neutral or Allied countries.

1941-1942: Expansion of Occupied Territories

1941: Germany invades the Soviet Union, expanding the scope of the war.
1941-1942: Escape attempts from German-occupied territories continue, involving individuals, resistance groups, and downed Allied airmen.

1942-1943: Escape Attempts from POW Camps

1942: Allied prisoners of war (POWs) initiate escape attempts from German POW camps, including the famous "Great Escape" from Stalag Luft III in 1944.
1943: Escape attempts become more organized, and some prisoners successfully reach neutral or Allied territory.

1944: D-Day and Liberation

June 6, 1944: Allied forces land in Normandy on D-Day, marking the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe.
1944-1945: As Allied forces advance, individuals and resistance groups continue to escape from occupied territories.

1945: End of the War

May 7-8, 1945: Germany surrenders, marking the end of World War II in Europe.
1945: Liberation of concentration camps and POW camps allows survivors to escape to freedom.

Throughout the War:

Underground Resistance Movements: Resistance movements in various occupied countries aid escapees, providing hiding places, forged documents, and assistance in crossing borders.
Downed Airmen: Allied airmen shot down over enemy territory attempt to evade capture, with the help of resistance networks.

Post-War Period:

1945-1950s: Displaced persons (DPs), including concentration camp survivors, refugees, and those who escaped from occupied territories, seek resettlement and recovery in the aftermath of the war.

It's important to note that the experiences of escapees during World War II were diverse, ranging from individuals fleeing persecution to POWs attempting to break free from captivity. The timeline reflects the dynamic nature of escape attempts throughout the war. Many escape stories remain untold or are known only to those directly involved.

Birth: Kristin Harmel was born on August 4, 1979, in Newton, Massachusetts, USA.
Education: She graduated from Florida State University with a degree in journalism and communication.
Early Career: Kristin Harmel began her career as a reporter, covering topics such as entertainment, lifestyle, and human interest stories. She worked for various publications, including People magazine.
Transition to Fiction Writing: Kristin made a transition to fiction writing, and her early works include novels in the women's fiction and romance genres.
Diverse Genres: Kristin Harmel has explored diverse themes and genres in her writing. While some of her novels fall into the contemporary romance category, others delve into historical fiction, often blending elements of romance with historical events.
Notable Works:
- "The Sweetness of Forgetting" (2012): A novel that weaves together themes of love, family, and the impact of World War II.
- "The Life Intended" (2015): A contemporary novel exploring love, loss, and second chances.
- "The Winemaker's Wife" (2019): A historical fiction novel set in France during World War II, delving into themes of love, betrayal, and survival.
Recognition and Success: Kristin Harmel has achieved success as a bestselling author, and her novels have gained popularity among readers.
Advocacy and Philanthropy: Apart from her writing, Kristin is involved in philanthropic activities. She has supported charitable causes and organizations.
Adaptations: Some of Kristin Harmel's works have been optioned for film adaptations, indicating the widespread appeal of her storytelling.
Continued Writing: Kristin Harmel has continued to release new novels, exploring a variety of themes and settings.

The Last Train to London by Meg Waite Clayton
Call Number: FICTION Clayton
In 1936, the Nazi are little more than loud, brutish bores to fifteen-year old Stephan Neuman, the son of a wealthy and influential Jewish family and budding playwright whose playground extends from Vienna's streets to its intricate underground tunnels. Stephan's best friend and companion is the brilliant Žofie-Helene, a Christian girl whose mother edits a progressive, anti-Nazi newspaper. But the two adolescents' carefree innocence is shattered when the Nazis' take control. There is hope in the darkness, though. Truus Wijsmuller, a member of the Dutch resistance, risks her life smuggling Jewish children out of Nazi Germany to the nations that will take them. It is a mission that becomes even more dangerous after the Anschluss--Hitler's annexation of Austria--as, across Europe, countries close their borders to the growing number of refugees desperate to escape. Tante Truus, as she is known, is determined to save as many children as she can. After Britain passes a measure to take in at-risk child refugees from the German Reich, she dares to approach Adolf Eichmann, the man who would later help devise the "Final Solution to the Jewish Question," in a race against time to bring children like Stephan, his young brother Walter, and Žofie-Helene on a perilous journey to an uncertain future abroad.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Call Number: FICTION Doerr
From the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr, a stunningly ambitious and beautiful novel about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II. Marie Laure lives with her father in Paris within walking distance of the Museum of Natural History where he works as the master of the locks (there are thousands of locks in the museum). When she is six, she goes blind, and her father builds her a model of their neighborhood, every house, every manhole, so she can memorize it with her fingers and navigate the real streets with her feet and cane. When the Germans occupy Paris, father and daughter flee to Saint-Malo on the Brittany coast, where Marie-Laure's agoraphobic great uncle lives in a tall, narrow house by the sea wall. In another world in Germany, an orphan boy, Werner, grows up with his younger sister, Jutta, both enchanted by a crude radio Werner finds. He becomes a master at building and fixing radios, a talent that wins him a place at an elite and brutal military academy and, ultimately, makes him a highly specialized tracker of the Resistance. Werner travels through the heart of Hitler Youth to the far-flung outskirts of Russia, and finally into Saint-Malo, where his path converges with Marie-Laure. Doerr's gorgeous combination of soaring imagination with observation is electric. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, Doerr illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another. Ten years in the writing, All the Light We Cannot See is his most ambitious and dazzling work.
The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman
Call Number: FICTION Hoffman
Berlin. Hanni Kohn knows she must send her twelve-year-old daughter away to save her from the Nazi regime. Ettie, the daughter of a renowned rabbi, offers hope of salvation when she creates a mystical Jewish creature, a rare and unusual golem, who is sworn to protect Lea. Once Ava is brought to life, she and Lea and Ettie become eternally entwined, their paths fated to cross, their fortunes linked. In Paris Lea meets her soulmate. From there she travels to a convent in western France known for its silver roses; then a school in a mountaintop village where three thousand Jews were saved. Meanwhile, Ettie is in hiding, waiting to become the fighter she's destined to be.
The Ways We Hide by Kristina McMorris
Call Number: FICTION McMorris
Raised amid the hardships of Michigan's Copper Country, Fenna Vos has learned to focus on her own survival-even now, with the Second World War raging in faraway countries. Though she performs onstage as the assistant to an unruly escape artist, behind the curtain she's the mastermind of their act. After all, her honed ability to control her surroundings and elude entrapments, physical or otherwise, reliably suppresses the traumas of her youth. For all her planning, however, Fenna fails to predict being called upon by British Intelligence. Tasked with creating escape tools to thwart the Germans, MI9 seeks those with specialized skills for a war nearing its breaking point. Fenna reluctantly joins the unconventional team as an inventor. But when a test of her loyalty draws her deep into the fray, she discovers no mission is more treacherous than escaping one's past. Inspired by stunning true accounts, The Ways We Hide is a riveting story of love and loss, the wars we fight-on the battlefields and within ourselves-and the courage found in unexpected places.
Dragonfly by Leila Meacham
Call Number: FICTION Meacham
At the height of World War II, a handful of idealistic young Americans receive a mysterious letter from the government, asking them if they are willing to fight for their country. The men and women from very different backgrounds -- a Texan athlete with German roots, an upper-crust son of a French mother and a wealthy businessman, a dirt-poor Midwestern fly fisherman, an orphaned fashion designer, and a ravishingly beautiful female fencer -- all answer the call of duty, but each for a secret reason of her or his own. They bond immediately, in a group code-named Dragonfly. Thus begins a dramatic cat-and-mouse game, as the group seeks to stay under the radar until a fatal misstep leads to the capture and the firing-squad execution of one of their team. But is everything as it seems, or is this one more elaborate act of spycraft?
The Black Swan of Paris by Karen Robards
Call Number: FICTION Robards
Paris, 1944 Celebrated singer Genevieve Dumont is both a star and a smokescreen. An unwilling darling of the Nazis, the chanteuse's position of privilege allows her to go undetected as an ally to the resistance. When her estranged mother, Lillian de Rocheford, is captured by Nazis, Genevieve knows it won't be long before the Gestapo succeeds in torturing information out of Lillian that will derail the upcoming allied invasion. The resistance movement is tasked with silencing her by any means necessary--including assassination. But Genevieve refuses to let her mother become yet one more victim of the war. Reuniting with her long-lost sister, she must find a way to navigate the perilous cross-currents of Occupied France undetected--and in time to save Lillian's life. In this heart-wrenching novel, bestselling author Karen Robards showcases the extraordinary lengths one goes to save their family from a German prison. A web of spies, the resistance and a vivid portrayal of Paris in wartime.

Historical Fiction Book Club - Past Titles: "The Forest of Vanishing Stars" by Kristin Harmel

"The Forest of Vanishing Stars" by Kristin Harmel

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