Book Synopsis
Based on the true story of two World War II heroines who risked everything to save Jewish children from the Gestapo by hiding them throughout Belgium.
Belgium, 1942
Young schoolteacher Andrée Geulen secretly defies the Nazis in Belgium, who are forcing Jews to wear a yellow Star of David. Andrée is not Jewish, but she feels a maternal connection to her students, who are living in constant fear, and decides to take action. No child should have to suffer under such persecution. But what can one woman do against an entire army?
Ida Sterno is a Jewish woman who works with the Committee for the Defense of Jews in Belgium, a clandestine resistance group tasked with hiding children from the Gestapo. She wants to recruit Andrée because her Aryan appearance can provide crucial security measures for their efforts. Andrée agrees to join and begins work immediately by adopting a code name: Claude Fournier.
Together, Andrée and Ida, and their undercover operatives, work around the clock to move Jewish children from their families and smuggle them to safety through the secret channels established by the resistance. As each child is hidden, Andrée commits to memory their true name and history. Someday, she vows, she will help reunite as many of these families as she can.
But with the Gestapo closing in and the traitorous Fat Jacques who has turned from ally to enemy and is threatening to identify and expose any Jew he meets, Andrée and Ida must work even harder against increasingly impossible odds to save as many children as possible and keep them safely hidden--even if it might cost them their own lives.
Book Details
- Publisher : Shadow Mountain (March 5, 2024)
- Genre: Historical Fiction
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 304 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1639932348
****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****
My Review
There is a heavy emotional impact while reading Hidden Yellow Stars, because of its focus on the experiences of Jewish families in Belgium during World War 2. The story follows two remarkable women dedicated to aiding Jewish children in escaping the Gestapo and finding safe refuge. The story centers on the tireless efforts of The Committee for the Defense of Jews, risking danger at every turn to smuggle families to safety.
Ida Sterno, a Jewish woman involved in the CDJ, finds schoolteacher Andrée Geulen, a young,non-Jewish woman who helped her students by concealing the yellow stars they wore. Andrée's Aryan appearance allowed her to safely escort children to hiding spots, even passing by Gestapo officers gathered in the street. There were many heart-stopping moments as they hoped for the children's true identity to stay concealed.
Along with the courage and determination of Ida, Andrée, and other CDJ members, the story also shows the harrowing reality of families that were forcibly taken from their homes and the brutality of concentration camps. While not shying away from the horrors faced by many Jews, the storyline avoids getting into excessively graphic details, instead focusing on the bravery that was shown by these women in protecting the innocent children.
The book not only educates on this tragic historical period but also highlights the courage of individuals who assisted those in need. Make sure and read the author's notes at the end of the book for further information and understanding. Rebecca Connolly's storytelling skills shine in Hidden Yellow Stars. You're immediately immersed in this powerful novel that I know will be in my top 10 reads of 2024. This impressive story should be read by all to remember the atrocities that took place and that we prevent them from happening again.
****Meet Author Rebecca Connolly****
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