Review - The Forest of Vanishing Stars - 5 stars

 

Kristin Harmel has hit the ball out of the park with this novel, The Forest of  Vanishing Stars, of the time just before and during the Nazi reign of terror in Europe. This terror is especially true for those of Jewish heritage, but others were also affected by it.

Follow a baby kidnapped from Berlin by an older woman who seems determined to keep the baby, child, and young woman totally controlled by keeping her separated from reality. The old lady, Jerusza, seemed to know a lot about living in the forest and existing beyond mere survival. The baby was named Yona, which means “dove,” because of a dove-like birthmark on her wrist.

Jerusza grows old and eventually passes beyond this life. She emphasizes to Yona that at all costs contact with other people should be avoided. This is a lesson well learned; however, when Yona is alone, real-life intervenes and it is not possible to remain a hermit.

Keep in mind that the rise of Hitler and the Nazis is happening during this time and you can probably guess who is going to pull Yona out of her shell.

Read this novel to see a glimpse of real pain being inflicted by one man and his ideology on groups of people deemed to be different. Yona will also remember enough of her young life to recognize her father in a heartbreaking reunion.

A wonderful novel that will keep you turning page after page to see what is happening next. I loved it.