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The Night War | LitPick Book Reviews
The Night War

From the two-time Newbery Honor-winning author of The War That Saved My Life and Fighting Words comes amiddle grade novel set at the border between freedom and fear in World War II France, at the Chateau deChenonceau, where a Jewish girl who has lost everything but her life must decide whether to risk even that to bringothers to freedom.

It’s 1942. German Nazis occupy much of France. And twelve-year-old Miriam, who is Jewish, is not safe. With help andquick thinking, Miri is saved from the roundup that takes her entire Jewish neighborhood. She escapes Paris, landingin a small French village, where the spires of the famous Chateau de Chenonceau rise high into the sky, its bridgeacross 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 thechateau, pretending to be Catholic to escape Nazi capture, Miri is called upon 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 toescape—hopefully to find her parents. But will she take it? One thing is certain: The person Miri meets that night willsave her life. And the person Miri becomes that night could save the lives of many more.

MASTERFUL HISTORICAL FICTION: Kim returns to the period of The War That Saved My Life and The War I FinallyWon, this time in WWII France. Kim has the trademark ability to blend history, emotion, humor, and adventure, thistime with a speculative twist, but a grounded one.

FRESH LOOK AT WWII: The role of the Chateau de Chenonceau in evacuating Jews to freedom is little-known in theUS but a fascinating piece of history, with appeal for the classroom curriculum.

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Book Details

Genre: 

  • Historical Fiction

Age Level: 

  • 8 - 12
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The Night War tells the heroic story of Miriam Schrieber, or Miri, a 12-year-old Jewish girl with commendable courage in the face of dangerous circumstances in France during World War 2. She makes the best of their confines of living in war times with food shortages and rules with her loving family and neighbors, including Nora Rosenbaum, the two-year-old neighbor girl, who is like a sister.  All of that changes as she and Nora escape the roundup of Jews. They are transported and separated to temporary safety.

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Ever since her neighbor Monsieur Rosenbaum has been taken by Nazis, Miriam Schrieber has been scared that her father would be taken in the same way. Miriam, or Miri, is a 12-year-old Jewish girl who is living in France after her house in Germany had been set on fire by Nazis. Even through her fear of those who she loves being taken away, Miri manages to enjoy a Jewish holiday called Gut Shabbos with her family and neighbors. However, the following day, news that the Germans are planning a round-up travels through the Jewish community.
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Be there. Experience the turmoil of World War II through the eyes of a twelve-year-old Jewish girl in the streets of Paris, France. Miriam carries the weight of the war on her young shoulders, haunted by the failures she perceives: failing to save Monsieur Rosenbaum, failing to find her mother when the gendarmes raided their apartment, and failing to keep her promise to baby Nora’s mother. But amidst the chaos and fear, Miriam finds a glimmer of hope in the form of redemption, if only she can choose courage and can trust the right people.

 

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