The Light in Hidden Places
Author: Sharon Cameron
Book Cover Rating: 6.2/10
(By the way, I have literally no qualification to rate cover art quality and am purely rating it on how I feel when I see it)
Pages: 400
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction
Subplots: Romance, War
Published: 2020
Hook:
It is 1943, and for four years, sixteen-year-old Stefania has been working for the Diamant family in their grocery store in Przemsyl, Poland, singing her way into their lives and hearts. She has even made a promise to one of their sons, Izio -- a betrothal they must keep secret since she is Catholic and the Diamants are Jewish.
But everything changes when the German army invades Przemsyl. The Diamants are forced into the ghetto, and Stefania is alone in an occupied city, the only one left to care for Helena, her six-year-old sister. And then comes the knock at the door. Izio's brother Max has jumped from the train headed to a death camp. Stefania and Helena make the extraordinary decision to hide Max, and eventually twelve more Jews. Then they must wait, every day, for the next knock at the door, the one that will mean death. When the knock finally comes, it is two Nazi officers, requisitioning Stefania's house for the German army.
With two Nazis below, thirteen hidden Jews above, and a little sister by her side, Stefania has one more excruciating choice to make.
Overall Book Rating: 10/10
I would undoubtably recommend this book
Review: Wow Wow Wow!! There is such a FINE line between books that make you cry your eyes out (in a way that makes you feel INVESTED in a book), and books that just make you just feel depressed and sad. Sharon Cameron walked that line AMAZINGLY!! I was SO invested in this book, cried a little, but was NEVER dragged down by the awful things happening (it takes place in WWII, so… clearly there is no lack of awful events). I LOVED the main character and felt like she was inspiring, but also relatable. She was powerful and brave, while still having human emotions and feelings. The plot kept me engaged, and I actually really liked the side characters too. THEN, I remembered this was a TRUE story about a REAL person, which made me LOVE this book even more!! This book was FABULOUS!!
Main Characters
Stefania Podgórska- Stefania, or Stefusia, or Stefushka, or Stefi, but usually Fusia, is a Catholic girl from Poland. She is sixteen, brave and daring, but also full of human emotions like fear and doubt.
Helena Podgórska- Helena is Fusia’s younger sister. She is also a Catholic girl from Poland. She is six, though she is brilliant socially, and great at lying/bluffing her way through situations.
Max Diamant- Max is a Jewish boy from Poland. He is just a few years older than Fusia. He has three brothers. He is brave and protects those he cares about.
The fact that these people were real and truly did such AMAZING acts of kindness and generosity!! I can’t even wrap my head around how difficult this situation must have been and how much bravery these people had.
Character Rating: 10/10
Setting-
This book takes place in Poland from 1936-1944. For the most part, it takes place in a city called Przemyśl.
Setting Rating: 10/10
Buy on Amazon:
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Sharon Cameron is the #1 NYT best-selling author of seven award-winning novels, including THE LIGHT IN HIDDEN PLACES (2020), BLUEBIRD (2021) and her newest book ARTIFICE, publishing November 7, 2023. Sharon’s books have won the Parents’ Choice Gold Award, the Westchester Fiction Award, the Junior Library Guild’s Gold Standard Award, earned starred reviews from Booklist, SLJ, Book Page and Kirkus, and have been chosen for Indie Next Top Ten, YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults, Audible Best Books, and numerous state award nominations. THE LIGHT IN HIDDEN PLACES was a 2020 Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick and has been sold in 19 countries.
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If anyone is interested, there is a foundation called The Stefi Foundation all about Stefania Podgórska and what she did. I don’t know much about the foundation, but I read the page with Stefi’s story (which happens to match up PERFECTLY with Sharon Cameron’s writing), and it is SO amazing and inspirational. They work to spread Stefi’s story around the world. The foundation also has pictures of Stefi and Helena (which I thought was pretty cool), and a spot to donate to the foundation. I highly encourage you to go check it out. The Stefi Foundation
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