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lisasreadinglog's review against another edition
5.0
It’s WWII. There are 13 Jewish people hiding in Stefania’s attic. There are 2 German nurses and their SS Officer boyfriends in the second bedroom. What could go wrong?
THE LIGHT IN HIDDEN PLACES had me up until 2am on a school nightnight. I couldn’t put this book down. Stefania Podgorska watches as her Jewish friends and her second family are taken away into the ghettos and eventually “labor camps”. She decides to hide 13 Jewish friends and strangers in her attic. Every day is uncertain. Every day is terrifying. But Stefania, her little sister, and their friends find small joys to keep them fighting.
The author wrote this book based on Stefania’s unpublished memoir, interviews with living characters, and a PBS documentary. This has easily become one of my favorite novels of all time.
THE LIGHT IN HIDDEN PLACES had me up until 2am on a school nightnight. I couldn’t put this book down. Stefania Podgorska watches as her Jewish friends and her second family are taken away into the ghettos and eventually “labor camps”. She decides to hide 13 Jewish friends and strangers in her attic. Every day is uncertain. Every day is terrifying. But Stefania, her little sister, and their friends find small joys to keep them fighting.
The author wrote this book based on Stefania’s unpublished memoir, interviews with living characters, and a PBS documentary. This has easily become one of my favorite novels of all time.
sarcasticnerdette's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
heidi920's review against another edition
challenging
dark
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
emromc's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
layla_kay's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Very very good, completely sucked me in. I loved the ending so much!
melbsreads's review against another edition
challenging
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content warnings: war, antisemitism, violence, genocide, death, death of a loved one, murder, assault, graphic medical procedures, animal death, confinement, gun violence, police brutality, blood, religious bigotry
I understand that this was written as a novel to make it appealing to a young adult audience. But there was just something about this that consistently left me with the feeling that I would have preferred this as a biography than as a fictionalised version of Stefania's life.
Don't get me wrong, there's nothing inherently wrong with this book. It tells a powerful story and it tells it well. But something about the way it's told held me at arm's length emotionally. And, like, it SHOULD be emotionally powerful. But for me, it just...wasn't? And I think that if this had been a biography, it could have been more powerful than it was.
In summary, this is an important story. But also, SHRUG.
I understand that this was written as a novel to make it appealing to a young adult audience. But there was just something about this that consistently left me with the feeling that I would have preferred this as a biography than as a fictionalised version of Stefania's life.
Don't get me wrong, there's nothing inherently wrong with this book. It tells a powerful story and it tells it well. But something about the way it's told held me at arm's length emotionally. And, like, it SHOULD be emotionally powerful. But for me, it just...wasn't? And I think that if this had been a biography, it could have been more powerful than it was.
In summary, this is an important story. But also, SHRUG.
jlritchie66's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A reminder of just how cruel people can be. When will, as a species, we stop determining the worth of someone by the color of their skin, their race, their nationality, their religion. The strength that Stefania and Helena had to possess at such a young age is truly phenomenal. The desire to live, against all odds, forced Max and the other Jewish people to endure under the most horrific circumstances. A true testament to the strength of humanity.
kfmyers's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0