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The Forest of Vanishing Stars is a historical fiction book set in World War II Poland, following a group of Jewish refugees as they work to survive in the forest and evade the Nazis. The protagonist, Yona, grew up in the forest with an old woman who was knowledgeable in the ways of the woods and taught her how to survive off the land. Yona becomes instrumental in the survival of a group of Jewish refugees who escaped from ghettos and concentration camps, and the story follows their trials and tribulations to survive in the forest. Winter survival is particularly brutal, and as someone who hates the cold, I can only imagine how terrible it would have been to survive, let alone help support children and elderly people in the forest in the winter.
I found the story remarkably real and immersive: the details made it feel as though I was there and that the story was truly happening. In her author’s note, Kristin Harmel details her research, and seeing that she based the story on real people and their struggles was a poignant reminder of the horrors that Jewish people faced in WWII. Yona is a deep, strong character who I loved to follow on her adventures. She has an intimate connection to the forest and we are able to see how she can sense the minutest details that are invisible to others. The connections between the characters are also beautifully developed, with love, betrayal and friendship, and we see how, just as Yona teaches the Jewish people how to survive in the woods, so too do they teach her how to be a part of a family.
Although there are harsh and brutal depictions in the book, I did not find anything to be done distastefully, as I have in some other WWII fiction. Instead, The Forest of Vanishing Stars shows the emotions and struggles of the main characters and brings us along on the journey with them.
Rated: High. There is some mild language as well as racial slurs and hate speech in relation to Jewish people. Some intimate scenes are also described, though beyond touching intimately it is closed-door. Firearm violence, death, and serious injuries occur often.
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