Star of Fear, Star of Hope

Reach for this book when your child is processing a friendship that ended on a sour note or when they are struggling with the guilt of a missed opportunity to be kind. This poignant story follows Helen, an elderly woman looking back on a single night in 1942 Paris when she argued with her Jewish best friend, Lydia, just before Lydia and her family disappeared during the Holocaust. It is a deeply moving exploration of regret, the permanence of loss, and the importance of choosing words carefully. While the historical backdrop is heavy, the focus remains on the universal childhood experience of friendship and the desire for a second chance that never comes. It is an essential tool for parents looking to introduce the Holocaust through a personal, relational lens while discussing the weight of our actions in the lives of others.