The Night War

Set in occupied France in 1942, this middle grade novel follows twelve-year-old Miriam, a Jewish girl who narrowly escapes a Nazi roundup that takes her entire neighborhood. She finds temporary safety at a boarding school near the magnificent Chateau de Chenonceau, where she must pretend to be Catholic to survive. When a perilous opportunity arises to help others escape across the border, Miri faces a life-altering choice: pursue her own freedom and search for her missing parents, or become a hero for many. This gripping story, praised for its historical accuracy and "mystical twist," explores themes of courage, identity, and the profound impact of individual choices during wartime. It's an excellent choice for readers aged 10-14, offering a suspenseful and emotionally rich narrative.

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