The Night War
In 1942, 12-year-old Miriam lives with her parents in Paris after fleeing Germany following Kristallnacht. During a roundup of all Jews in the Pletzl, Miri is separated from her parents, but joins her neighbor Madame Rosenbaum and two-year-old Nora. Urged by Madame Rosenbaum, Miri manages to escape with Nora in the chaos. With the help of a Catholic nun, the girls are sent to Chenonceaux, a French village, where Miri, now called Marie, attends the Convent School and Nora is adopted by a Catholic couple. Miri quickly discovers two of the nuns are helping Jews escape the Nazis through the Chateau de Chenonceau, which straddles the river between Occupied France and Vichy. Wracked with guilt over her choices that failed to save her mother and Nora’s father, Miri joins the nuns’ efforts to save as many people as she can, all while plotting a way to reclaim Nora and escape themselves. In the gardens of Chateau de Chenonceau, Miri encounters an enigmatic older woman who helps her succeed.
This middle-grade novel is fast-paced, suspenseful, and heart-wrenching. Miri is a sympathetic character who faces terrifying situations, forcing her to make life and death decisions. Her emotions are believable, admirable, and valiant. A fantastical element may catch some readers by surprise, but Bradley places hints along the way that may tip off those who read more closely. The secondary characters are fully formed and give younger readers of this period hope that people are capable of seeing the errors of their ways. An extensive author’s note expands on elements of historical events. Highly recommended for any reader who enjoys historical fiction and as an addition to any library collection of Holocaust books.
