From the Valley We Rise
From The Valley We Rise, a Resistance story set in Provence, France, recounts the rebuilding of Sisteron after the Allied invasion known as “Operation Dragoon” in August 1944. As told in four parts with suspenseful plot twists and the search for a traitor, Musser’s main characters represent vital parts of the Resistance, helpfully explained in an opening lexicon. Isabelle hides Jewish children with the assistance of her father’s expertise in forgery. Peter, a Protestant chaplain whose parents were missionaries in Algeria, serves as emotional and prayer support for the soldiers. Real-life René Amblard is the lone survivor of a German attack on his farmhouse as he strives to protect young Delphine, formerly Sarah Levy. She represents orphaned Jewish children, names changed for protection, who were adopted and hidden by French families.
Musser has lived in Provence for many years, providing authentic research and depictions of the Citadel, cliffs, and caves of Sisteron from personal experience. The networks of “ordinary citizens with extraordinary courage” who hid Jewish children are highlighted along with the undeniable bravery and determination of the French Resistance fighters, the Maquisards. The intriguing plot is filled with complicated personal relationships impacted by guilt, anger and fear as Peter and Isabelle compare stories of childhood and the plight of the loveable, discerning Delphine and René is revealed. The high-stakes relationship between Isabelle and the German Tomas adds tension and suspense, while Musser’s epilogue, set ten years later, provides a satisfying resolution to the lives of the Resistance fighters.
Themes include finding courage, recognizing fear, and forgiving oneself to find hope and deepen trust in God. Elizabeth Musser builds this suspenseful novel of the Resistance “one stone at a time,” leading to an emotional conclusion. From the Valley We Rise is highly recommended for book club discussions.
