The Forest of Vanishing Stars: 'A powerful story of survival and resilience'
Parade “Best Books of Summer” pick * Real Simple pick * She Reads “Best WWII Fiction of Summer 2021” pick
The New York Times bestselling author of the “heart-stopping tale of survival and heroism” (People) The Book of Lost Names returns with an evocative coming-of-age World War II story about a young woman who uses her knowledge of the wilderness to help Jewish refugees escape the Nazis—until a secret from her past threatens everything.
After being stolen from her wealthy German parents and raised in the unforgiving wilderness of eastern Europe, a young woman finds herself alone in 1941 after her kidnapper dies. Her solitary existence is interrupted, however, when she happens upon a group of Jews fleeing the Nazi terror. Stunned to learn what’s happening in the outside world, she vows to teach the group all she can about surviving in the forest—and in turn, they teach her some surprising lessons about opening her heart after years of isolation. But when she is betrayed and escapes into a German-occupied village, her past and present come together in a shocking collision that could change everything.
Inspired by incredible true stories of survival against staggering odds, and suffused with the journey-from-the-wilderness elements that made Where the Crawdads Sing a worldwide phenomenon, The Forest of Vanishing Stars is a heart-wrenching and suspenseful novel from the #1 internationally bestselling author whose writing has been hailed as “sweeping and magnificent” (Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author), “immersive and evocative” (Publishers Weekly), and “gripping” (Tampa Bay Times).
The New York Times bestselling author of the “heart-stopping tale of survival and heroism” (People) The Book of Lost Names returns with an evocative coming-of-age World War II story about a young woman who uses her knowledge of the wilderness to help Jewish refugees escape the Nazis—until a secret from her past threatens everything.
After being stolen from her wealthy German parents and raised in the unforgiving wilderness of eastern Europe, a young woman finds herself alone in 1941 after her kidnapper dies. Her solitary existence is interrupted, however, when she happens upon a group of Jews fleeing the Nazi terror. Stunned to learn what’s happening in the outside world, she vows to teach the group all she can about surviving in the forest—and in turn, they teach her some surprising lessons about opening her heart after years of isolation. But when she is betrayed and escapes into a German-occupied village, her past and present come together in a shocking collision that could change everything.
Inspired by incredible true stories of survival against staggering odds, and suffused with the journey-from-the-wilderness elements that made Where the Crawdads Sing a worldwide phenomenon, The Forest of Vanishing Stars is a heart-wrenching and suspenseful novel from the #1 internationally bestselling author whose writing has been hailed as “sweeping and magnificent” (Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author), “immersive and evocative” (Publishers Weekly), and “gripping” (Tampa Bay Times).
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Community Reviews
The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel tells an undeniably powerful story—one rooted in resilience, loss, and the fight to survive against horrific odds. Set in the forests of Poland during WWII, it follows Yona, a girl kidnapped from her wealthy German family and raised in isolation to live off the land. As war spreads, Yona discovers her purpose in helping Jewish refugees hide and survive in the wilderness. The novel weaves a tapestry of grief, hope, and identity—especially as Yona grapples with her heritage, love, and the brutal realities of war.
But while the story’s subject matter is deeply important and inspired by true accounts, the execution didn’t quite resonate with me. The pacing was slow, and I struggled to stay engaged as the bleakness of the plot—death, violence, and sorrow—weighed heavily from start to finish. I often felt like I was trudging through the narrative, hoping for a moment of relief or momentum that rarely came.
I also had a hard time suspending disbelief for many of the plot points. Yona seemed to have every survival skill imaginable—fluent in multiple languages, expert in medicine, able to take down enemies in hand-to-hand combat, and somehow always stumbling into the right people at the right time. These conveniences made it harder for me to emotionally invest in her journey, especially when some of the most dramatic turns felt a bit too cinematic to be believable.
Still, I appreciated the novel’s intentions and the spotlight it placed on forest-based resistance and survival during WWII. Harmel’s research and heart are evident, and readers who enjoy historical fiction with emotionally driven plots may find more connection here than I did.
Another really good historical fiction coming of age WWII story. If you are a fan of The Nightengale or The Last Year of the War, you'll like this book too. A young woman, Yona, uses her knowledge of the wilderness to help Jewish refugees escape the Nazis. Stolen as a baby from her wealthy German parents, Yona was raised in the unforgiving wilderness of eastern Europe. She knows little about human interaction when she stumbles upon a group of Jews fleeing Nazi persecution. Yona teaches the group how to survive in the wilderness and they teach her about belonging to a family. When Yona feels betrayed by a member of the group, she flees into a German occupied village where her past and present collide. Yona's loyalty is tested in this suspenseful, compelling story of survival and bravery.
The storyline moves quickly, the characters are fleshed out and the descriptions are vivid. I have read many stories about WWII but none of refugees hiding and surviving in the forests of Poland. Harmel did extensive research for this novel which is inspired by true stories of survival. The author's notes are a must read too. There is a small element of folklore or magic at the very beginning with the woman who kidnapped Yona as a baby (the woman was old when she kidnapped Yona). I wasn't sure I liked that but after finishing the book, I see that it was such a small piece and it does add to the magical feel of the story. Yona is a wonderful character and human being in a time when the world was so very dark and bleak.
The storyline moves quickly, the characters are fleshed out and the descriptions are vivid. I have read many stories about WWII but none of refugees hiding and surviving in the forests of Poland. Harmel did extensive research for this novel which is inspired by true stories of survival. The author's notes are a must read too. There is a small element of folklore or magic at the very beginning with the woman who kidnapped Yona as a baby (the woman was old when she kidnapped Yona). I wasn't sure I liked that but after finishing the book, I see that it was such a small piece and it does add to the magical feel of the story. Yona is a wonderful character and human being in a time when the world was so very dark and bleak.
This is a must read. She captures your mind to be with her in the story as she portrays it. Excellent writer.
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