Book Description: Fifteen-year-old Julien Losier just wants to fit in. But after his family moves to a small village in central France in hopes of outrunning the Nazis, he is suddenly faced with bigger challenges than the taunting of local teens.
Nina Krenkel left her country to obey her father's dying command: Take your brother and leave Austria. Burn your papers. Tell no one you are Jews. Alone and on the run, she arrives in Tanieux, France, dangerously ill and in despair.
Thrown together by the chaos of war, Julien begins to feel the terrible weight of the looming conflict and Nina fights to survive. As France falls to the Nazis, Julien struggles with doing what is right, even if it is not enough-and wonders whether or not he really can save Nina from almost certain death.
Based on the true story of the town of Le Chambon-the only French town honored by Israel for rescuing Jews from the Holocaust-How Huge the Night is a compelling, coming-of-age drama that will keep teens turning the pages as it teaches them about a fascinating period of history and inspires them to think more deeply about their everyday choices.
My Review: I enjoy books that deal with WWII and especially books that tell a story of Jews who escaped Hitler and his death trap.
Not only was I enticed by the cover of this book but the title "grabbed" me. How Huge the Night seems to aptly describe how most people must have felt during this terrible time in history ~ like the night would never end!
Julien was quite "real" to me....maybe because I remember being 15 and all the changes that came into my life at that age. But mostly, I think, because he is "real." His sentiments, his feelings about the war and his "misunderstandings" about his family are heart tuggers.
Of course, Julien isn't the only "likable or livable" character in this read ..... there's Nina (oh, Nina's story is quite stirring!) and then there's Benjamin! And Gustav! Oh, and I truly loved Julien's grandpa. A sweet, kindhearted, true blue gentlemen. Well, I could go on and on....but I don't want to give away spoilers!
Julien's parents feel that they MUST move their family to the small village of Tanieux, France. Julien's frustrations with attending a new, small school where he is the new kid and feels most unwelcome until one of his classmates strikes up a conversations and learns that Julien isn't truly a "foreigner." When his classmate, Roland, finds out that Julien's grandfather is a local and that Julien lives with him. He gives Julien some great advice on how to fit in as a local and with his classmates. After Julien learns "the ropes" his life begins to change.
Then one Sunday as Julien is sitting in church listening to the pastor's sermon the pastor booms, "Love your enemies!" Julien finds himself listening and thinking....the pastor continues his thought provoking sermon on loving your enemies. At the end the pastor states, "The weapons of love, Fearless love." Julien feels that he wants to do something/will do something as a solider would with fearless love.
This is 5 star GREAT-Tastic story! I simply loved this read even though it is classified as teen fiction I feel that adults will love this read too!
**Don't forget to read the very end of the book, Historical Note, by Heather Munn .
Heather and Lydia Munn have done and outstanding job of capturing the emotions and history of this time period which they based on actual events!
**Don't forget to read the very end of the book, Historical Note, by Heather Munn .
About the Authors:
Heather and Lydia Munn have done and outstanding job of capturing the emotions and history of this time period which they based on actual events!
