The Light in Hidden Places

by Sharon Cameron

Hardcover, 2020

Status

Available

Call number

T F CAM

Publication

Scholastic Press (2020), 400 pages

Description

Romance. Historical Fiction. Young Adult Fiction. HTML: The extraordinary story of Stefania Podgorska, a Polish teenager who chose bravery and humanity by hiding thirteen Jews in her attic during WWII—from #1 New York Times bestselling author Sharon Cameron. One knock at the door, and Stefania has a choice to make... It is 1943, and for four years, sixteen-year-old Stefania has been working for the Diamant family in their grocery store in Przemsyl, Poland, singing her way into their lives and hearts. She has even made a promise to one of their sons, Izio—a betrothal they must keep secret since she is Catholic and the Diamants are Jewish. But everything changes when the German army invades Przemsyl. The Diamants are forced into the ghetto, and Stefania is alone in an occupied city, the only one left to care for Helena, her six-year-old sister. And then comes the knock at the door. Izio's brother Max has jumped from the train headed to a death camp. Stefania and Helena make the extraordinary decision to hide Max, and eventually twelve more Jews. Then they must wait, every day, for the next knock at the door, the one that will mean death. When the knock finally comes, it is two Nazi officers, requisitioning Stefania's house for the German army. With two Nazis below, thirteen hidden Jews above, and a little sister by her side, Stefania has one more excruciating choice to make. Also includes a recorded conversation with author Sharon Cameron and reader Beata Po?niak, discussing Beata's decades long friendship with Stefania Podgórska and the legacy of the Podgórska sisters..… (more)

Barcode

6289

Awards

Language

User reviews

LibraryThing member Cherylk
Until, this book, I had only read one other book from this author. I could not stop reading Stefania, Helena, Max, and the others's stories as they survived the Germans. It is people like Stefania that are wiling to risk their lives for others that we should really appreciate freedom.

I highly
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recommend this book. It is one not to be missed. In fact, I would put this book in the same reading vein as The Hiding Place, The Diary of Anne Frank, and The Book Thief. This book will last the test of times and be one that will have people talking about it for years and years to come.
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LibraryThing member muddyboy
The captivating story of a relatively unknown teenage Polish girl and her younger sister who are able to save thirteen Jewish people from the Holocaust during World War 2. The author has done extensive research through interviews, recaptured diaries and personal papers. The novel is geared to young
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adults based on the publishing company but I really enjoyed the novel. The author shares the photographs of many of the people the book was based on at the end - a very nice touch.
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LibraryThing member Lisa2013
There was something about the writing style and storytelling style that I did not like. I was interested in this based on truth story though.

I simultaneously read the Kindle e-edition and the Overdrive audio edition, both borrowed from my public library.

The narration didn’t really work for me.
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It was useful for all the name & place pronunciations and pronunciations of the other Polish words but it was decreasing my reading pleasure. About 2/3 the way through the book I started reading the e-book only. I thought reading both editions simultaneously would be the most enjoyable way to read and do that often helps me focus & concentrate but even playing the audio on 1.5 time it slowed down my reading speed, and I’m not a fast reader. Mostly though I couldn’t stand the acting done by the narrator. Once I started just reading and stopped listening I enjoyed the book much more and was more inclined to want to pick it up and read it.

The based on true story is compelling. I had nightmares a few nights as I was reading. I decided to not take the stress and I researched the sisters and what they had done and its outcome. I wanted to know what had happened to all the people. There is a lot online about them, especially the two sisters. It’s hard to not put this on my non-fiction and biography and history shelves but it is a novel. I appreciated that at the end of the book the author includes a lot of information about what really happened during and after and also some photos. I had to go back and read it again, that the sisters Stefi and Helena (and I think Helena is just as much a heroine as her older sister) were disowned by their mother and brother after the war because they had hid Jews/saved the lives of Jews. I appreciate that the author does tell what became of everybody.

Reading just the words and ditching the audio (something I should have done from the start) I ended up really liking the book. The ending felt too abrupt to me even though I think how the events were portrayed were realistic and probably did happen that way and probably did feel that way to all involved.

This is an important story and I’m glad it’s told in this book. I’d like to read a non-fiction book about this woman, these sisters, all of these people and places.

3-1/2 stars, rounded up.
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LibraryThing member oldandnewbooksmell
Trigger Warnings: horrors of war, cruelty of Nazis, starvation, death, murder

The Light In Hidden Places is based on the true story of Stefania (Fusia) PodgĂłrska and her younger sister Helena, two Polish Catholics who hid 13 Jews in their attic during WWII in Przemysl, Poland.

As someone who, in the
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past, had almost always read historical fiction based in the WWII era, I held off on this one for a while before I grabbed it off my TBR shelf. A part of me wished I would have read it sooner, as I believe it’s now up in my Top 10 WWII books. But then again, I needed to be in the right mindset to read about everything.

Mr. Diamant shook his head. “Di velt iz sheyn nor di mentshn makhn zi mies,” he said. “The world is beautiful, but people make it ugly.”

The bravery of Stefania blew me away. What she did for her found family and then even for some complete strangers was amazing. Even young Helena who stepped up and kept her sister’s secret was so strong. They hid THIRTEEN Jews in their attic. THIRTEEN!

“Thirteen, I think. Thirteen Jews in the attic. It’s not like the Nazis could kill me more.”

Sharon Cameron did her research for this book: the unpublished memoir of Stefania’s was the backbone to the novel, as well as interviews with some of the other members of the group. I didn’t feel like the story was extremely long or anything as I know that Cameron was trying to put as much as she possibly could into the novel. I felt like there were a few loose(r) ends, mostly people who seemed to have disappeared after a certain point like the one eyebrow man who was following Stefania.

The depictions of the horrors of war and the cruelty of Nazis is appropriate for teen readers. It’s not an easy read, but it’s an important one. This story is beautifully written in a heartbreaking way. I would highly recommend this book to teen and older readers who would like to read about true heroism in the time of war.
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LibraryThing member bell7
Stefania Podgorska is a teenager in a small Polish town when the Germans invade. Known as Fusia, she works for the Diamants - a Jewish family - and finds herself making impossible choices trying to help the people she loves.

This story starts with a bang and never lets up. It's all the more
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impressive knowing it's based on a true story of a girl who, from the age of approximately 16-18 cared for herself and others, all while knowing she could be imprisoned or killed for what she did. I don't want to give much away, but suffice it to say the story is powerful and affecting. The author's note at the end, with photographs, was truly amazing.
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LibraryThing member muffinbutt1027
This book simultaneously tore my heart out and gave me hope.

ISBN

1338355937 / 9781338355932
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