Miriam believes she is safe with her parents, now they have moved to France and away from Hitler. She has made close friends in the
building she lives in, and loves caring for a neighbour’s toddler named Nora. Without warning, one day their entire building and Jewish community are rounded up by the French Police. They are marched onto buses and driven away from their homes.
Miriam’s father has hidden before the round up after a tip off beforehand, but she has no idea where her mother is. Not searching for her mother before she was taken, Miriam’s guilt grows further. She’s already blaming herself for a man’s arrest the year before.
On the bus, her neighbour asks her to look out for young Nora, and Miriam escapes with the toddler in her arms. She soon finds herself in a Catholic Convent with a new name, and no idea where Nora is. Realising her true religion must be hidden, she begins to learn the Catholic prayers, and vows to find Nora and escape to Switzerland. She has heard they will be free there.
Her inner guilt has grown further after breaking her vow and losing Nora, but she tries to make the most of her new home which has girls who want to be friends and enough food to go round. The nuns are kind and caring and at first unknown to all, helping others like her.
Aiding them within this secret helps dilute a little of the guilt she is carrying, but not knowing where Nora is weighs heavily upon her. When she learns Nora’s whereabouts, her courage grows with her determination to save them.
A local castle manned by German soldiers is the gateway between occupied and free France, and Miriam knows that somehow she must find Nora and cross this armed border. Little does she know there is help at hand from a very unexpected source.
By the author of The War that Saved My Life, The Night War is set in German occupied France in WWII. Main character Miriam is a well rounded character, full of guilt for things out of her control and keen to make good on them. Her courage grows throughout this novel and her secret identity brings more tension to the story.
Some French history is woven through the story in an unlikely character and supernatural element, which adds a twist, and allows Miriam to achieve deeds filled with courage.
As Miriam learns the rituals of the Catholic faith, whilst secretly performing her Jewish faith (in her head), readers learn about both. This novel is ultimately about the acceptance of all peoples, no matter what race, religion or beliefs, and their right to live in peace. This is expertly woven through the plot and shown through dialogue and actions of those helping others.
The author’s note adds more with information about the building of the French resistance that ultimately helped them win their country back.
Author – Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Age – 9+
(2024, Text Publishing, War, WWII, World War 2, France, Nazis, Soldiers, Convent School, Nuns, Bravery, Courage, French Queen, Castle, Guilt, Secret, Historical, Family, Promise, Secret, Gardens)