Based on a true story, The Light in Hidden Places, takes place in Poland during World War II. It has great reviews both on Amazon and on Goodreads and was chosen as Reese's Book Club's Young Adult pick for December of 2020. It's a story about the Holocaust, so there are instances of death and death of children, bullying, child abuse, confinement, genocide, gun violence, hate crimes, racial slurs, blood and violence, antisemitism and religious bigotry, grief, medical trauma, abandonment, injury detail, classism, war, and police brutality.
This story follows Stefania Podgorska, who moved to Przemysl, Poland when she was a teenager and began to work for the Diamants in their shop. Although the Diamants were Jewish and Stafania, or Fusia, was Catholic, they quickly became family and Fusia started to live with them when she was no longer able to live with her sister. As the Nazis move in to Poland, the Diamants leave Fusia to live in their home by herself as they are forced to live in the Jewish ghetto. When she tries to take refuge with her family at their farm outside of the city, she finds out that her own family has been conscripted and the only person left there is her six-year-old sister Helena, who she brings back to the city with her. Fusia begins to smuggle food to the Diamants inside the ghetto, but eventually, she agrees to hide the surviving members of the Diamant family. What she believes to be a few people quickly transforms into 13! Even worse, when the Nazis open up a medical hospital across the street, Fusia is forced to share her home with 2 of their nurses.
This story was incredible. The strength and courage that Fusia and Helena display is absolutely astonishing. It is written from Fusia's point of view and the fact that the story is true makes it even more astounding. I was not familiar with Stefania Podgorska or the Diamants before I read this novel, and I tried to let their story unfold as I read instead of researching them before I got to the end. A staggering tale of bravery in the face of some of the worse atrocities imaginable, do not sleep on this story. Well written with a follow up chapter of what happens to the survivors after the war ends, a chapter of humanity it is important we do not forget about or allow to repeat.
I'm giving The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron 5 stars. There's nothing more to say, Stefania and Helena Podgorska did what we all wish we had the courage to do, and they did it as children.
For more from Sharon Cameron, see https://sharoncameronbooks.com/
Pairs well with blintzes and doing your own research and listening when people tell you who they are.
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