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A review by nursenell
Hidden Among the Stars by Melanie Dobson
5.0
This book goes back and forth between present day Ohio and Austria, and WWII Austria. Callie and her sister own a children’s bookstore in Ohio, and Callie also maintains a blog about children’s literature and their authors. Her sister gives her a birthday gift of an an original edition of Bambi, written in German and published in Austria. The name Annika Knopf is on the name plate. Callie notices that additional script has been added to the book plus there is a newspaper photo taped in the back. She sets out to solve the mystery of the extra writing, which seems to be an inventory of jewelry and other valuables.
Meanwhile in 1938/1939 in Austria the Nazis have marched into Austria. Before long Jews are not safe. Max, the almost 18 y.o. son of a prominent banker, is in love with a 15 y.o. Jewish girl, Luzia, who is the daughter of a doctor, and is also a violinist with the symphony orchestra in Vienna. Max’s parents own a castle in the mountains, about 4 hours out of Vienna. Annika is the daughter of the castle’s caretaker. She is in love with Max, having known him since childhood. The story revolves around the increased disruption of life in Austria, with Max and Annika hiding jewelry and valuables for Jewish friends and neighbors so the Nazis cannot confiscate them. When Max’s mother is discovered to be part Jewish she escapes to France, taking Luzia’s baby sister with her.
I found the book well written, with good character development, and there were unexpected turns I didn’t see coming.
Meanwhile in 1938/1939 in Austria the Nazis have marched into Austria. Before long Jews are not safe. Max, the almost 18 y.o. son of a prominent banker, is in love with a 15 y.o. Jewish girl, Luzia, who is the daughter of a doctor, and is also a violinist with the symphony orchestra in Vienna. Max’s parents own a castle in the mountains, about 4 hours out of Vienna. Annika is the daughter of the castle’s caretaker. She is in love with Max, having known him since childhood. The story revolves around the increased disruption of life in Austria, with Max and Annika hiding jewelry and valuables for Jewish friends and neighbors so the Nazis cannot confiscate them. When Max’s mother is discovered to be part Jewish she escapes to France, taking Luzia’s baby sister with her.
I found the book well written, with good character development, and there were unexpected turns I didn’t see coming.