4.5 stars

I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Mario Escobar, Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This book was beautifully written and translated from Spanish. I honestly could not believe how smoothly it was written and translated so well that I would have thought that it was written in English.

I have read many WWII books and this was another good one! The story was intense and kept me reading to find out what would happen next after all of the twists and turns. The one big takeaway from this story was that most people are good and we must fight back against evil. Very timely today with the issues in the USA currently with immigration, Dreamers, and White Nationalism. NEVER AGAIN!

I had no idea about how many Jewish families and individuals escaped to Spain and then South America specifically Argentina. This definitely would be a lot harder to do today with our technology. This is WHY I read - I learn something new from EVERY single book that I read!

The only picky issue that I have with this writer is that he gets a little long-winded at times. That is being REALLY picky as even the long-winded passages are beautifully written.

HIGHLY recommend.

Children of the Stars
by Mario Escobar
(Publication Date: Feb 25, 2020
by Thomas Nelson Publishers)
... 368 pages ....

A five star affirmation that there is more good than evil in this world. A poignant journey through hell as the Jewish brothers, Jacob and Moses Stein - 12 and 8 years old, respectively - attempt to cross Nazi occupied France in the tumultuous year of 1942 , trying to reunite with their parents. Eleazar and Jana Stein, although respected and revered playwrights in Germany, feel the ever closing noose of Nazism and flee Germany in hope of finding a safe haven. They send their two sons to live with their aunt in Paris ... hoping they will be safe while they find work and obtain the necessary paperwork for all four to be reunited.
Mario Escobar weaves and poetic and lyrical narrative of the harrowing journey of these boys - who symbolize the plight of many children and adults fleeing from the overwhelming menace of the Nazi maelstrom. The author seamlessly blends fact and fiction with heartbreaking authenticity . France was occupied by the Germans ... with the aid of the collaborating Vichy regime controlling the South of France, under the dubious leadership of Marshal Philippe Petain. It was virtually against the law to be a Jew. Statutes were passed resulting in the loss of all their rights and proposing their ultimate deportation .... with the Nazi's idea of deportation being a trip to their death camps. And yet, amongst this dark cloud in history, there remained those individuals who would risk their own lives to shelter, hide and expedite the flight to safety of these hunted foreign immigrants , Jews and others. Escobar provides a moving narrative featuring these heroes.
The brothers find needed succor in that historically real small village of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon ...
under the remarkable leadership of the local Protestant minister Pastor Andre Trocme, the citizens of the village risked their lives to rescue and hide Jews from both the Nazis and their spineless Vichy collaborators. The goal was to obtain forged identification papers and facilitate their border crossing to the safety of neutral Switzerland.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing an electronic ARC of this beautiful novel in exchange for an honest review. I must immediately go download his earlier and highly acclaimed novel of 2016 - "Auschwitz Lullaby". (readersremains.com)

Children of the Stars by Mario Escobar

This story immediately strikes me as a YA novel. It gives the reader a clear explanation of the evils of Germany in the early 1940s in Europe, as seen through the eyes of two young Jewish boys.

These siblings are left to their own devices to find their parents Eleazar and Jana who have escaped to Buenos Aires, leaving the youngsters with an aunt in Paris. Jacob is left to care for his younger brother Moses as events cause the brothers to be on the run as they search for their parents.

There are moments of tension in the story as the boys manage to squeak out of many bad situations, as one evil after another keep the boys moving about. As an adult, you will wonder how Jacob has such worldly and mature thoughts about life considering his lack of experience. A YA reader will probably just pass over these thoughts without even considering this.

This reviewer thinks this story would be a good introduction for learning about the Holocaust, as it is quite an adventure for a young reader, but not a story for an older one.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #ThomasNelson#Netgalley

Children of the Stars is a great book, the characters were well created and vivid. The story line was easy to follow and it kept my interest to the end. The journey the boys took was thrilling, exciting, heartbreaking and refreshing all at once. Each step of their journey introduced the reader to a new character, a new setting and a new set of circumstances for the boys to adapt. It was heartbreaking at times to know that while these boys were fictional characters, there were hundreds, or even thousands of children that really did experiences these things. The friendships and bonds the boys created were wonderful. This book shows the reader that even in dire times, there is always a reason to have hope for something better.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Children of the Stars.

I found the overriding themes of this book to be goodness and love in an otherwise extremely dark time. Two young boys, Jacob and Moses spend years and thousands if mikes traveled to reunite with their beloved parents during wartime in France. The courage that these two boys possess was heart-warming to read. I also found the characters that the boys encountered throughout the book to be extremely generous and trustworthy in such a terrible time in history.

With true grit, determination, and love anything is possible and Jacob and Moses show this time and again throughout the book. 4 stars!

Set in 1942. Two Jewish boys are left in Paris with their aunt during the Hitler siege. The Nazis have rounded up and put all the Jewish people in the velodrome. Moses and Jacob Stein escape and are on the run looking for their parents.
“I hope you rest well. The Angels are watching over you.”
The Germans are out in full force to capture every Jew. Traveling has become very dangerous. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. Such a sad and scary time especially if you were a Jew.

Thank you to publisher and NetGalley for eARC.

Set in 1942 is the story of Jacob and Moses Stein, two Jewish brothers ages 12 and 8, who cross Nazi-occupied France in the hope of reuniting with their parents. It opens with the boys being caught in a raid and taken to the Vel’d’Hiv velodrome, a detention camp housing thousands of Jews. They manage to escape and thus begin their life on the run. It's a sad story, one that has been told many times over and one that along with others, made me cry. No we should never forget, no it is the human spirit that gives us hope even during these times...., this is the history of man's inhumanity to man...yet we should never lose faith. Well written, one that will stay within me as do others of this particular genre. Sadly, I have to say that I will probably not read any more WWII holocaust stories, of which so many are flooding the market (why I don't understand).

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

How could parents be so thoughtless about their own children? Jacob and Moses parents sent them to live with their Aunt Judith in Pais when Jacob was 12 and Moses was 7 while they went into hiding.
The boys lived with their aunt until they got chased and caught running across rooftops by gendarmes rounding up Jewish people and depositing them in the VEL D’ HIV (a deserted racetrack) in Paris. There the boys found a friend, Joseph, they hid in the basement of the racetrack, and Moses was mercilessly tortured by a French officer until Jacob rescued him.
They escape through the sewers and find out their aunt is dead, and they narrowly escape detection by hiding with a neighbor who helps them escape by giving them the name of a friend who smuggles them in his van behind a panel. You will have to read the book for yourself to see what happens on their journey....

"I received a complimentary copy of Children of the Stars. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

This book is juust too sentimental for me. It reminds me of Sarah's Key, which was a huge hit (as I expect this title will be), but just didn't work for me. I appreciate Escobar tackling this subject. It must be difficult to write about. I don't at all think this is a bad book. I DO think it will be well received. It just isn't the sort of title I particularly enjoy. Nonetheless, thank you for giving me a choice to read an ARC of this title.

Children of the Stars kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Its a story about the exceptional bond between two loving brothers and how families had to make the impossible choices during WW II. This book definitely made me count my blessings and be thankful for the love I have for my family and how that can help me get through anything. I highly recommend this book. I would like to thank Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of this book.
#ChildrenOfTheStars #NetGalley

The characters Jacob and Moses are based on the many Jewish children forced to run for their lives during Hitler's reign. Overall, the story is quite enlightening, with real events and people throughout.

It’s always a tough call when when a book about children during the WWII era. It’s always a little tougher to take because they’re kids...innocent kids that got swept up into and were victims of an evil like no other. But when NetGalley so gracious sent me a copy a little early, I opened the cover knowing full well the possibilities that lie ahead for the main characters.

What I found was a book of hope, love, determination, kindness and family. Against the backdrop of war torn and German occupied France...Jacob and Moses will stop at nothing to find their parents who had managed to escape to South America, leaving them behind until they could safely get their children out.

Swept up in a raid, Jacob and Moses found their way to the velodrome in Paris with thousands of other Jewish people. Miraculously, they escape and begin a journey that will one step away from danger and capture every day. Along the way, they met selfless individuals who believe in what’s right and help the boys find their way.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat every step of the way. You want these boys to make it to South America but you never know if they will as the Gestapo are constantly closing in. I’m only vaguely familiar with the Jewish struggle in France during WWII and this book allowed me to learn a little more and that always scores major bonus points for me.

A must read!

Children of the Stars is about 2 brothers in Nazi-occupied France, going on a journey to find their parents. They meet many people along the way who risk their lives to help the boys leave the country to find their parents – providing food, shelter, clothing, and a hiding place from the Nazis. While Moses and Jacob are fictional characters, this story was based on true events happening in France during WWII.

I loved how the boys stuck together and how Jacob looked out for Moses in their determination to find their parents. I thought the descriptions of the places and people were very vivid, with me feeling like I was there. The violence wasn’t offer or in too graphic of detail, but you can still get that feeling of fear prevailing during that time period. The lessons learned by the boys from the various people who helped them was awesome…like not letting what was happening in their country change who they are at the core. Unfortunately, that is the course many people take in such times that are traumatic.

There were some quirks in the writing and sometimes, it felt choppy. There were also a few errors, like Jacob being called Joseph, but it’s possible that this is because this is a review copy. I also struggled with the concept of their parents leaving them…which I can understand during those difficult times. The war split apart many families. But it appeared that their parents were settled in Argentina but didn’t send for the boys. That was hard to wrap my mind around, but then again, it was the times.

Rating: 4 out of 5

This book was provided by NetGalley and Thomas Nelson publishing in exchange for a review.

Mario Escobar has written a touching book taking place during World War II and the occupation of France.

Jacob (age 13) and Moses (age 9) are brothers living with their Aunt Judith when they are rounded up by the Germans in Paris. They are taken to the Velodrome d'Hiver with thousands of other Jewish people. They work to find a way out of the Velodrome along with another Jewish boy, Joseph, whose parents have been taken to a labor camp. Joseph wants to go find his parents at the camp, even with the understanding that he would not be able to come out once he got in.

Jacob and Moses want to get to where their parents are and go back to their apartment to find Aunt Judith has jumped out of the window to her death. They take their passports and some money and leave the apartment. They stopped at the neighbor's apartment beneath theirs. From there, they get hooked up with the Underground to get them out of Occupied France.

The book details their determination to get out of France and to the ship that will take them to their parents, with the help of several members of the Underground. They see things children their ages should never see before they get to where they need to be.

This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a way of escape from the prisons that would enclose you.

My thanks go to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read for this review.

Sigh.

If there's one thing I rarely find it's a book about WWII that doesn't grip me and draw me in. Sadly, Children of the Stars fell a bit short of the mark for me. I anticipated it being a favorite read of the year based on the premise and am a bit bummed.

The story of Jacob and Moses was fascinating but the actual telling was a bit clunky. I think the biggest drawback for me was that for two children they both said and thought as adults and while I'm always willing to suspend disbelief in novels I just didn't buy their voices in this novel. There's a lot of aspects of this book I wish were expanded on more while others I felt were pointless.

This is a gripping tale but not told as wonderfully as I expected.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This book of the holocaust, is an important historical fiction story told by author Mario Escobar. It is about the struggles of two brothers who have been separated from their parents, and the journey through war times to find them.

It takes them through many counties, and in and out of many families lives and homes

All books about this topic are very important, and must be read. I have read a great many books about the holocaust, and feel many of them were more enjoyable of a read for me. The story was just not believable, and I think it lost a bit in the translation.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

I thank NetGalley, the author and publisher for my advanced copy to review

This book was amazing, and I couldn't put it down! I wanted to keep reading it after I was done! I cried in some parts of the book too!

This book is totally enchanting, Very well written from the perspective of children during WWII. There was the perfect mix of childish innocence and trust with the necessity of growing up quickly to survive. This is a must read for any historical fiction fan and anyone looking for something that really makes you ponder humanity. Incredibly thought provoking

“Children of the Stars” set in 1942 is the story of Jacob and Moses Stein, two Jewish brothers ages 12 and 8, who cross Nazi-occupied France in the hope of reuniting with their parents. It opens with the boys being caught in a raid and taken to the Vel’d’Hiv velodrome, a repurposed detention camp housing thousands of Jews. They manage to escape and thus begin their life on the run. This is their story.….

This fictional tale highlights the value, courage and decision making of the two children as well as the kindness and humanity amid the perils of the Second World War. Although, the brothers are a figment of the author’s imagination, they represent thousands of children who travel across Europe as refugees during WW11. This is about their journey and the people they meet along the way. Many risked their life to help the boys.

With a simple and poetic style, Mario Escobar leaves small pearls for each chapter that make us reflect on the wonderful and brave people who fight against invaders and help those fleeing by welcoming them at the risk of their own life.

But, this tender and sad story seemed so unreal. The boys are too mature for their ages, they think like adults. Parents abandoning children for a better life in Argentina does not resonate well with me. How can they leave their little ones behind during the Nazi occupation? If so, it must have been heartbreaking for the parents….

Although based on historical facts, this story was unlikely because of the age of the protagonists and the very difficult course they take. This novel reads as if segments of different young lives are played out by these two young boys.

This story is all about hope, heart and faith in humanity.

Children of the Stars by Mario Escobar is a poignant story of Jacob and Moses Stein, two boys left with an aunt while their parents escape Paris. It chronicles their escape from Nazi occupied Paris, and their journey to be reunited with their parents in Argentina. While they have been told to trust no one, repeatedly they must trust others to make this incredible journey. The boys' courage and optimism in the face of almost insurmountable odds is seen throughout the book. The goodness of people who are willing to help these brothers is contrasted with the evil of the Nazi mentality.

While the story is moving, the writing was not the best, thus the tree-star rating. If you like reading WWII historical fiction, you will enjoy the book.