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kellyeweber's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
pagesandpetrichor_shaahima's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
5.0
clarissa_reads99's review
5.0
This was a beautifully written book. Safiyyah lives with her family at the Grand Mosque in Paris during WWII. Her father is the Imam at the mosque, and they and several other families also employed by the mosque have apartments in the mosque complex. This book is based on a true story, during WWII The rector Sidi Abdel-Qadir Ben Ghabrit and others at the Grand Mosque, and members of the congregation helped to smuggle many Jews to safety.
Safiyyah lives with her parents, grandmother, and younger sister. She is obsessed with maps and allowed to wander freely around Paris, often running errands for her parents. The book opens shortly before the Germans invade Paris. Safiyyah and her family are warm and caring of each other, and of others around them. She has a special relationship with her wise and kind grandmother Setti, who helps her get through some of the darker moments of the German occupation. Safiyyah's father is helping Jewish people to escape the nazis, and Safiyyah discovers this, and begins to help him. This was a lovely book about good people helping others during a dark time. Parts of the book were tense and gripping, while other parts emphasized the warmth and kindness of good people.
Safiyyah lives with her parents, grandmother, and younger sister. She is obsessed with maps and allowed to wander freely around Paris, often running errands for her parents. The book opens shortly before the Germans invade Paris. Safiyyah and her family are warm and caring of each other, and of others around them. She has a special relationship with her wise and kind grandmother Setti, who helps her get through some of the darker moments of the German occupation. Safiyyah's father is helping Jewish people to escape the nazis, and Safiyyah discovers this, and begins to help him. This was a lovely book about good people helping others during a dark time. Parts of the book were tense and gripping, while other parts emphasized the warmth and kindness of good people.
the_loudlibrarian's review
5.0
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the advance Kindle copy of this 5.7.24 release. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Wow. Based on a true story, this follows Muslim Parisian Safiyyah and her family as their mosque hid and moved hundreds of Jewish people during WWII. Naturally curious and bold, Safiyyah notices as the Germans occupy Paris that her father is behaving oddly. She confronts him, and he starts allowing her to pass messages. But when a visit from Nazi soldiers threatens to put a large group of Jews ready to smuggle in danger, Safiyyah knows that it is her time to lead. Highly recommended for all middle school libraries.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Wow. Based on a true story, this follows Muslim Parisian Safiyyah and her family as their mosque hid and moved hundreds of Jewish people during WWII. Naturally curious and bold, Safiyyah notices as the Germans occupy Paris that her father is behaving oddly. She confronts him, and he starts allowing her to pass messages. But when a visit from Nazi soldiers threatens to put a large group of Jews ready to smuggle in danger, Safiyyah knows that it is her time to lead. Highly recommended for all middle school libraries.
courtiny's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
wibblesz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
chunkybexy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
swiftie113's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I just love all the ways that Safiy ah was slowly included into the Resistance.
amazetta's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
5.0
erine's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
As a young reader, I devoured and reread books like The Devil's Arithmetic and Number the Stars. This would have sat on my shelf right alongside those tales of youthful heroism in the face of fascist displays of pathetic ideas of strength.
This story tells of Muslims in Paris during World War II who worked together to help Jewish residents escape persecution by those who couldn't handle their own insecurities. Safiyyah is a young girl whose family and community is buffeted by the German army as it invades Paris. Her friends are increasingly targeted by the Nazi invaders and she finds herself in a position to do something about it. So she does.
A much-needed addition to the stories of heroism during the Holocaust, not least because it reminds the reader that heroism isn't always Christian or white. I am increasingly wary of Holocaust stories in the sense that I think too many readers wrongly believe that they would behave heroically in a similar situation. This story, though, is a standout.
This story tells of Muslims in Paris during World War II who worked together to help Jewish residents escape persecution by those who couldn't handle their own insecurities. Safiyyah is a young girl whose family and community is buffeted by the German army as it invades Paris. Her friends are increasingly targeted by the Nazi invaders and she finds herself in a position to do something about it. So she does.
A much-needed addition to the stories of heroism during the Holocaust, not least because it reminds the reader that heroism isn't always Christian or white. I am increasingly wary of Holocaust stories in the sense that I think too many readers wrongly believe that they would behave heroically in a similar situation. This story, though, is a standout.