Beyond Belief

by Dee White

Inspired by the true story of Muslims who saved the lives of Jewish children in the Second World War.

In 1942, in the Grand Mosque in Paris, 11-year-old Ruben is hiding from the Nazis. Already thousands of Jewish children have disappeared, and Rubens parents are desperately trying to find his sister. Ruben must learn how to pass himself off as a Muslim, while he waits for the infamous Fox to help him get to Spain to be reunited with his family. One hint of Ruben's true identity and he'll be killed. So will the people trying to save him. But when the mosque is raided and the Fox doesn't come, Ruben is forced to flee. Finding himself in the south of France, he discovers that he must adjust to a new reality, and to the startling revelation of the Fox's true identity.

Genres: Historical Fiction, War, Historical, Childrens, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fiction

261 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2020

About the author

Dee White lives in a small rural town in New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and two teenage sons. She has worked as an advertising copywriter and journalist and has had numerous career changes before writing 16 books for children, her latest being Letters to Leonardo for Walker Books, Australia.

Reviews

[Viktorija| Laisvalaikis su knyga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Niekaip nemoku atsispirti bibliotekų knygoms, nors namuose turiu nemažai neperskaitytų knygų. Būtinai turiu ne tik iš suaugusiųjų skyriaus ką nors paimti, bet ir iš vaikų.

1942 m., Paryžius. Tokie neramūs laikai - vyksta karas, miestą kontroliuoja vokiečiai, o dar negana to, žydai yra jų žudomi ar tremiami į koncentracijos stovyklas. Norėdama mama apsaugoti savo vienuolikmetį sūnų Rubeną nuo vokiečių, veda į mečetę pasislėpti.

Ir dar viena knyga apie kurios egzistavimą nebuvau nieko girdėjusi, o ir apie vieną faktą taip pat nežinojau, kad musulmonai Antrojo pasaulinio karo metu gelbėjo žydų vaikų gyvybes. Pats kūrinys iškart įtraukė į įvykių sukūrį, jaudinausi ne tik dėl Rubeno, bet ir kitų vaikų gyvybių. Perskaičiau su susidomėjimu, o jei mano dukrytė taip pat su laiku pamils knygų skaitymą, tai būtinai jai parekomenduosiu perskaityti šią knygą ir tikiu, kad ji neliks abejinga šiai istorijai.

Vertinu: 4,5⭐️/ iš 5⭐️

[Julie (Bookish.Intoxication) · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the moment we enter this book, the reader is thrust into a world where the fear and tension of a Jewish family, hiding from police, is so heavy that it hits you like a ton of bricks. We meet Reuben and his family while they are trying to remain free, free but hidden.

Beyond Belief reads so easily, but the ease of reading doesn't take away from the sombre tone that is present throughout the novel. The pacing is perfect, slow enough for the weight of the subject matter to be realised, but fast enough to keep the plot progressing.

My heart breaks for Reuben, he is constantly being abandoned, the people he trusts, his family and friends repeatedly are torn away from him, at the hands of German soldiers. I can't imagine what that would be like. Living in a constant state of fear would be exhausting.

Hana and Momo are a blessing, they give Ruben the strength he needs to keep going, to fight through the pain, loss, hunger and suffering. To survive.

The last 40 pages felt a little out of place, like the author was rushing to finish the book on a good note. Yes it ended sweetly, but everything was left unanswered. But I am grateful that Ruben finally found peace.

Well written and easy to read, Beyond Belief is a a creative look into the true stories of Muslims saving Jewish children during World War II. The ending did let me down a little and I feel that I am too old to be the intended audience for this book. But it was a special read, all the same.

[Kathryn Gauci · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating story about a young Jewish boy who is taken by his mother to hide in the Grand Mosque in Paris in 1942.
I don't usually read YA books, but the premise of this story, based on facts about French Muslims hiding young Jewish children during the war really got me in. The author researched her subject well. This can only have been a truly unbelievable moment for these young Jewish children, most of whom would never see their family again, to have to be given a new identity. It is written from the perspective of eleven-year-old Ruben and as such, young children view the world from a different perspective than adults. At a time when the events of WWII are becoming obscure and fewer people really understand the Holocaust or know little about it, I applaud the author for reaching out to a younger audience. It is important that children learn from what took place. I also think it is important to know that different religions participated in helping each other. This is something else that should not be forgotten. Where there is evil, there is also kindness. An excellent YA book which should be in all school libraries.

[Reda Marozienė · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pirmą kartą aprašyta istorija apie musulmonų pagalbą žydams Antrojo pasaulinio karo metu. Vienuolikmečiui berniukui Rubenui pasislėpti nuo persekiojimų padeda Paryžiaus mečetės imamas ir kiti musulmonai bei drąsūs paryžiečiai. Įvykiai veja vienas kitą. Bet netrūksta ir Rubeno vidinių apmąstymų, kai vaikui tenka pakeisti savo tapatybę ir iš žydo virsti musulmonu bei pakeisti savo vardą.

[Loreta Kijanina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Verta perskaityti tiek paugliam tiek suaugusiam, rekomenduoju

[Anna Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* An enjoyable and interesting look into the way Muslim people helped Jewish people during WW2. Great to have a different perspective of this historical period and be reminded of the resilience, courage and empathy shown by so many people during the Holocaust.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I started reading books set during WW2 I have been blown away by the many, many different perspectives and stories that need to be told.

A WW2 story is not just set on the battlefield and is not as simple as Allies vs Axis.

Beyond Belief is another story which is set during WW2 and is another story about which I had not a clue.

The backdrop is 1942 Paris, were the Nazis have taken over. Ruben and his family are in hiding but when they are discovered in a cellar they have to escape. Ruben's mother leaves him at the Grand Mosque where the resident Muslims assist Jewish children and keep them safe. The only instruction Ruben is given is to follow the instructions he is given and to wait for the Fox to come and take him to Spain, where his family will be waiting.

Whilst at the Mosque, Ruben has to change his name and identity in order to stay safe. He makes friends - and enemies - whilst waiting for the infamous Fox to turn up.

But when the Mosque is raided, Ruben is forced to flee Paris and so follows a dramatic and tense escape as he desperately tries to stay alive in order to be reunited with his family.

Based on the true events of Muslims who saved the lives of Jewish children, this is a poignant and gripping story and is well worth a read!

[K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trigger warnings: War, Holocaust, violence, gun violence, death of a child, death of a parent, antisemitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia.

3.5 stars.

I've read many World War II stories over the years, but as far as I can remember, none of them have included the Muslim community. I'm definitely intrigued to read more because this is inspired by actual events. The second half of the story is quite different than the first - more high stakes adventure than a war story. But there were plenty of poignant moments throughout the course of the story.

The ending was a little more abrupt than I would have liked, but such is sometimes the case with middle grade war books.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for readers cup questions

Very moving.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic young adult novel set in France during the Second World War. Inspired by the true story of Muslims who saved the lives of Jewish children in Paris. It is a time when the Nazis are rounding up all Jewish people in and around Paris. Reuben is taken to a mosque by his mother with a promise the family would all meet up in Spain. But of course, this cannot happen. Reuben is forced to escape the mosque with two other Jewish children, when all in the mosque are being persecuted by the Germans. The children are helped by the French underground to try and make it to safety. The risks they must take and the heartache suffered makes for a gripping novel.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fascinating and enjoyable read!

[Dimity Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dee White's narrative is a compelling mix of poignancy and poise. From the very first line, we are condemned to the cellar with Ruben and his exiled family, huddled in the dark under a mantel of uncertainty and fear. His confusion and anxiety are palpable but we are helpless for it is 1942 and for Jews like young Ruben, there is no longer any safe place in Paris as long as the Nazi stronghold remains. Except one...

In desperation, Ruben's parents escort him to the Grand Mosque where dozens of other Jewish children take refuge. Ruben's parents hope he will be safe here while they search for his adult sister in Spain, for salvation. After his mother's rushed and tearful farewell, Ruben realises the only familiar thing that links him to his true identity is the tattered yellow Star of David he keeps hidden in his shoe. It's enough to condemn him yet he refuses to part with it. He is an alien in a strange but beautiful new world, one he must now call home to survive.

The inhabitants of the Mosque are kind and wise, patient and accommodating. They teach Ruben, now addressed as Abdul, to live and think as a Muslim so that he may pass for one of them and thus avoid persecution from the Nazis or worse. Their hospitable administrations are genuine and generous and although Ruben recognises the great danger harbouring children like him places upon his Muslim family, he is restless to begin the journey his father mapped out for him to Spain. He believes if he can make it there, he will find his family. All he has to do is find the Fox, who was supposed to come for him but never does.

Sick of waiting in a state of permanent dread, Ruben attempts to leave on his own, bolstered by his 11-year-old naivete, impatience and dire need to reunite with his loved ones. His hunger to be gone ends in failure until one day the Mosque is raided and by shear luck, Ruben escapes to the hidden tunnels with two of his mosque family friends, Hana and Momo. What follows is a gut twisting scramble for freedom, through the sewers of Paris to the southern countryside of France where safety hovers always one step ahead of them.

White has crafted Ruben's quest for freedom with care and insight. History never takes centre stage but is infused into the hearts of her characters so that their pain and suffering, their simple joys and expectations are felt vicariously through every page turn. It crushes belief that children as young as Ruben and younger had to endure such rigors and the indescribable horrors of World War II, without ever really knowing why they were the Nazis' unremitting prey. That White has managed to filter the worst of humanity into the same flask with paragons of human benevolence and create a perfect middle grade story of hope and resilience is truly beyond belief.

So engrossed was I by this astonishing expose of history, that I found myself looking for more. Not from the story, that ends like a warm beautiful embrace, rather I expected an author's note of explanation; more about the unique inspiration behind this story of the Muslims who saved the lives of thousands of Jewish children during the Second World War. But this small omission is easily overlooked and of course extends a platform for discussion for primary school aged children.

Beyond Belief is a novel that surprises and rocks. There is also a strange spiritual kind of calm that settles over you as you read it, at least there was for me, as religions meet and melt into one common notion; to spread peace and show kindness toward all mankind. And for that, despite the weighty merit of this subject matter, Beyond Belief is a novel middle grade readers will find equally compelling.

[Danielle Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

This marvellous novel shines a spotlight on human nature and its ability to rise above the most difficult situations. It's a fictional tale about a little known facet of the Nazi occupation of Paris where Jewish children were protected by Algerian Muslims in the Paris Grand Mosque during World War II.

In this Middle Grade/YA novel we follow the story of Ruben (aka Abdul) from his hiding place in a Paris basement to the mosque and his daring escape to the south of France. In Rubens' voice we not only learn about the dangers everyone is facing during this time but we also experience all the emotions of a young boy who suddenly finds himself having to cope on his own for the first time. It feels authentic that he tries to remember what his parents would have advised as he works out who he can trust and how to survive .

Dee White has a long career in writing Australian youth fiction and is well known for her ability to tell tough stories in an accessible way. She has obviously put an enormous amount of research into this novel. I feel sure that it will do very well, especially in Australian schools where there is a definite need for a text to provide a fresh new perspective on the Holocaust.

[Maree Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: I’m a friend of Dee White’s and read an early draft of Beyond Belief.

I’d been looking forward to reading the final published version of Beyond Belief ever since Dee White sent me an early draft, a few years ago.

This is a fast-paced read for middle grade readers that pulls no punches on the realities faced by Jewish children during WW2. However under White’s experienced hand the empathy and compassion of this story shines through.

Based on true events, whereby mosques took in Jewish children to protect them from nazi soldiers, the main character Ruben is forced to grow up quickly to navigate the dangerous world in which he lives. He witnesses, and experiences, violence and loss. Yet he also sees the best of humanity and comes to understand the true nature of love, kindness and courage.

The brutality is not sugar-coated but neither is the sense of hope diminished. A great read that explores the strength that lies beneath compassion, openness and a genuine love for humankind that transcends religion, Beyond Belief is highly recommended for readers aged 1o and above.

[Vicki Munro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea that Algerian Muslims had protected Jewish children during WW2. This gripping story of Reuben/Abdul, set in Paris in 1942, is fast paced and kept me reading late into the night. Written perfectly for its middle school audience

[Trigger Warning Database]

Trigger & Content Warnings

Antisemitism
Islamomisia
Death of a child
Death of a parent
Gun violence
War themes & the Holocaust

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1942, ‘Beyond Belief’ is the story of Ruben, an 11-year-old Jewish boy living in Nazi-occupied France, who survives in hiding under the protection and care of the Muslim community in Paris. To escape the arrest of the Nazis, Ruben’s parents take him to the Grand Mosque of Paris where he must conceal his identity and become Abdul, a Muslim. Before departing, his mother promises they will be together again before Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year. She explains a person called the Fox will guide him through safe passage to Spain, a place free of the Nazis, where his family will be awaiting him so they can be together again. While he anticipates the Fox’s arrival, Ruben becomes the Imam’s son, gaining a new family and identity. Ruben soon learns how to live and behave like a Muslim, speaking Arabic, praying to Allah and following Islamic rituals and festivals. Life in the mosque is bittersweet as Ruben balances the longing for his family while forging close friendships with other children. He makes a pact with God to keep him safe by holding onto his yellow badge, a Star of David, the Nazis used to brand him a Jew. Instead of removing it in spite, Ruben keeps it close, never losing sight of who he truly is. While his badge brings God’s protection, it also reveals his weakness, and regular visits to the mosque of suspicious German soldiers means danger is always close by. As life in the mosque becomes more unsafe and those close to him risk their lives or are taken, Ruben must act to protect himself and those he has now come to love. This is a story of adventure, friendship and hope, where individual differences of religion and identity are put aside for the higher truth of our shared humanity. In learning about Islam, Ruben realises there is so much more in common between Muslims and Jews than what divides them and understands how the power of compassion soars far beyond the concepts of belief.
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[Indrė Se · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rubenas - žydų berniukas, besislepiantis su šeima dėdės rūsyje. Veiksmas vyksta Prancūzijoje. Rubenas savo kojinėje visur nešiojasi dovydo žvaigždę, taip sukeldamas pavojų savo artimiesiems. Tačiau jis sudarė sandorį su Dievu - jis nešios žvaigždę ir jo šeima liks sveika.

Vieną dieną, išlindęs iš slaptavietės, Rubenas per langą pamatė kareivius. Jie jį taip pat. Todėl neilgai trukus Rubenas ir jo šeima buvo priversti bėgti. Motina jį nuvedė į mečetę, iš kurios prižadėjo neilgai trukus pasiimti.
Mečetėje Rubenas gavo naują vardą - Abdulas. Ir turėjo pasinerti į visiškai kitokį gyvenimą bei priklausyti kitokiam tikėjimui. Tačiau čia ilgai irgi nebuvo ramu.
Berniukas ir iš mečetės turėjo bėgti. Tiesa, ši jo kelionė buvo dar sunkesnė ir pavojingesnė…
Kiekvieną dieną Rubenas svajoja, kaip nusigaus į Ispaniją jr susitiks savo tėvus, o gyvenimas stos į savo vagas. Deja, likimas jam paruošęs kitokių vėjo gūsių.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was unaware that people of the Muslim faith helped, hid, and assisted Jewish people to escape the Nazis in France during World War II.
This story is told by Ruben, a Jewish boy, who becomes separated from his family, and hides in plain sight in a Parisian mosque. To keep hidden he must take a Muslim name and learn the Muslim faith and rituals, as the Nazi soldiers regularly barge into the mosque to taunt the Muslims and look for Jews. Ruben is intent on getting to Spain where he believes his family have escaped to, but before this happens he must endure constant fear, violence and a terrifying escape when the mosque becomes unsafe to hide him. It is both exciting and nerve-wracking.

I enjoyed the way Ruben must learn the different rituals of the Muslim faith and the Iman explains their background, and the message that service and helping others crosses all faiths.

[Melissa Wray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so looking forward to reading this and the anticipation did not disappoint! After listening to the journey that Dee White went on to write this book (Portable Magic podcast by Sue Lawson), I was very interested to see how her research translated through the book. It was exciting when certain scenes played out to know the process White had gone through to create accuracy for the story.
The story is told through the eyes of Reuben, an 11 year-old Jewish boy forced to live within the safety of a mosque in Nazi occupied Paris. Whilst the story encapsulates Reuben's journey to try and remain hidden and safe, we meet many characters who will linger with the reader long after the last page has been read.
It was easy to get swept away in the detailed description that allowed the reader to imagine the scenes and setting as it was read. However, it was not easy to forget that this story was based on a true story. That fact alone made it all the more harrowing to try and grasp that this unimaginable event actually happened. Highly recommend this for young and old!

[Norah Colvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring read of courage, resilience and hope in the face of unimaginable danger when a young Jewish boy is protected and guided to safety by the Muslim community in Paris during the Second World War. Every page is charged with emotion and action as danger is ominous and ever-present. Dee White's research was thorough and through her words she brings this story to life for modern readers and shows that, regardless of our beliefs, we are united by our one humanity and the need to help and support each other. Humanity transcends, it goes beyond belief.

[Jurgita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knygą skaičiau kartu su dukra septintoke, padėdama jai pasiruošti atsiskaitymui apie skaudžią žydų vaikų istoriją. Knyga trumpa, jausmai ir emocijos joje neišplėtoti,tačiau nuolat jaučiama įtampa, tad žinant to laikmečio – žydų naikinimo – kontekstą, emocija skaitant natūraliai susiformuoja ir mane palietė. Knyga ne tik perteikia istorinius įvykius ir jų žiaurumą, bet ir supažindina su žydų bei musulmonų kultūromis, moko drąsos, tolerancijos ir pagarbos kitoms religijoms, žmogiškumo, pagalbos kitam ir pasiaukojimo, vilties išlikti net pavojaus akivaizdoje.

[Bec · Rating 5 out of 5]

We picked this book as our new Year 9 English text so I wanted to read it before the kids did. I really enjoyed this book - it is well written and a suitable read for the age group without simplifying or glossing over a horrific part of our history. It was a interesting insight into a part of the holocaust that I hadn't heard of before (Muslims who were hiding Jewish children) and well researched.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fictional story based on true events in Paris during WW2. It reveals kindness, tolerance and heroism in the face of Nazism that in today's climate of distrust and sometimes outright racial and religious hatred is - as the story is titled - beyond belief. It is a story that I believe can be read by children of 10+ and adults alike, a story that makes you want to research its genesis and a story that needed to be told for all the best reasons.

[Fiona White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book - loved the tension and the strength of the characters but the best vote of all came from one of the students in my Year Six class... I asked the students to put their books away and get ready for the next lesson and the student reading Beyond Belief, by Dee White, called out, 'no! I cannot stop reading now, the lights are flickering and I have to find out if he's okay!'

[Kamilė Strach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nors knyga liūdnoka, ji praturtina žiniomis apie žydų kančias antrojo pasaulinio karo metu.

taip pat suteikia galimybę sužinoti apie žydų ir musulmonų religijas, istoriją.

Rubenas - žydų berniukas, kurio tėvai žuvo nuo vokiečių rankos... o jis su seserimi bei kitais likimo nuskriaustaisiais ieškojo prieglobsčio gyventi.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reuben and his family are threatened by the Nazi take over of Paris. Reuben is taken in by the Paris mosque and eventually finds others are sheltered and cared for and by the Muslims there. With appropriate tension and enough realism not to be overwhelming, as well as an understanding of what Nazi occupation was like and learning about other religions this is an excellent read for older children.

[Therese · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was inspired by the true stories of Jewish children being cared for and taking refuge with Islamic people during WW2. This book is perfect for children from 8 years and up or anyone wanting to read a different perspective of WW2 refugees and displaced people. I was drawn into the story from the beginning.

[Milena · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story, I am sure all my students will love to read. The emotions were well written, the struggle of a young boy dealing with relationships, his beliefs and culture. Love it Dee! well done!

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book that sheds light on a little-known truth of the holocaust. Unfortunately, you can't help but compare it to the Once series and it's just not as good - overly simplistic and the protagonist naive "beyond belief".