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The Girl With the Yellow Star
“We have to wear the yellow star! It’s the rules!” the little girl sobs. But her mother presses a desperate finger to her mouth. “Darling, today is different. We are going to leave our stars behind and go on a long journey. We must be very, very quiet, and pray nobody finds us until we are safe in England…”
Cornwall, England, 1943. When her husband is killed fighting in the Navy, grief-stricken Gwenna Devoran tries to fill the void in her life by offering shelter to two Jewish refugees in her farmhouse high on the Cornish cliffs. But at the train station, ten-year-old Lotti is waiting all alone in her neat red coat.
Lotti’s mother died protecting her on the journey. Now Gwenna is all this little girl has. Traumatised Lotti won’t speak a word: and when an order comes for German prisoners-of-war to work the farm she’s in more danger than ever. What will happen if the Germans find out Lotti is Jewish?
When Gwenna overhears Lotti chattering happily to German captain Max Reiner, showing him her teddy bear, her heart stops. Shocked to hear Lotti finally speak, Gwenna is terrified for the little girl she’s grown to love. But perhaps she can she trust the kindness in this German officer’s gentle voice and bright blue eyes…
As Lotti heals a little more each day, Gwenna risks everything to spend more time with Max, certain he doesn’t believe in the Nazi cause. But then a rumour starts in the village: Max himself fired the torpedo that killed Gwenna’s husband.
Devastated, Gwenna’s heart is torn between loyalty to her country, the memory of her husband, and love for the little girl she secretly hopes could become her own. With Max desperate to prove his innocence, does she dare to trust him? And should she fight for the three of them to become a family – or will the war tear them all apart?
An absolutely heartbreaking, gripping and beautiful story about how love shines brightly even in the darkest times, and the incredible sacrifices people make in wartime. Fans of The Nightingale, All the Light We Cannot See and The Tattooist of Auschwitz won’t be able to put this down.
Cornwall, England, 1943. When her husband is killed fighting in the Navy, grief-stricken Gwenna Devoran tries to fill the void in her life by offering shelter to two Jewish refugees in her farmhouse high on the Cornish cliffs. But at the train station, ten-year-old Lotti is waiting all alone in her neat red coat.
Lotti’s mother died protecting her on the journey. Now Gwenna is all this little girl has. Traumatised Lotti won’t speak a word: and when an order comes for German prisoners-of-war to work the farm she’s in more danger than ever. What will happen if the Germans find out Lotti is Jewish?
When Gwenna overhears Lotti chattering happily to German captain Max Reiner, showing him her teddy bear, her heart stops. Shocked to hear Lotti finally speak, Gwenna is terrified for the little girl she’s grown to love. But perhaps she can she trust the kindness in this German officer’s gentle voice and bright blue eyes…
As Lotti heals a little more each day, Gwenna risks everything to spend more time with Max, certain he doesn’t believe in the Nazi cause. But then a rumour starts in the village: Max himself fired the torpedo that killed Gwenna’s husband.
Devastated, Gwenna’s heart is torn between loyalty to her country, the memory of her husband, and love for the little girl she secretly hopes could become her own. With Max desperate to prove his innocence, does she dare to trust him? And should she fight for the three of them to become a family – or will the war tear them all apart?
An absolutely heartbreaking, gripping and beautiful story about how love shines brightly even in the darkest times, and the incredible sacrifices people make in wartime. Fans of The Nightingale, All the Light We Cannot See and The Tattooist of Auschwitz won’t be able to put this down.
451 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2022
1552 people are currently reading
806 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Meg Evans
24 books280 followersBeing a published writer has been Natalie Meg Evans’ goal from an early age. Having achieved her dream, she extracts maximum fun from it by writing the kind of books she has always loved reading. Mother to one son and currently guardian to a rescued Labrador and a Malinois (Belgian Shepherd), Natalie lives in rural Suffolk, England’s easternmost county.
In 2012, Natalie won the prestigious Harry Bowling Prize and was a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart finalist. She was longlisted in the Mslexia new women novelists
competition, and shortlisted for a Daphne du Maurier award for romantic suspense. The Dress Thief won the readers award for the best historical novel at the Festival of Romance and was nominated for a Romance Writers of America RITA.
Her latest novels are The Locket and The Paris Inheritance, both split timeline novels with a wartime theme.
She has achieved another life-goal, as a published author of country house crime. As Kay Blythe, her first novel in this genre comes out in February 2025. Look out for Murder at Merry Beggars Hall.
In 2012, Natalie won the prestigious Harry Bowling Prize and was a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart finalist. She was longlisted in the Mslexia new women novelists
competition, and shortlisted for a Daphne du Maurier award for romantic suspense. The Dress Thief won the readers award for the best historical novel at the Festival of Romance and was nominated for a Romance Writers of America RITA.
Her latest novels are The Locket and The Paris Inheritance, both split timeline novels with a wartime theme.
She has achieved another life-goal, as a published author of country house crime. As Kay Blythe, her first novel in this genre comes out in February 2025. Look out for Murder at Merry Beggars Hall.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
November 9, 2022
The Girl with the Yellow Star by Natalie Meg Evans
Narrated by Amalia Vitale
Cornwall, England, 1943 Gwenna Devoran loses both her husband and her father in a short period of time. She's been living with her wealthy in-laws while her husband was at sea. Mixed in with the grief of losing her husband is her anger at him for reasons we don't learn right away. Gwenna leaves the safer haven of her in-laws home to take over the managing of the Cornish farm that has been in her family for generations.
Working the farm with three of her father's long time employees, Gwenna has support from the oldest of the workers but gets nothing but scorn and verbal abuse from the middle aged couple who were sure that the man of the two would be the new caretaker of the farm. To make matters worse, the government has huge demands as to what the farm should produce for the war effort and there is a very real risk that Gwenna could lose her family's farm if she isn't able to meet impossible quotas and deadlines. It's only when she is forced to take three German prisoners of war that she has a chance of making her farm meet the government demands. Still, her hatred of the enemy has her fighting against this much needed help, at first.
Compounding her conflicting needs and emotions is that she has taken in a traumatized German Jewish refugee girl. It's as if so much of the war has landed on her doorstep with little Lotti having to live around the very people who want to wipe her people from the face of this earth. Yet it's Gwenna who seems to suffer the most for this affront, who needs the workers to save her farm but also is trying to do what is best for this young girl who trusts one of the prisoners and is drawn to the very fact that he is German, like her.
So much is going on with Gwenna having to protect Lotti from the cruelty of the townspeople. Jealousy from both expected and unexpected quarters hinder even everyday life for Gwenna and Lotti. She finds that some of her own worst enemies may be those who she thought she could trust. And she is drawn to the German prisoner of war in a way she never thought possible. Her years of loneliness and frustration make giving in to the unthinkable almost welcoming.
I was glued to this story that touches on so many situations that I've encountered before. Prisoners of war living and working among their enemies while the war still wages on. War rationing and war needs meaning that properties that have been in families for centuries risk being given to the people who can get the most out of the property. Trying to protect a young German Jewish girl who isn't safe from persecution anywhere. Where you would think that there would be solidarity, there is division, even among the prisoners in the POW camp. Heartbreak and sacrifice seems to be Gwenna's lot in life but she's not going to give in or give up easily.
Amalia Vitale's narration is so good that I have tried to find more that she has narrated. I was able to just listen to the story and enjoy the words because she does such a good job with all the characters. I became attached to the good but flawed people in this story and to the Cornish location, too.
Pub October 28, 2022
Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.
Narrated by Amalia Vitale
Cornwall, England, 1943 Gwenna Devoran loses both her husband and her father in a short period of time. She's been living with her wealthy in-laws while her husband was at sea. Mixed in with the grief of losing her husband is her anger at him for reasons we don't learn right away. Gwenna leaves the safer haven of her in-laws home to take over the managing of the Cornish farm that has been in her family for generations.
Working the farm with three of her father's long time employees, Gwenna has support from the oldest of the workers but gets nothing but scorn and verbal abuse from the middle aged couple who were sure that the man of the two would be the new caretaker of the farm. To make matters worse, the government has huge demands as to what the farm should produce for the war effort and there is a very real risk that Gwenna could lose her family's farm if she isn't able to meet impossible quotas and deadlines. It's only when she is forced to take three German prisoners of war that she has a chance of making her farm meet the government demands. Still, her hatred of the enemy has her fighting against this much needed help, at first.
Compounding her conflicting needs and emotions is that she has taken in a traumatized German Jewish refugee girl. It's as if so much of the war has landed on her doorstep with little Lotti having to live around the very people who want to wipe her people from the face of this earth. Yet it's Gwenna who seems to suffer the most for this affront, who needs the workers to save her farm but also is trying to do what is best for this young girl who trusts one of the prisoners and is drawn to the very fact that he is German, like her.
So much is going on with Gwenna having to protect Lotti from the cruelty of the townspeople. Jealousy from both expected and unexpected quarters hinder even everyday life for Gwenna and Lotti. She finds that some of her own worst enemies may be those who she thought she could trust. And she is drawn to the German prisoner of war in a way she never thought possible. Her years of loneliness and frustration make giving in to the unthinkable almost welcoming.
I was glued to this story that touches on so many situations that I've encountered before. Prisoners of war living and working among their enemies while the war still wages on. War rationing and war needs meaning that properties that have been in families for centuries risk being given to the people who can get the most out of the property. Trying to protect a young German Jewish girl who isn't safe from persecution anywhere. Where you would think that there would be solidarity, there is division, even among the prisoners in the POW camp. Heartbreak and sacrifice seems to be Gwenna's lot in life but she's not going to give in or give up easily.
Amalia Vitale's narration is so good that I have tried to find more that she has narrated. I was able to just listen to the story and enjoy the words because she does such a good job with all the characters. I became attached to the good but flawed people in this story and to the Cornish location, too.
Pub October 28, 2022
Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.
October 30, 2022
This was a great first outing with this author! I hadn't read any before, but I love historical fiction so couldn't resist!
WW2 books are, in my opinion, in a heavily saturated genre, but The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is one of my all time faves so I can't resist them!
This one is a good read. Emotional, raw and heartbreaking at times with characters you will to survive another day. Which is pretty much what you hope for with this genre, and what you can expect from this book!
WW2 books are, in my opinion, in a heavily saturated genre, but The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is one of my all time faves so I can't resist them!
This one is a good read. Emotional, raw and heartbreaking at times with characters you will to survive another day. Which is pretty much what you hope for with this genre, and what you can expect from this book!
June 20, 2025
Lotti and her mother had been making their way to London with the help of resistance members in Germany then Paris. First staying in London with Freda, they finally headed to Cornwall, to the peace and quiet of the local countryside. Gwenna Devoran was waiting at the station, but when she couldn't find the Jewish mother and daughter she began a search. Finally she found Lotti on the station platform, in her bright red coat, while tragedy had struck Lotti's mother. Gwenna took the little girl to her farm, Colvennon, where she ran dairy cows, pigs and chickens. The farm was her own now, as her father had passed away and her husband had been killed in the war. The elderly Ezra helped her, along with Hilda and Roddy. Lotti was mute, probably from the shock of what she'd been through. Would Gwenna be able to get her to speak?
When POWs from a nearby camp were sent to help out on Gwenna's farm, she was horrified. She couldn't have Germans there, not after they'd killed her husband. But one day Gwenna heard Lotti quietly conversing in German to Max Reiner, the captain, and gradually Lotti came round, until finally she was speaking in English. She wouldn't let her teddy, Rumtopf, out of her sight. What would be the outcome for the poor little orphan girl, the one who was still frightened at removing her yellow star, when they were threatened if it was removed?
The Girl With the Yellow Star is another exceptional historical novel by Natalie Meg Evans which I thoroughly enjoyed. Lotti was adorable especially as she learned to milk the cows; Gwenna was stoic and determined not to be cowed, and Ezra was a charm! A novel to be recommended highly to fans of the genre.
When POWs from a nearby camp were sent to help out on Gwenna's farm, she was horrified. She couldn't have Germans there, not after they'd killed her husband. But one day Gwenna heard Lotti quietly conversing in German to Max Reiner, the captain, and gradually Lotti came round, until finally she was speaking in English. She wouldn't let her teddy, Rumtopf, out of her sight. What would be the outcome for the poor little orphan girl, the one who was still frightened at removing her yellow star, when they were threatened if it was removed?
The Girl With the Yellow Star is another exceptional historical novel by Natalie Meg Evans which I thoroughly enjoyed. Lotti was adorable especially as she learned to milk the cows; Gwenna was stoic and determined not to be cowed, and Ezra was a charm! A novel to be recommended highly to fans of the genre.
November 3, 2022
One of the best WW2 historical fiction books that I’ve read.
10-year-old Lottie has seen some horrible things…
Her papa was taken away by the Nazis…
Her mama had an accident at the train station…
There are still Nazi soldiers all around, although this was supposed to be a safe place. Maybe, if she doesn’t say a word, like her Papa told her, and never German, like her mama warned, she can stay alive. Lottie can tell anything in secret to her bear Rumtopf, and he’ll keep it inside himself…along with something else she must forever hide…
*Thanks to Netgalley for a digital copy in return for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*
10-year-old Lottie has seen some horrible things…
Her papa was taken away by the Nazis…
Her mama had an accident at the train station…
There are still Nazi soldiers all around, although this was supposed to be a safe place. Maybe, if she doesn’t say a word, like her Papa told her, and never German, like her mama warned, she can stay alive. Lottie can tell anything in secret to her bear Rumtopf, and he’ll keep it inside himself…along with something else she must forever hide…
*Thanks to Netgalley for a digital copy in return for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*
October 10, 2022
“But we have to wear a yellow star. It’s the rules. Papa said so. I always do as Papa says.”
It is 1943 in Cornwall, England and Gwenna Devoran who owns and runs a family farm agrees to help her friend Freda who resides in London. Freda has asked that she take in two German Jew refugees, a mother and daughter (the father is thought to be dead). Filled with her own grief from losing her husband Edward to German enemies, she welcomes the idea of extra company on the farm. However, when she arrives at the train station to pick them up, Gwenna regrettably learns that there is only Lotti (Charlotte) waiting to be retrieved. Her mother has died protecting her. With no children of her own, does Gwenna have what it takes to care for and raise Lotti on her own?
Once Lotti arrives on the farm, Gwenna quickly learns she cannot be without her beloved bear Rumtopf (Lotti will not let the bear out of her sight). Also, she does not speak for quite some time after she arrives on the farm which worries Gwenna, but she chalks it up to the trauma that Lotti has experienced (Freda told Gwenna that Lotti can speak French and English in addition to her native German tongue). She can tell that she understands what she is saying, so she makes sure to explain everything to Lotti each day, including all the work they do on the farm. Lotti’s first words are spoken in German with Max Reiner, who is a German POW who has been assigned to Gwenna’s farm as a laborer.
In all of the WWII books I have read, this is the first book that involved German POWs who served as laborers. I was thankful to have this new insight and point of view. Gwenna was incredibly hesitant to have Max and other POW workers on her farm and rightfully so. It was interesting to see how her relationships with these men changed after she got to know them and figure out whether they believed in the Nazi cause. I thought that the author did a great job with character development and really embraced the feelings and thoughts of people during wartime, the local English residents and the POWs.
I absolutely adored this story. It tells the tale of a woman who is yearning to be a mother and gets that opportunity. It also tells the tale of heartache, fear, adaptation, judgement, sacrifice, protection, forgiveness, and love. I enjoyed watching Lotti and Gwenna’s relationship blossom to one of trust, dependency and love. And Max, you stole my heart!
I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy WWII fiction. Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 beautiful stars!
It is 1943 in Cornwall, England and Gwenna Devoran who owns and runs a family farm agrees to help her friend Freda who resides in London. Freda has asked that she take in two German Jew refugees, a mother and daughter (the father is thought to be dead). Filled with her own grief from losing her husband Edward to German enemies, she welcomes the idea of extra company on the farm. However, when she arrives at the train station to pick them up, Gwenna regrettably learns that there is only Lotti (Charlotte) waiting to be retrieved. Her mother has died protecting her. With no children of her own, does Gwenna have what it takes to care for and raise Lotti on her own?
Once Lotti arrives on the farm, Gwenna quickly learns she cannot be without her beloved bear Rumtopf (Lotti will not let the bear out of her sight). Also, she does not speak for quite some time after she arrives on the farm which worries Gwenna, but she chalks it up to the trauma that Lotti has experienced (Freda told Gwenna that Lotti can speak French and English in addition to her native German tongue). She can tell that she understands what she is saying, so she makes sure to explain everything to Lotti each day, including all the work they do on the farm. Lotti’s first words are spoken in German with Max Reiner, who is a German POW who has been assigned to Gwenna’s farm as a laborer.
In all of the WWII books I have read, this is the first book that involved German POWs who served as laborers. I was thankful to have this new insight and point of view. Gwenna was incredibly hesitant to have Max and other POW workers on her farm and rightfully so. It was interesting to see how her relationships with these men changed after she got to know them and figure out whether they believed in the Nazi cause. I thought that the author did a great job with character development and really embraced the feelings and thoughts of people during wartime, the local English residents and the POWs.
I absolutely adored this story. It tells the tale of a woman who is yearning to be a mother and gets that opportunity. It also tells the tale of heartache, fear, adaptation, judgement, sacrifice, protection, forgiveness, and love. I enjoyed watching Lotti and Gwenna’s relationship blossom to one of trust, dependency and love. And Max, you stole my heart!
I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy WWII fiction. Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 beautiful stars!
October 31, 2022
The book had a slow and confusing start. I almost dnfed at 15% but kept reading. I thought the plot was really simple and boring at times. I was underwhelmed by this book and felt this was more of a task to finish reading. Gwen lost her husband and took is responsible for running the farm with her fathers three long time employees. Gwenna takes Lotti in after finding her on the train platforms, builds her trust, and protects Lotti from the cruelty of the town and the towns people. I found the story of Max to be a nice touch to the story along with Lotti and Gwenna. This book is good for people who enjoy reading historical fiction. I enjoy reading about subjects on the holocaust and world war 2 but this book was not for me! Not among one of the top historical fiction books I have read. I still found the story to be enjoyable and continued reading to the end!
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
February 24, 2025
I really adored this book, it was just so amazing! It is a historical fiction book, set in England in 1943 to begin with.
Gwenna is a lovely lady, who takes in a little Jewish refugee girl called Lotti, after her mother is killed. Lotti is such a sweet, gentle, sensitive and amazing child, and I really loved her a lot. I loved Gwenna too, and also Max, who is a German prisoner of war who comes to work on Gwenna's farm. Together, the three of them work well together, and I really loved getting to know them and learning all about their lives.
I found this a really sweet story, although it was also heartbreaking at times, and emotional.
The audiobook narrator was perfect for the story, and she did a great job. I loved her voice, and I could listen to her all day long.
This is a wonderful book, which I recommend highly! If you love Kristin Hannah's books, you will love this one too!
Many thanks to the author, narrator, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
Gwenna is a lovely lady, who takes in a little Jewish refugee girl called Lotti, after her mother is killed. Lotti is such a sweet, gentle, sensitive and amazing child, and I really loved her a lot. I loved Gwenna too, and also Max, who is a German prisoner of war who comes to work on Gwenna's farm. Together, the three of them work well together, and I really loved getting to know them and learning all about their lives.
I found this a really sweet story, although it was also heartbreaking at times, and emotional.
The audiobook narrator was perfect for the story, and she did a great job. I loved her voice, and I could listen to her all day long.
This is a wonderful book, which I recommend highly! If you love Kristin Hannah's books, you will love this one too!
Many thanks to the author, narrator, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
November 1, 2022
Still reeling from the loss of her husband, Gwenna Devoran continues working hard. She is struggling to keep her farm afloat, but she also agrees to house two Jewish refugees. When she arrives at the train station she discovers that there’s only ten-year-old Lottie, who tragically witnessed her mother’s death. Quite naturally, Gwenna takes Lottie home with her. Sadly, Lottie will not speak, but Gwenna hopes that with time she can bring the little girl out of her shell.
Meanwhile, things are difficult on the farm and Gwenna needs more assistance than she has. She is not pleased but she is forced to accept German prisoners-of-war to work on her farm with her. This increases her fear for Lottie, because she is hoping that these German soldiers did not discover that Lottie is Jewish.
Still, Gwenna has not been able to get Lottie to speak, but one day on the farm she does hear Lottie speak, quite happily in fact, and it is to a German soldier named Max Reiner. This really scares Gwenna. But there is something that she sees in Max that lessens that fear. This brings about confusing feelings for Gwenna, because Max should be the enemy. But, Lottie is getting better and better each day and part of it has to do with Max. Gwenna soon learns that Max is different than many of the German soldiers. In fact, he is a man who did not agree with the Nazi cause and has done what he could to distance himself from that part of the war. However, his actions in the world, might have a very personal connection to the loss that Gwenna has had in her life.
Of course Gwenna is torn. Focused on Lottie’s healing and future, the last thing Gwenna wants to deal with is any romantic notions she has towards Max. Meanwhile, Max has his own feelings and this might just place all of them in danger. This is a powerful story of courage, strength and love. Quite naturally it is about also about healing, as well as the strong bonds that grow between Gwenna, Lottie and Max.
What a fabulous read by Natalie Meg Evans. This book was so touching, so inspiring, so uplifting, that it was utterly impossible to put down. Gwenna, Lottie and Max were remarkable characters and a their story was truly compelling. I loved the different take on this World War II historical fiction book because of the viewpoint of German prisoners-of-war. You can’t go wrong when you read a book by this wonderful author, and I definitely would recommend this book.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/qaMdXchXzaM
Meanwhile, things are difficult on the farm and Gwenna needs more assistance than she has. She is not pleased but she is forced to accept German prisoners-of-war to work on her farm with her. This increases her fear for Lottie, because she is hoping that these German soldiers did not discover that Lottie is Jewish.
Still, Gwenna has not been able to get Lottie to speak, but one day on the farm she does hear Lottie speak, quite happily in fact, and it is to a German soldier named Max Reiner. This really scares Gwenna. But there is something that she sees in Max that lessens that fear. This brings about confusing feelings for Gwenna, because Max should be the enemy. But, Lottie is getting better and better each day and part of it has to do with Max. Gwenna soon learns that Max is different than many of the German soldiers. In fact, he is a man who did not agree with the Nazi cause and has done what he could to distance himself from that part of the war. However, his actions in the world, might have a very personal connection to the loss that Gwenna has had in her life.
Of course Gwenna is torn. Focused on Lottie’s healing and future, the last thing Gwenna wants to deal with is any romantic notions she has towards Max. Meanwhile, Max has his own feelings and this might just place all of them in danger. This is a powerful story of courage, strength and love. Quite naturally it is about also about healing, as well as the strong bonds that grow between Gwenna, Lottie and Max.
What a fabulous read by Natalie Meg Evans. This book was so touching, so inspiring, so uplifting, that it was utterly impossible to put down. Gwenna, Lottie and Max were remarkable characters and a their story was truly compelling. I loved the different take on this World War II historical fiction book because of the viewpoint of German prisoners-of-war. You can’t go wrong when you read a book by this wonderful author, and I definitely would recommend this book.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/qaMdXchXzaM
October 20, 2022
1943 Cornwall, England-Gwenna Devoran’s husband is killed. She is giving shelter to Jewish refugees in her farmhouse. One young ten-year-old, Lotti is waiting at a train station. Her mother died trying to get her to safety. She does not speak and of course is traumatized. Lotti is a little Jewish girl who steals Gwenna’s heart.
Max is a German captain who befriends Gwenna and Lotti. There is no way Max could be a Nazi. The village is full of rumors and she heard that Max was responsible for the death of her husband. Does she trust Max or the rumors? She desperately wants them to become a family. Gwenna finds her heart pulled in so many ways.
A heartwarming story of sacrifices and love during a horrific time in our history. I will be reading more by this author.
Max is a German captain who befriends Gwenna and Lotti. There is no way Max could be a Nazi. The village is full of rumors and she heard that Max was responsible for the death of her husband. Does she trust Max or the rumors? She desperately wants them to become a family. Gwenna finds her heart pulled in so many ways.
A heartwarming story of sacrifices and love during a horrific time in our history. I will be reading more by this author.
September 17, 2024
A delightful read! I really enjoyed the storyline with its lovable characters. The plot was also enthralling even though the conclusion was for me predictable. However, the wit of the writing has made this book a real pleasure to read. I also loved reading the vivid descriptions of the countryside giving the story a beautiful setting.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.
October 14, 2023
poignant
The Girl With The Yellow Star is a poignant story of a young widow who depends on her German enemies at the local prison camp to help farm her land during WW2, and the Jewish orphan, Lotti, who takes refuge at the farm. Deep characterization and believable plotting. The last few chapters felt rushed, and I skipped a few scenes due to sexual content which wasn’t needed.
The Girl With The Yellow Star is a poignant story of a young widow who depends on her German enemies at the local prison camp to help farm her land during WW2, and the Jewish orphan, Lotti, who takes refuge at the farm. Deep characterization and believable plotting. The last few chapters felt rushed, and I skipped a few scenes due to sexual content which wasn’t needed.
October 25, 2022
The Girl with the Yellow Star
Meg Evans is among my favorite authors. So, naturally, I was delighted to be approved by NetGalley and publisher Bookouture to receive a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Ms.Evans’ characters are so realistic they jump from the page, as though they are old friends the reader has not seen for a long time. Her attention to detail in creating the Cornwall settings makes you feel you are actually there. Yet she does this with an astonishing economy of words. The reader is not obliged to wade through lengthy travelogue descriptions. Just enough of the local dialect is included in the dialogue passages to draw the reader in. The author knows how much to use without it sounding like a foreign language.
I admire how Ms. Evans’s German character: Max is not the stereotypical hardened Nazi nor the hapless man forced to serve in the army (Kriegsmarine in this case). Neither is he the almost clichéd character who rejects his identity and his country to join the resistance. Max remains true to himself to the end.
The story advances at a fast pace but without feeling rushed. The reader does not lose track of the seasons, as the farm work is meticulously, almost lovingly, detailed.
However, I remain ambivalent over Lotti’s character. At the start of the novel, she is a nine-year-old acting like a six-year-old. Having taught scores youngsters of that age , I know that is not how they behave. It does not fit. Even allowing for differences in a society some seven or eight decades in the past, it is highly unlikely that an intelligent nine-year-old would behave the way Lotti does, sometimes to the point ridiculousness, like standing on the railway tracks when she knows a train is coming, just because she’s been told not to move. By chapter fifteen I was still wondering whether she would ever begin to act like the bright ten-year-old we are led to believe she is. Half way through the novel, this finally happens. She acts like a regular ten-year-old. When the author, through introspection, shows the girl’s thoughts, they are again portrayed as totally immature for her age. Why when otherwise the characters are spot on?
I also found the ending was rushed. In contrast to the careful pacing of the rest of the novel, here the plot suddenly jumps ahead, without transition, to a year after the war and everything is quickly sewn up. I felt cheated.
However, let not that deter you from picking up The Girl with the Yellow Star. It is a fascinating read and a page turner.
Meg Evans is among my favorite authors. So, naturally, I was delighted to be approved by NetGalley and publisher Bookouture to receive a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Ms.Evans’ characters are so realistic they jump from the page, as though they are old friends the reader has not seen for a long time. Her attention to detail in creating the Cornwall settings makes you feel you are actually there. Yet she does this with an astonishing economy of words. The reader is not obliged to wade through lengthy travelogue descriptions. Just enough of the local dialect is included in the dialogue passages to draw the reader in. The author knows how much to use without it sounding like a foreign language.
I admire how Ms. Evans’s German character: Max is not the stereotypical hardened Nazi nor the hapless man forced to serve in the army (Kriegsmarine in this case). Neither is he the almost clichéd character who rejects his identity and his country to join the resistance. Max remains true to himself to the end.
The story advances at a fast pace but without feeling rushed. The reader does not lose track of the seasons, as the farm work is meticulously, almost lovingly, detailed.
However, I remain ambivalent over Lotti’s character. At the start of the novel, she is a nine-year-old acting like a six-year-old. Having taught scores youngsters of that age , I know that is not how they behave. It does not fit. Even allowing for differences in a society some seven or eight decades in the past, it is highly unlikely that an intelligent nine-year-old would behave the way Lotti does, sometimes to the point ridiculousness, like standing on the railway tracks when she knows a train is coming, just because she’s been told not to move. By chapter fifteen I was still wondering whether she would ever begin to act like the bright ten-year-old we are led to believe she is. Half way through the novel, this finally happens. She acts like a regular ten-year-old. When the author, through introspection, shows the girl’s thoughts, they are again portrayed as totally immature for her age. Why when otherwise the characters are spot on?
I also found the ending was rushed. In contrast to the careful pacing of the rest of the novel, here the plot suddenly jumps ahead, without transition, to a year after the war and everything is quickly sewn up. I felt cheated.
However, let not that deter you from picking up The Girl with the Yellow Star. It is a fascinating read and a page turner.
October 29, 2022
Cornwall, England, 1943. Never in her wildest dream, Gwenna thought that she would be working alongside german POWs on her beloved family farm. But the circumstances led to the current status, and she had no choice but to accept the help. Besides the three working POWs at the far, Gwenna has another german visitor. Days prior to their arrival, a young Jewish refugee became Gwenna's guest at the farmhouse. Gwenna is afraid of the conflict that can occur between the working german officers and the Jewish girl. But to her surprise, Lotti and Max develop a unique friendship. Living in a village that has tremendous resentment towards the German nation, the german visitors very quickly warm their way into Gwenna's heart.
This novel takes on a different direction than all the resistance novels that I am so fond of. It came to my surprise the treatment of german POWs on the territory of England VS the opposite side. Nevertheless, it always warms my heart to read about human kindness no matter the nationality or religion. This novel shows us that love can overcome hate, new experiences would never replace memories and the world moves on.
Wonderful plot, favorable characters, and an overall uplifting novel. There are many heart-stopping situations, so naturally, the tension is palpable throughout, but it makes for a real page-turner. I recommend this novel to my fellow WWII readers as well as romance lovers. Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the novel, and Natalie Meg Evans for a heartwarming story.
This novel takes on a different direction than all the resistance novels that I am so fond of. It came to my surprise the treatment of german POWs on the territory of England VS the opposite side. Nevertheless, it always warms my heart to read about human kindness no matter the nationality or religion. This novel shows us that love can overcome hate, new experiences would never replace memories and the world moves on.
Wonderful plot, favorable characters, and an overall uplifting novel. There are many heart-stopping situations, so naturally, the tension is palpable throughout, but it makes for a real page-turner. I recommend this novel to my fellow WWII readers as well as romance lovers. Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the novel, and Natalie Meg Evans for a heartwarming story.
October 29, 2022
Natalie Meg Evans is in flying form with this brilliant new book, The Girl With The Yellow Star. Given the title I had somewhat of an idea what the story would be about and I never even bothered to read the blurb as I usually really enjoy this author’s books and knew I would be in for an absorbing and engaging read. I thought it perhaps might be set in a concentration camp somewhere in Europe so I was pleasantly surprised to discover this book was set on a farm in Cornwall. Looking at the cover it is so apt and sums up this book to perfection.
Lotti, a young Jewish German girl, is fleeing from Paris where she had found a safe haven with her mother Miryam for three years. But Hitler and his insane policies and reign of terror is catching up with them and once again, having previously escaped from Berlin, the pair find themselves bundled into the back of a van and trying to find safety. All Lotti has are a few belongings and her teddy Rumptof. Said teddy may seem insignificant at first but Rumptof plays a crucial role throughout the book. He becomes like a security blanket or talisman for Lotti as she navigates her way through a new and strange world where fear and the threat of danger is ever present although one woman’s love, commitment, strength and solidarity do their best to ease the suffering and horrors that Lotti has experienced.
Gwenna has managed the family farm in Cornwall since the death of her father. She is aided by three of his long term helpers, Ezra, and Roddy and Hilda who are married. I loved Gwenna as a lead character right from the moment we are introduced to her as she waits on a station platform to receive Miryam and Lotti. The pair having made it to London to stay with Freda, a friend of Gwenna’s, now need further security following a disturbing experience for Miryam which has greatly affected her. The opening quarter or so of the book was dramatic and contained a lot of events and information which set the reader up nicely for what was to come for the remainder of the book.
Colvennon Farm was to provide peace and quiet for mother and daughter but tragedy strikes and Miryam passes away. There is a lot more to this than first meets the eye and this is deftly explored throughout the story. As there are many strands to the story there was a danger that they could have become entangled within one another and therefore become difficult to distinguish. But this never occurred and the entire storyline was aptly developed from start to finish which made you really care for the characters and everything they were experiencing and fighting for.
Gwenna is a woman doing things that pushed her ahead of her time and although she faced stiff opposition for her methods on the farm or the fact she was even doing farm work, she rallied against this and even more so when more angst rises to the surface which really tests her viewpoint. She is a hard worker and one is never afraid to get stuck into the dirty work of the farm alongside the men because she wants the farm to be successful. Gwenna is still trying to come to terms with the death of her husband which occurred when his naval boat was struck by a torpedo off the coast of Ireland. Yet the reader can sense that perhaps all was not as it seemed with the marriage and this is explored in more detail the further the book develops.
Gwenna is one of the best female characters that I have read in a long time. She pushes herself outside of her comfort zone time and time again and always battles with what is the right or wrong thing to do. Should she follow her head or her heart? This issue rises to the fore several times and it was interesting to see how this was played out. Her strength, courage, resilience and resourcefulness meant you came to admire her and everything she stands for. She doesn’t hesitate for one minute to still take Lotti when she is left motherless and as we get to know her more you question whether she is trying to be the mother she has so longed to be or would she have done this anyway?
Lotti, although young, is a remarkable character who has been through trauma and heartache. Her mother is gone and the whereabouts of her father are unknown. What she has witnessed has left her mute but the reason for this does become clear and it brings a tear to your eye. I felt Gwenna was the perfect person to bring her out of her shell and to nurture and protect her. They both needed each other in more ways than one and Gwenna is fierce in the love that she develops for the little girl who has lost so much. Gwenna may be headstrong when it comes to farm issues and I loved how she stood up to the despicable pair that was Roddy and Hilda but at the same time she shows great compassion, patience and caring for those that she knows need love, care and attention.
Through focusing on Lotti and rehabilitating her so to speak she is coming to terms with where life has personally taken her. But conflicting emotions and village opinions threaten to derail her mission to provide Lotti with a good life and I loved how it all fed back to the story surrounding her marriage to Edward. But at the same time the arrival of some much needed helpers to the farm throws the cat amongst the pigeons. What happens when the enemy arrives at your doorstep and you have no choice but to accept them and even more so when feelings develop into something more which go against everything you believed you stood for? Will so much loneliness mean Gwenna steps into the lions den? Can she cope with the fall out?
The Girl with the Yellow Star really gets you thinking deeply about many issues. You constantly ask yourself what would you do if you were in Gwenna’s situation? Natalie Meg Evans has given Gwenna a real strong voice with plenty of conundrums to deal with and also several difficult choices to make. When prisoners of war from the nearby camp are sent to work the land with her in order to fulfil the Ministry of Agriculture’s requirements, she is faced with no choice but to accept they have to be there. That doesn’t mean she has to like it especially as it throws up some uncomfortable memories that prevent her moving forward. As the blurb says her heart is torn between loyalty to her country, the memory of her husband and the little girl who has found a firm place in her heart. How she deals with all this was fascinating to read and would certainly inspire much discussion and debate. This is a story of sacrifices, loyalty and doing your best and trying to follow your heart when the world seems dead set against you. It’s a stunning read from the first word until the last and is perfect for anyone who likes historical fiction set during the war that provides you with something just that little bit different which has you rapidly turning the pages.
Lotti, a young Jewish German girl, is fleeing from Paris where she had found a safe haven with her mother Miryam for three years. But Hitler and his insane policies and reign of terror is catching up with them and once again, having previously escaped from Berlin, the pair find themselves bundled into the back of a van and trying to find safety. All Lotti has are a few belongings and her teddy Rumptof. Said teddy may seem insignificant at first but Rumptof plays a crucial role throughout the book. He becomes like a security blanket or talisman for Lotti as she navigates her way through a new and strange world where fear and the threat of danger is ever present although one woman’s love, commitment, strength and solidarity do their best to ease the suffering and horrors that Lotti has experienced.
Gwenna has managed the family farm in Cornwall since the death of her father. She is aided by three of his long term helpers, Ezra, and Roddy and Hilda who are married. I loved Gwenna as a lead character right from the moment we are introduced to her as she waits on a station platform to receive Miryam and Lotti. The pair having made it to London to stay with Freda, a friend of Gwenna’s, now need further security following a disturbing experience for Miryam which has greatly affected her. The opening quarter or so of the book was dramatic and contained a lot of events and information which set the reader up nicely for what was to come for the remainder of the book.
Colvennon Farm was to provide peace and quiet for mother and daughter but tragedy strikes and Miryam passes away. There is a lot more to this than first meets the eye and this is deftly explored throughout the story. As there are many strands to the story there was a danger that they could have become entangled within one another and therefore become difficult to distinguish. But this never occurred and the entire storyline was aptly developed from start to finish which made you really care for the characters and everything they were experiencing and fighting for.
Gwenna is a woman doing things that pushed her ahead of her time and although she faced stiff opposition for her methods on the farm or the fact she was even doing farm work, she rallied against this and even more so when more angst rises to the surface which really tests her viewpoint. She is a hard worker and one is never afraid to get stuck into the dirty work of the farm alongside the men because she wants the farm to be successful. Gwenna is still trying to come to terms with the death of her husband which occurred when his naval boat was struck by a torpedo off the coast of Ireland. Yet the reader can sense that perhaps all was not as it seemed with the marriage and this is explored in more detail the further the book develops.
Gwenna is one of the best female characters that I have read in a long time. She pushes herself outside of her comfort zone time and time again and always battles with what is the right or wrong thing to do. Should she follow her head or her heart? This issue rises to the fore several times and it was interesting to see how this was played out. Her strength, courage, resilience and resourcefulness meant you came to admire her and everything she stands for. She doesn’t hesitate for one minute to still take Lotti when she is left motherless and as we get to know her more you question whether she is trying to be the mother she has so longed to be or would she have done this anyway?
Lotti, although young, is a remarkable character who has been through trauma and heartache. Her mother is gone and the whereabouts of her father are unknown. What she has witnessed has left her mute but the reason for this does become clear and it brings a tear to your eye. I felt Gwenna was the perfect person to bring her out of her shell and to nurture and protect her. They both needed each other in more ways than one and Gwenna is fierce in the love that she develops for the little girl who has lost so much. Gwenna may be headstrong when it comes to farm issues and I loved how she stood up to the despicable pair that was Roddy and Hilda but at the same time she shows great compassion, patience and caring for those that she knows need love, care and attention.
Through focusing on Lotti and rehabilitating her so to speak she is coming to terms with where life has personally taken her. But conflicting emotions and village opinions threaten to derail her mission to provide Lotti with a good life and I loved how it all fed back to the story surrounding her marriage to Edward. But at the same time the arrival of some much needed helpers to the farm throws the cat amongst the pigeons. What happens when the enemy arrives at your doorstep and you have no choice but to accept them and even more so when feelings develop into something more which go against everything you believed you stood for? Will so much loneliness mean Gwenna steps into the lions den? Can she cope with the fall out?
The Girl with the Yellow Star really gets you thinking deeply about many issues. You constantly ask yourself what would you do if you were in Gwenna’s situation? Natalie Meg Evans has given Gwenna a real strong voice with plenty of conundrums to deal with and also several difficult choices to make. When prisoners of war from the nearby camp are sent to work the land with her in order to fulfil the Ministry of Agriculture’s requirements, she is faced with no choice but to accept they have to be there. That doesn’t mean she has to like it especially as it throws up some uncomfortable memories that prevent her moving forward. As the blurb says her heart is torn between loyalty to her country, the memory of her husband and the little girl who has found a firm place in her heart. How she deals with all this was fascinating to read and would certainly inspire much discussion and debate. This is a story of sacrifices, loyalty and doing your best and trying to follow your heart when the world seems dead set against you. It’s a stunning read from the first word until the last and is perfect for anyone who likes historical fiction set during the war that provides you with something just that little bit different which has you rapidly turning the pages.
October 22, 2022
I have recently enjoyed reading some other historical novels set in a similar time period to this one, so I was pleased to be approved to read and review this.
I thought this was a very well-written historical WWII novel. I wondered initially if it would be a sad story, but it was quite comforting and heart-warming to read. I liked the characters, and the ways in which they connected with each other, and I liked the fact that it was set in Cornwall. I think I would recommend this to anyone who likes historical fiction set during this time period.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for my opportunity to read and review this.
I thought this was a very well-written historical WWII novel. I wondered initially if it would be a sad story, but it was quite comforting and heart-warming to read. I liked the characters, and the ways in which they connected with each other, and I liked the fact that it was set in Cornwall. I think I would recommend this to anyone who likes historical fiction set during this time period.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for my opportunity to read and review this.
October 31, 2022
The Girl With the Yellow Star by Natalie Meg Evans is one of the most enthralling books I have read in a long time.
The Girl With The Yellow Star grabs your attention and doesn't let go all the way through the book and you are still thinking about it when you're done.
I would have to say Lotti is my favorite character. I fell for this young Jewish girl and her gentle vulnerability. She gets thrust into a whole new environment with people she doesn't even know after a terrible tragedy. Luckily, she has her beloved teddy bear, Rumtopf which I looked up to see is a German word for preserved fruit in rum. Well, Rumtopf is a very useful bear and saves a life.
I could go on about this little girl saying after the tragedy she doesn't speak for quite some time despite being taken in and having excellent care. She goes to school and excels at all of her subjects.
Gwenna, who takes her in has her own sadness and problems to deal with but gives of herself by taking care of this sweet child. When she hears Lotti chatting with German captain Max Reiner, showing him her teddy bear she is so surprised to hear her speaking but scared for the little girl. Will they take her away?
As she gets to know Max more, she finds herself starting to trust him. I enjoyed seeing the trust develop between Gwenna and Max and also a relationship.
While Lotti heals a bit more each day Gwenna hears a terrible rumor in the village, that Max actually fired the torpedo that killed her husband. Max is desperate to have Gwenna trust him and prove his innocence, will he be able to?
"An absolutely heartbreaking, gripping and beautiful story about how love shines brightly even in the darkest times, and the incredible sacrifices people make in wartime."
One of the best books I've read this year. I need to see what other books the author has out right now!
Pub Date 28 Oct 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
The Girl With The Yellow Star grabs your attention and doesn't let go all the way through the book and you are still thinking about it when you're done.
I would have to say Lotti is my favorite character. I fell for this young Jewish girl and her gentle vulnerability. She gets thrust into a whole new environment with people she doesn't even know after a terrible tragedy. Luckily, she has her beloved teddy bear, Rumtopf which I looked up to see is a German word for preserved fruit in rum. Well, Rumtopf is a very useful bear and saves a life.
I could go on about this little girl saying after the tragedy she doesn't speak for quite some time despite being taken in and having excellent care. She goes to school and excels at all of her subjects.
Gwenna, who takes her in has her own sadness and problems to deal with but gives of herself by taking care of this sweet child. When she hears Lotti chatting with German captain Max Reiner, showing him her teddy bear she is so surprised to hear her speaking but scared for the little girl. Will they take her away?
As she gets to know Max more, she finds herself starting to trust him. I enjoyed seeing the trust develop between Gwenna and Max and also a relationship.
While Lotti heals a bit more each day Gwenna hears a terrible rumor in the village, that Max actually fired the torpedo that killed her husband. Max is desperate to have Gwenna trust him and prove his innocence, will he be able to?
"An absolutely heartbreaking, gripping and beautiful story about how love shines brightly even in the darkest times, and the incredible sacrifices people make in wartime."
One of the best books I've read this year. I need to see what other books the author has out right now!
Pub Date 28 Oct 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
October 21, 2022
A must read for fans of WWII fiction!
Having lost her husband to the war, Gwenna Devaron agrees to open her English country home to a German Jewish refugee and her young daughter. When she arrives at the train station to pick them up, she discovers that the woman has been tragically killed and her daughter is standing by herself by the side of the train track. Welcoming this traumatized child in to her home is only one of the challenges that Gwenna must face as the war in Europe rages on. Lotti, the young girl, refuses to speak but dutifully follows Gwenna around the farm tending to the animals. When the government requisitions several acres of the farms land, Gwenna is handed another challenge…to meet the demands of the ministry or risk losing her farm. She knows she can’t manage this enormous task alone even with the help of her two trusted farmhands. When asks for land girls to help, German POWs are sent in there place. Gwenna now faces yet another challenge, how to keep Lotti safe from those who have tried to destroy her and get the job done. But…over time and with Lotti’s ability to trust one of the POWs in particular, Max….Gwenna is learning that not all Germans are bad.
This story is wonderful. It is the first one I’ve read from this author and I loved it. I loved the characters and the way she brought them to life. It is very easy to become emotionally invested in all of them. It’s a side of war that I don’t think gets touched upon often and it’s a great lesson in not judging a book by its cover.
I’m so grateful to NetGalley, Bookouture and Natalie Meg Evans for allowing me to read it before it hits the shelves!
Having lost her husband to the war, Gwenna Devaron agrees to open her English country home to a German Jewish refugee and her young daughter. When she arrives at the train station to pick them up, she discovers that the woman has been tragically killed and her daughter is standing by herself by the side of the train track. Welcoming this traumatized child in to her home is only one of the challenges that Gwenna must face as the war in Europe rages on. Lotti, the young girl, refuses to speak but dutifully follows Gwenna around the farm tending to the animals. When the government requisitions several acres of the farms land, Gwenna is handed another challenge…to meet the demands of the ministry or risk losing her farm. She knows she can’t manage this enormous task alone even with the help of her two trusted farmhands. When asks for land girls to help, German POWs are sent in there place. Gwenna now faces yet another challenge, how to keep Lotti safe from those who have tried to destroy her and get the job done. But…over time and with Lotti’s ability to trust one of the POWs in particular, Max….Gwenna is learning that not all Germans are bad.
This story is wonderful. It is the first one I’ve read from this author and I loved it. I loved the characters and the way she brought them to life. It is very easy to become emotionally invested in all of them. It’s a side of war that I don’t think gets touched upon often and it’s a great lesson in not judging a book by its cover.
I’m so grateful to NetGalley, Bookouture and Natalie Meg Evans for allowing me to read it before it hits the shelves!
October 27, 2022
3.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book early! For whatever reason my expectations were a little bit off for this book. I expected this to be a mother/daughter WWII survival story but thats not what it is. This is the story of a little girl named Lottie and her mother who are scheduled to go live with a woman named Gwenna in the English countryside. Lottie and her mom are German Jews so obviously they were not safe in their home. They moved to France but as we know that became unsafe as well so they're fleeing to the English countryside. Shortly after arriving, Lottie's mother dies so the story is more about Gwenna and Lottie figuring it out. Lottie is selectively mute for the most part, but she does speak in German to a German POW that Gwenna has also taken in as a farm hand. I really was loving that part of the book (the first halfish) but honestly, this story is about Gwenna. Its about her love life, others judgement of her for taking in Germans, etc. and I didn't care nearly as much about that so the 2nd half was a little bit of a let down for me. I did like all the conversation around wartime politics and how they impacted relationships, but I just wanted more of Lotties story.
October 24, 2022
I have never read anything by this author and the book took me a bit to get into but then I really enjoyed it. This is a raw look at the devastation and challenges WWII brought to England. A tattered teddy bear that holds so many secrets. A young orphaned Jew, traumatized by running from Nazis twice. A young widow finally coming to grips with her husband’s true nature and death. A German officer, now a prisoner of war trying to convince those around him that he is not a Hitler loving Nazi; but rather a German forced to fight for his country. The complexities of English farmers forced to produce enough to satisfy the government in times of war and needing the man power of POWs because their own men were off fighting. This story does tackle sexual tension and behaviors that might offend some. I felt the details were realistic and not justified as being morally correct.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers
October 22, 2022
This is a raw look at the devastation and challenges WWII brought to England.
A tattered teddy bear that holds so many secrets. A young orphaned Jew, traumatized by running from Nazis twice. A young widow finally coming to grips with her husband’s true nature and death. A German officer, now a prisoner of war trying to convince those around him that he is not a Hitler loving Nazi; but rather a German forced to fight for his country.
The complexities of English farmers forced to produce enough to satisfy the government in times of war and needing the man power of POWs because their own men were off fighting.
This story does tackle sexual tension and behaviors that might offend some. I felt the details were realistic and not justified as being morally correct.
A tattered teddy bear that holds so many secrets. A young orphaned Jew, traumatized by running from Nazis twice. A young widow finally coming to grips with her husband’s true nature and death. A German officer, now a prisoner of war trying to convince those around him that he is not a Hitler loving Nazi; but rather a German forced to fight for his country.
The complexities of English farmers forced to produce enough to satisfy the government in times of war and needing the man power of POWs because their own men were off fighting.
This story does tackle sexual tension and behaviors that might offend some. I felt the details were realistic and not justified as being morally correct.
October 29, 2022
Despair steals the tiles from a man’s roof, but hope mends the holes in his ceiling.
I cannot even try to wrap my mind around that despair felt by those who were forced to wear the yellow star. What an incredible story about a young girl and how she thrives in spite of that hated yellow star. A new country, a new home, a new language and more and yet young Lotti manages to excel! It certainly brings the thought as to how well we would accept all these changes.
This early ebook was received through Bookouture and NetGalley. These impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.
I cannot even try to wrap my mind around that despair felt by those who were forced to wear the yellow star. What an incredible story about a young girl and how she thrives in spite of that hated yellow star. A new country, a new home, a new language and more and yet young Lotti manages to excel! It certainly brings the thought as to how well we would accept all these changes.
This early ebook was received through Bookouture and NetGalley. These impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.
May 19, 2023
The Girl with the Yellow Star
by Natalie Meg Evans
Narrated by Amalia Vitale
Pub Date 28 Oct 2022 | Archive Date 01 Nov 2022
Bookouture Audio
General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction
Bookouture Audiobook and Netgalley provided me with a copy of The Girl With the Yellow Star for review:
We are required to wear the yellow star! The rules require it!” cries the little girl. Her mother presses a desperate finger to her mouth. "Dear, today is a different day. We will leave our stars behind and embark on a long journey. Until we reach England, we must remain very, very quiet.
The Cornwall region of England, 1943. As a result of the loss of her husband in the Navy, grieving Gwenna Devoran attempts to fill the void in her life by providing shelter to two Jewish refugees in her farmhouse high on the Cornish cliffs. At the train station, however, ten-year-old Lotti is waiting alone in a neat red coat.
During the journey, Lotti's mother died protecting her. The only thing this little girl has now is Gwenna. Lotti, traumatized by the experience, is unable to speak a word: and when German prisoners of war are ordered to work on the farm, she is in greater danger than ever before. If the Germans discover that Lotti is Jewish, what will they do?
As Gwenna overhears Lotti showing her teddy bear to German captain Max Reiner, her heart stops. When she hears Lotti speak for the first time, Gwenna is terrified for the little girl she has grown to love. Perhaps she can trust the kindness in this German officer's gentle voice and bright blue eyes...
While Lotti heals, Gwenna risks everything to spend more time with Max, certain that he does not support the Nazi cause. Then a rumor spreads in the village: Max fired the torpedo that killed Gwenna's husband.
Gwenna's heart is torn between loyalty to her country, the memory of her husband, and her love for the little girl she secretly hopes to adopt. Can she trust Max when he is desperate to prove his innocence? Do the three of them have the potential to become a family - or will the war tear them apart?
I give The Girl with the Yellow Star five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
by Natalie Meg Evans
Narrated by Amalia Vitale
Pub Date 28 Oct 2022 | Archive Date 01 Nov 2022
Bookouture Audio
General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction
Bookouture Audiobook and Netgalley provided me with a copy of The Girl With the Yellow Star for review:
We are required to wear the yellow star! The rules require it!” cries the little girl. Her mother presses a desperate finger to her mouth. "Dear, today is a different day. We will leave our stars behind and embark on a long journey. Until we reach England, we must remain very, very quiet.
The Cornwall region of England, 1943. As a result of the loss of her husband in the Navy, grieving Gwenna Devoran attempts to fill the void in her life by providing shelter to two Jewish refugees in her farmhouse high on the Cornish cliffs. At the train station, however, ten-year-old Lotti is waiting alone in a neat red coat.
During the journey, Lotti's mother died protecting her. The only thing this little girl has now is Gwenna. Lotti, traumatized by the experience, is unable to speak a word: and when German prisoners of war are ordered to work on the farm, she is in greater danger than ever before. If the Germans discover that Lotti is Jewish, what will they do?
As Gwenna overhears Lotti showing her teddy bear to German captain Max Reiner, her heart stops. When she hears Lotti speak for the first time, Gwenna is terrified for the little girl she has grown to love. Perhaps she can trust the kindness in this German officer's gentle voice and bright blue eyes...
While Lotti heals, Gwenna risks everything to spend more time with Max, certain that he does not support the Nazi cause. Then a rumor spreads in the village: Max fired the torpedo that killed Gwenna's husband.
Gwenna's heart is torn between loyalty to her country, the memory of her husband, and her love for the little girl she secretly hopes to adopt. Can she trust Max when he is desperate to prove his innocence? Do the three of them have the potential to become a family - or will the war tear them apart?
I give The Girl with the Yellow Star five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
November 9, 2022
An outstanding story!
The Girl with the Yellow Star is a story of World War II, taking place primarily in Great Britain. It is not a spy story or a story dealing with battles, but a story springing from the Nazi threats and attacks on Jews and other populations in Europe. A young girl is transported to safety to England, the story following her life through the war and a woman, Gwenna, who had her in her care. While the story has many twists and turns, there is much to learn from it. I think the biggest lesson is understanding and realizing the common humanity of us all, even among enemies. Not all who we perceive as enemies share the same hatred and violence toward others. Some have been caught up in situations beyond their control and have no choice in the matter. This is something that the characters in this novel have to learn and acknowledge, a concept that can capture more fully the meaning of the phrase "love your enemies."
The Girl with the Yellow Star is a story of World War II, taking place primarily in Great Britain. It is not a spy story or a story dealing with battles, but a story springing from the Nazi threats and attacks on Jews and other populations in Europe. A young girl is transported to safety to England, the story following her life through the war and a woman, Gwenna, who had her in her care. While the story has many twists and turns, there is much to learn from it. I think the biggest lesson is understanding and realizing the common humanity of us all, even among enemies. Not all who we perceive as enemies share the same hatred and violence toward others. Some have been caught up in situations beyond their control and have no choice in the matter. This is something that the characters in this novel have to learn and acknowledge, a concept that can capture more fully the meaning of the phrase "love your enemies."
December 2, 2022
The Girl with the Yellow Star.
I enjoyed The Girl With the Yellow Star. It is a story about a young girl who is the daughter of Jewish parents and tells her story after her father was captured by German soldiers. The story is told from the perspective of the young girl. Her friends were not Jewish but tried to protect their young friend and helped hide her from German soldiers. War is particularly hard on children, especially if they have to worry about the safety of family members. The author did a very good job of presenting the reader with the challenges the young girl faced.
I enjoyed The Girl With the Yellow Star. It is a story about a young girl who is the daughter of Jewish parents and tells her story after her father was captured by German soldiers. The story is told from the perspective of the young girl. Her friends were not Jewish but tried to protect their young friend and helped hide her from German soldiers. War is particularly hard on children, especially if they have to worry about the safety of family members. The author did a very good job of presenting the reader with the challenges the young girl faced.
November 20, 2022
Excellent WWII Story
This takes place in England where German POWs were interned during WWII. Gwenna, whose father has passed now runs the family farm. A young Jewish girl is sent to live with her for protection. Her mother dies on the way to Gwenna’s home. Three POWs are sent to help her on the farm and Gwen has a hard time accepting that as her husband died during the war. A nice story set during this time with realistic characters.
This takes place in England where German POWs were interned during WWII. Gwenna, whose father has passed now runs the family farm. A young Jewish girl is sent to live with her for protection. Her mother dies on the way to Gwenna’s home. Three POWs are sent to help her on the farm and Gwen has a hard time accepting that as her husband died during the war. A nice story set during this time with realistic characters.
March 12, 2024
It was a nice change to read a historical novel that was not a murder investigation. I thought the author's writing was very descriptive in its detail without becoming a tutorial. There were many sentences in which she managed to inject either history or information about farming and management of the farm animals very smoothly.
Four stars reflected the fact that the book was a pleasure to read.
Four stars reflected the fact that the book was a pleasure to read.
December 11, 2022
The cover says this is supposed to be a gripping and heartbreaking novel. Gripping is right, heartbreaking not so much. It was definitely a very very good read though. I didn’t cry once and idk if it’s cause the author made me feel so detached from the events happening or what it was. The beginning definitely had me worried for Lottie but it was such a good book. I couldn’t put it down
December 31, 2022
Lovely story
Amid such a terrible time in history. A young women and a young girl learned to love and care for each other. And in turn those around them. This is a very beautiful passonate story. The writer is a master storyteller putting you right there in the plot. I highly recommend this book. Pick it up today or be disappoined.
Amid such a terrible time in history. A young women and a young girl learned to love and care for each other. And in turn those around them. This is a very beautiful passonate story. The writer is a master storyteller putting you right there in the plot. I highly recommend this book. Pick it up today or be disappoined.
May 2, 2023
The Girl with the Yellow Star
Very well-written novel. I love the way the plot develops, with more and more information about the background of the protagonists emerging as the narrative progresses, until the entire history is revealed. The author creates believable, well-rounded characters.
One minor quibble, if I may....I don't think Berlin Jews would have spoken Yiddish.
Very well-written novel. I love the way the plot develops, with more and more information about the background of the protagonists emerging as the narrative progresses, until the entire history is revealed. The author creates believable, well-rounded characters.
One minor quibble, if I may....I don't think Berlin Jews would have spoken Yiddish.
September 4, 2023
Lotti lost so much and I could see her struggling with obeying her Papa and learning to trust Gwenna. Gwenna had also lost a lot and she struggled with her feelings for Lottie and one other. The characters are wonderful. The townspeople were a very eclectic mix of people. I really enjoyed this story.
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