The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron

TW: antisemitism, Nazis and WWII, confined spaces, sexual misconduct

Stefania Podgorska is a Polish teenager in 1943 and feels the weight of the world on her shoulders. After the grocery store she had been working at for four years is shut down and her neighborhood is turned into a Jewish ghetto, she has to figure out how to help the family she loves while also staying safe. Because if she is caught helping Jews, Stefania and her little sister will be killed. Her great love, Izio, is killed in concentration camps. When her lover’s brother escapes a train headed to a death camp, he gives her a proposition. She feels she has to help in any way she can, even if that means hiding Jews in her attic.

This book hit me right in the feelings. It was heartbreaking, anxiety-provoking, terrifying, hopeful, and romantic. Stefania, the main protagonist, is complicated yet simple in the best way. The relationship dynamics are well-crafted. Each character is connected, and the author does a great job weaving the lives of the people we meet together. My biggest drawback with this book is the pacing. It was a little fast for me. I think the fear would have been ever more present, more impactful if it did not feel rushed. But overall, I enjoyed this book.

I say I enjoy this book, but it was tough for me to get through. I am Jewish, so the contents of this book were complex for me to read. However, once you get through the initial pain of this book, it is worth the read.

Most of this book is what someone would qualify as “horrific,” but the terrifying moments could have been more extended, more drawn out. They felt very rushed, so when I started feeling the height of the anxiety and fear of the situation, it was over. The reader never really gets to sit with what just happened. This is classified as a young adult book, so I understand the author’s intentions to keep the fear limited, but I think it would have made a more significant impact (even for younger readers) if the intense scenes were more intense.

If you are a fan of historical fiction, especially World War II books, you will enjoy this book. If you are skeptical of young adult books, then I caution you with this title that it may feel lacking in spots. But it was an overall good book with crucial historical context. If you are looking to get into historical fiction or introduce someone to the horrors of WWII, I think this book would be a great place to start.