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Hey! Super excited to jump into this book with you! When discussing the book please say which chapter you are discussing from and mark the spoilers.

Hey! I don't think I'll be able to participate, but this looks like a really good book that I hope to read someday. Happy reading :D

Thanks! Wish you could join :)

I hope to join, but we'll see what happens. :)

Omg I just recently read it and it was amazing!!! I’m not currently reading it but am happy to discuss with y’all!<3

Ooo! Awesome!! I'm gonna order it from amazon. I was gonna get that done earlier this evening but than I was busy so it'll have to wait until tomorrow evening. lol

Just got it ordered, it should get here the beginning of next week so I’m planning on starting then.

My book just got here. I have some other reading I need to do than I’ll hop in on this. Anyone else going to be reading it??

I'm planning on it, but I'll have to see when I'm able to get it from the library.

Sounds good.

I have this book and I’ll probably start today. I don’t really have any other books that I have to be reading at the moment. So this one is perfect to start now.

I've been really busy and keep pushing this book off. My current plan is to at least start it this weekend. We'll see how much of it I get read.

Just started this book this morning. So far the only mention of anything “Christian�� is the fact that the main character is Catholic. Nothing had been said about God tho so hopefully that changes and we can see them relying on him.

The language is a bit crude at times and I’m not sure about the writing style. It’s a lot of short chopped off sentences.

I am loving the story tho! It’s got me on the edge of my seat.

Ok this book is making me squirm. It’s so painful. I’m used to reading MG books about WW2. Not books like this. It just makes the war feel more real. And so much more painful.

I just finished this book and thought I would post my updates that I did throughout the book.

May 12, 2024 �� page 3
0.75% “Mama didn’t have time to remember our real birthdays. Or our real names. […]
If I had nine children, I wouldn’t remember their names, either.��

Excuse me. Just because your mom had nine children is no reason to not remember your names. My dear mom has 9 children and she easily remembers our birthdays, and definitely can remember our names. I’m wondering if the author doesn’t come from a big family 🤨

May 12, 2024 �� page 105
26.25% “Fear comes with the dark when you’re lying still, waiting for the knock on the door. And fear is not always reasonable.��

Something I’ve noticed about the difference between this book and The Hiding Place is the fact that the Ten Boom family strongly relied on God and trusted in His protection. Stefania on the other hand just acknowledges that God is there. And not only does she just acknowledge that He’s there, she also is very much out for revenge. At one point she tells a man (who had been beating her sister) that she was gonna pray that the Germans would come beat him up 10 times for every time he beat her sister. And that he would have to go hungry 10 days for every time he made her sister go hungry. And LOTS more things. And then after telling him that she thinks to herself that it’s obvious which of their prayers God will answer.

Since this is a true story this stuff doesn’t bother me like it would if it was fiction. She is a courageous girl, my heart just breaks for her, if she had trusted in God to provide and protect it would’ve given her some hope. Without God we have no hope, and I see that so strongly in this book.

May 12, 2024 �� page 106
26.5% “Przemyśl had given me an education since that cart ride when I was 12. It had taught me that people like to divvy up one another with names. Jew. Catholic. German. Pole. But these were the wrong names. They were the wrong dividing lines. Kindness. Cruelty. Love and hate. These were the boarders that mattered.��

May 12, 2024 �� page 109
27.25% “‘Is he a Jew?��
I turn to look at her. ‘Why do you ask that?��
‘Because he’s hurt.��
Because in this place where my sister lives, Jews get hurt. She can’t remember another way.��

😭😭💔💔 I’m not crying. You are.

May 12, 2024 �� page 118
29.5% This book is genuinely breaking my heart

May 13, 2024 �� page 149
37.25% “‘You are not nothing!��
Max shakes his head. ‘When you watch little children being murdered while you hide in your hole in the ground, too afraid to come out, you know that you are nothing. When whole countries want you dead, when thousands cheer for speeches about your destruction, when the dogs of the guards are treated better than you, then it’s not a question, Stefania. You know you are nothing.’��

May 13, 2024 �� page 255
63.75% Planning on finishing this book this morning.

May 13, 2024 �� page 346
86.5% I can’t hold still right now. What happens????!



I am in love with this book. I am hesitant to let my siblings read it though because the violence is kind of graphic at times, and there were some suggestive comments made. The MC was also accused of being a prostitute a couple times (she wasn't at all. And not much more was said about it.) But the details were great, and the authors note says which parts were complete facts (three minor parts.). And the author got to interview the Stefania's son and meet Stefania herself. Much of the book was based off of an unpublished memoir written by Stefania herself. And details were filled in by watching hours of interview footage. I never even knew this lady existed but now I do and I'm so glad to.

Hahaha! Yes, that's hilarious. I remember all 8 of my kids' full names and birthdays. Now birth TIME and WEIGHTS.... I have gotten a few of those mixed up over the years but I know the general gist and I have it written down somewhere. LOL

Yeah I think mom knows weights on most of us as well�� not sure. But she definitely knows our full names. lol

I'll prob start this tonight. Yes, I think I'm reading it before the F&F BOTM.

Awesome! Can’t wait to see your thoughts on this

I'm in the middle of Chapter 15 and it' so good so far. Reminds me of a Ruta Sepetys book somewhat.

So, Bets, was this your first non-MG book about World War II?

Maybe I should post my status updates here, like you did. Maybe I'll wait until I've finished too. So far, I've only got two tho.

‘You are not nothing!��
Max shakes his head. ‘When you watch little children being murdered while you hide in your hole in the ground, too afraid to come out, you know that you are nothing. When whole countries want you dead, when thousands cheer for speeches about your destruction, when the dogs of the guards are treated better than you, then it’s not a question, Stefania. You know you are nothing.’��

Just read that part today, and... it hurt.

Yeah I also quoted that part. It really hurt. This whole book hurt.

Not sure. Probably The Hiding Place. Other than that there really aren’t any. lol. My mom just has tons of MG historical fics so that’s what I’ve read. Since I’m on GR I’ve started branching out. Honestly in general I haven’t read a ton of YA since my mom mostly has MG (which I do love).

Yeah. YA is my fav, but I didn't start reading it until I was like 16 or 17 lol. It is a lot harder to find clean YA tho.

Elisabeth (Bets) wrote: "Yeah I also quoted that part. It really hurt. This whole book hurt."

Yeah, it really does. The quote and the whole book.

Also, I was hoping that (view spoiler)[Emilika would help. (hide spoiler)] I mean, it's understandable and (view spoiler)[at least she didn't tell but, well... (hide spoiler)]

I haven't read The Hiding Place. Maybe I should.

Bella wrote: "Yeah. YA is my fav, but I didn't start reading it until I was like 16 or 17 lol. It is a lot harder to find clean YA tho."

Yeah I'm realizing that.

Bella wrote: "Elisabeth (Bets) wrote: "Yeah I also quoted that part. It really hurt. This whole book hurt."

Yeah, it really does. The quote and the whole book.

Also, I was hoping that [spoilers removed] I mean..."

Sameee!

Bella wrote: "I haven't read The Hiding Place. Maybe I should."

It's an incredible book! Corrie's faith is inspiring. And her level of forgiveness mind blowing.

Elisabeth (Bets) wrote: "Bella wrote: "I haven't read The Hiding Place. Maybe I should."

It's an incredible book! Corrie's faith is inspiring. And her level of forgiveness mind blowing."

Yeah, I'll def have to read it at some point.

I've only got three chapter left. :) :(

That part where she was in the hospital was physically painful to read.

Yeah that was not good.

Not good at all. What was up with that doctor?

No clue

I finished! Here's my review:

/review/show...