Children of the Stars

Escobar highlights the tempestuous, uplifting story of two Jewish brothers who cross Nazi-occupied France in hope of reuniting with their parents in this excellent tale. In 1941, the Nazis control much of France. Brothers Jacob and Moses—12 and eight years old, respectively—have been staying with their aunt Judith for the past year while their parents search for a safe place for them to move. Then the boys are picked up in a raid and taken to a velodrome that’s been repurposed as a detention camp housing thousands of Jews. After a guard nearly beats Moses to death, the brothers decide they must escape. Thus begins Jacob and Moses’s life on the run, first from the gendarme, then the hatred of neighbors and strangers in occupied France. While they face many dangers, they also encounter people who risk their lives to help the two boys reunite with their parents. Among the brutality and despair that follows in the wake of the Nazis’ rampage through France, Escobar uncovers hope, heart, and faith in humanity. (Feb.)