Book Review: The Light in Hidden Places

Hi everyone! It’s Amelia writing today to share a book review. I haven’t found much time to read this month, but I wanted to talk about one of the books I read that I really enjoyed. It’s called The Light in Hidden Places by Shannon Cameron. It is set in 1943 and follows the true story of Stefania Podgorska, a 17-year-old girl who hid 13 Jews in her home. My friend recommended this book to me (Thanks, Lillian!) and I really enjoyed it for the way it made me think and the feeling that spoke through the story.

I’ll leave you to read the more detailed blurb for yourself if you’re interested, and just get onto the reasons why I enjoyed the story for myself.

It Made Me Think

One reason I enjoyed the book so much is that it made me think a lot about my own life and how blessed I really am. As I read about these characters who were forced into horrific experiences, it made me stop and think as I found myself complaining about small things. It was a wake up call to see a girl my age who took on SO much responsibility to care for the Jews, and she did it all by herself. It made me wonder if I could really be that brave.

Sometimes it’s very easy for me to just forget about the horrific things that are going on all around me, but this book was a blatant reminder of the horrors that once went on, and that are still going on today, and how evil is so real in this world. But it doesn’t shy away from the message that, where there is darkness, the light will shine even brighter.

The Characters

The characters in this story were very well done. I was rooting for the main character; I wanted her to succeed because there were so many lives at stake if she didn’t. I could see her continually choosing love, making the hard decisions and living through awful conditions for the sake of others. She made me want to analyze my own self and find the areas where I could be doing better and more.

The Writing

While the style wasn’t anything fantastic, I could feel what the author was trying to convey. When Stefania was terrified, so was I. When she wondered how she was still living one more day, I wondered too. When she was so overcome with grief and exhaustion, I felt it all. The author wrote the heart of the character, and that is a real treasure to find in a book.

As I read, I kept wondering, “Can things really get any worse for these characters?” But they always did. Between starvation, Nazis, sickness, deaths, beatings, over-working and so much more, these (actually real) characters went through so much. I almost felt like I’d gone on a journey by the end of the story.

I would highly recommend this for Historical Fiction lovers and for those who like books that go against the YA norms. And, though it is set during World War II, it had a good balance between not shying away from the horrors of the time, but also not describing too much unnecessary violence. This book is definitely one I will come back to, and it has really stuck with me since I read it.

I hope you enjoyed this review and I’d love to hear your thoughts on this book if you’ve read it before!

Thanks for reading.

– Amelia