An elderly Jewish mystic, Jerusza, recognizes toddler Yona, born to wealthy Germans in Beriln, her father a Nazi, as a special being and takes her to live deep in the Eastern European forest. After Jerusza's death, Yona crosses paths with Polish Jews fleeing the Nazis. Reluctantly letting down her guard, she teaches them survival skills and gradually joins the group, becoming romantically involved with their charismatic leader. But when he betrays her, she sets off on her own and comes to a German-occupied village where her past and present collide, putting her and the group in danger. Harmel's latest WWII adventure, following The Book of Lost Names (2020), was inspired by her deep research into the stories of Jews who evaded the Nazis by hiding deep in the woods. Yona and her quest to understand her origins is compelling, but the real star is Harmel's richly detailed rendering of the sheltering and sustaining forest. Recommended for fans of historical novels with a strong sense of place, such as Delia Owens' Where the Crawdads Sing (2018) and Kristin Hannah's The Great Alone (2018).

Harmel (The Book of Lost Names) returns with a powerful account of a young woman's efforts during WWII to teach Jews how to survive in the forests of Eastern Europe. In 1922, Yona, born Inge Jüttner, was kidnapped at age two by Jerusza, a clairvoyant forest dweller who felt compelled to save the child from her German parents, whom Jerusza later says were "bad people." Jerusza hides Yona in the Nalibocka Forest and, as she grows up, teaches her survival skills. In 1942, after Jerusza dies, Yona encounters a group of Jewish refugees in the woods and shows them how to evade the Nazis and survive the harsh winters. But after a romantic betrayal, Yona leaves them, and in a village she meets a group of nuns targeted for execution by the Nazis. She appeals to the Nazi leader, whose face is instantly familiar to her, to stop, then is ordered to remain with him. After Yona learns of an imminent forest raid, she escapes and rejoins the refugees, guiding them deeper into the forest. With the Nazis tracking them, the narrative culminates in a terrifying climax. Along the way, the author impresses with descriptions of how Yona and the refugees survive. Harmel's stirring adventure will captivate readers. Agent: Holly Root, Root Literary. (July)