Book Review: How Huge the Night

About the Munn's:

Heather Munn was born in Northern Ireland and grew up in southern France where her parents were missionaries like their parents before them. She has a BA in literature from Wheaton College and now lives in a Christian intentional community in rural Illinois , where she and her husband, Paul, host free spiritual retreats for the poor, especially those transitioning out of homelessness or addiction. When not writing or hosting, she works on the communal farm.

Lydia Munn, daughter of missionary parents, grew up in Brazil . She received a BA in literature from Wheaton College , and an MA in Bible from Columbia Graduate School of Bible and Missions. With her husband, Jim, she has worked in church planting and Bible teaching since 1983, notably in St. Etienne, near the small town in the central mountains of France which forms the background of How Huge the Night. The Munns now live in Grenoble , France .

About How Huge the Night:

Fifteen-year-old Julien Losier just wants to fit in. But after his family moves to a small village in central France in hopes of outrunning the Nazis, he is suddenly faced with bigger challenges than the taunting of local teens. Nina Krenkel left her country to obey her father's dying command: Take your brother and leave Austria . Burn your papers. Tell no one you are Jews. Alone and on the run, she arrives in Tanieux , France , dangerously ill and in despair.

 

Thrown together by the chaos of war, Julien begins to feel the terrible weight of the looming conflict and Nina fights to survive. As France falls to the Nazis, Julien struggles with doing what is right, even if it is not enough-and wonders whether or not he really can save Nina from almost certain death.

 

Based on the true story of the town of Le Chambon-the only French town honored by Israel for rescuing Jews from the Holocaust-How Huge the Night is a compelling, coming-of-age drama that will keep teens turning the pages as it teaches them about a fascinating period of history and inspires them to think more deeply about their everyday choices.

MY THOUGHTS:

This is a story about a very dark time in our history, it is a sad story with glimmers of hope.  I loved the imagery in the story, the authors really brought the scenery to life starting with the first page where they say,

"....tumbled down the hillside like blocks some giant kid had spilled...."  15 year old Julien fights to find his way in his new home and he really has it quite easy compared to Nina who has left her home with her young brother after their father dies.  As you read this story your heart breaks at the thought of these young children fighting to stay alive when really it's their time to fly, to prepare for their lives as adults.  This book shows the struggle of every day life, how it must go on, even during war, and how our choices, no matter our age or the situation we are in can change our lives forever.

This book is based on actual events and is one that I highly recommend, a very insightful read.

 

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* I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for review from Litfuse Publishing.