In the historical fiction novel The Night War, tween readers meet a Jewish girl named Miriam. She and her family have escaped from Germany to Paris, but the war followed them. Now, Miriam and a neighbor girl named Nora flee once again on a perilous journey across France toward the sanctuary of Switzerland.
Miriam lives in fear of the German and French soldiers that patrol the streets of Paris. One day, her worst fears come to life. Her neighborhood is rounded up, and Miriam is separated from her parents in the process. Her neighbor, Mrs. Rosenbaum, entrusts her daughter, Nora, into Miriam’s care and says it’s time for Miriam to be brave. She needs to escape to Switzerland.
When a soldier stops Miriam, she’s saved by a quick-thinking nun who takes her back to the convent. Soon, Miriam and Nora are on the move again with false identification papers in hand. Nora is placed with a family while Miriam finds herself at a Catholic boarding school.
Miriam struggles with being separated from Nora and tries to fit in the best she can at the school. She helps in the garden and visits the castle in town. However, Miriam soon learns information that fills her with hope: Chenoneau Castle doesn’t only bridge the river. It marks the border between German-occupied and Vichy France.
When Sister Dominique breaks her leg, Miriam volunteers to guide those who are fleeing the Nazis through the castle to the next guide. She quickly realizes she’s found a way to get one step closer to Switzerland. But is leaving really the best decision? As Miriam weighs her options, she tries above all to follow her father’s advice: She must choose courage.
Miriam mentions Christian students at her school. A Catholic nun sees Miriam and Nora trying to escape and tells the German soldier that the girls came from the convent. The nun puts a rosary in Miriam’s pocket to make this cover story more believable.
Christian and Jewish characters pray. Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection are mentioned. Characters talk about praying the rosary and other Catholic traditions. Heaven, the pope and the Huguenots (a Protestant sect) are mentioned.
Miriam is Jewish, and Jewish customs are likewise discussed. One character is a ghost. One of the nuns tells Miriam that she believes there are multiple ways to heaven, with Judaism being a viable alternative to Christianity.
Miriam is afraid of the German soldiers. Her parents try to protect her the best that they can. Sister Felicite saves Miriam and Nora by taking them back to the convent and sending them away to where they could hide. Mother Agnes, who runs the Catholic boarding school, is strict. Sister Dominique is kind, and Sister Annunciata trusts Miriam to help smuggle people to the Vichy side of France.
A German soldier punches Miriam’s neighbor and pushes Miriam down. Someone set Miriam’s house in Germany on fire. The French police ransack Miriam’s family’s apartment in Paris. Miriam is unsure if she heard a gunshot coming from her apartment or not. A French soldier slaps Miriam. A Catholic nun in Germany spit on Miriam because she’s Jewish. Miriam’s mother miscarried a baby. Sister Dominique falls down the stairs and breaks her leg. The gardener at the castle dies. A downed Allied airman has an injury that bleeds profusely. Miriam calls an old woman a witch. The Saint Bartholomew’s day massacre is described.
A king’s mistress is mentioned. Menstruation is discussed.
Miriam’s father tells her to choose courage. What does choosing courage look like in your life?
Read John 14:6. What does this verse say about the way to get to heaven, in contrast to what we read in this story?
How do you stand for the truth while still respecting other people who have different beliefs than you?
The Night War offers a vivid and engaging picture of France in the early years of World War II. Author Kimberly Brubaker Bradley once again creates relatable characters and a gripping plot.
The violence we read about here, though relatively sanitized, could still trouble some younger readers. And parents should be aware that several characters endorse the universalist idea that there are multiple ways to heaven.
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Book reviews cover the content, themes and worldviews of fiction books, not necessarily their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate for their children. The inclusion of a book’s review does not constitute an endorsement by Focus on the Family.
Rachel Pfeiffer serves as Editor of Focus on the Family Clubhouse magazine, where she acquires and crafts stories to entertain and disciple children. She graduated from Taylor University with a degree in professional writing and Moody Theological Seminary with an MA in Biblical Studies. When she’s not curled up with a good book, she can often be found hiking the beautiful Colorado Rockies.
