Jerusza an 82 year old Jewish Woman German steals a 2 year old baby Inge from her parent’s Berlin home. Why? Because Jerusza has a gift from God and she knows things. She knows that Inge must not be allowed to stay with her Nazi parents because Inge is important to the future. Inge’s fate is that she was born to repair the world, for the sake of tikkun alam. Jerusza takes the baby to her forest home and renames her Yona. Jerusza begins training Yona for her fated greatness. At 8, Jerusza begins teaching Yona things such as how to kill a man. She also taught her how to heal. Then In 1942 at the age of 102, Jerusza dies, leaving a 22 year old Yona all alone in the forest. Until she finds a child hurt wandering alone with a yellow star sewn on her sweater. Then everything changes and Jersuza’s teachings make sense.

This was a great book. There was a sense of magic that surrounds Yona and the forest. Her courage and strength to help the Jews she finds is amazing. Not all battles are fought with weapons, some our fought by defying what is expected. Watching Yona’s growth as a person was an incredible journey to join her on. This was well written and the language was beautiful. The story came to life in my minds eye. This book is full of love and hate, courage and fear, selfishness and sacrifice. It is beautiful and I highly recommend it
Spoiler: In the afterwards Kristen Harmel tells us she interviewed a leader of the Bielski group. And although this isn’t their story, it is loosely based on some of their methods and experiences. So fiction based rooted in facts.

*I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. I received this copy free in exchange for my honest review.*