The Nightingale: A Novel by Kristin Hannah

 The Nightingale: A Novel by Kristin Hannah.
                              St. Martin's Press, 2015.  Adult Fiction.


As the Germans invade France, two sisters become involved in activities far from those they had known or expected. Vianne's husband leaves to fight. When the German soldiers come, she and her daughter must allow a German officer to board with them. Her heart is with the Jewish children whose parents are taken away. Isabelle, younger and more rebellious, joins the resistance fighters to help downed RAF pilots escape the country. Both are changed forever and find strength that they never knew they possessed.


One of the sisters looks back and tells the story from 1995 Oregon. Chapters lead with the place and time. Every so often, readers are brought back to Oregon. Frankly, these glimpses are helpful in that they break the pace of the horrible things happening during the war. Leading toward a reunion of wartime participants at the conclusion, the book tells about the lack of food, electricity, and other essentials and the growth of the courageous women and men and children who tried to survive and make their lives and country better.