Fourteen year old Vianne and four year old Isabelle are abandoned by their World War One ravaged father after their mother dies. Vianne eventually becomes pregnant and marries Antoine while Isabelle bounces around between boarding schools and convents, either running away or being expelled due to her rebellious nature. When France becomes taken over by Nazi Germany the two sisters find themselves living together again and trying to survive occupied France while Antoine and the rest of the young men are fighting the war. Fiery Isabelle decides she won’t take the occupation lying down and joins the Resistance, putting her life in danger by harboring and ferrying downed Allied pilots over the Pyrenees mountains to safety. Vianne and her young daughter must endure billeting soldiers in their home while surviving on meager rations and Vianne eventually rescues multiple children whose mothers are taken away to concentration camps. Both sisters show incredible courage, love, and heroism while suffering unimaginable wartime horrors. This great piece of historical fiction had me riveted and illustrate the quiet yet noble role played by women during World War Two.
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