In this emotionally rich story, a little girl and her family live happily in Paris until Nazi soldiers arrive druing World War II. She and her family must flee or risk being sent to a concentration camp, so they run into the woods, where they meet resistance fighters. But they're still not safe. They must cross tall mountains and sail in a rickety boat to England. Yet the whole time they're struggling to survive, the little girl thinks of the stone angel near their apartment in Paris and imagines it watching over her family.

A little girl narrates her family’s tale of escaping into England as the Nazis invade France. Throughout their dangerous journey, she recognizes the guardian angels that protect them on their way. Author’s Note.

This book has stayed with me, and I have not been able to shake it yet. Yolen brought a beautiful story of hope and light in a time of depletion and darkness that a young girl and her family suffered through during WW2. Originally living in Paris, they were forced to flee in fear of being taken by the Nazi's. They lost everything and went to the mountains where they hid for weeks, meeting others that were also targeted, and doing everything to not get caught. All they had to hold to was each other and the hope of angels, which was an important symbol throughout the entire story. "Stone Angel" had a beautiful, unexpected ending. ( )

This book taught me that Paris and the rest of Europe was taken over by the Nazis. You are taken on a journey with the main character and her experience of being a Jew avoiding the Nazis.

This would be a good book to pair with teaching about the Nazis and the Jews. It would also be a good informative book to read to children so that they will understand the Jew perspective when they were avoiding death by the Nazis. ( )

A young girl and her brother Aron are happy in Paris. They follow the streets to their favorite bakery, and purchase their favorite treat each day.

Now, the brown shirts are in the city. The bad men mean to harm and make no mistake about it, they mean business when they insist that her family, and all Jews must wear the yellow star.

Losing his job, her father knows they must flee, hurry, hurry before it is too late. And, now, gathering their precious children, they run to the forest. When it feels uncomfortable, they run deeper in he woods. Finding others who are also fleeing, they build a community that shares food.

When Papa goes out of the forest with nine others, only three return. This, then is a sign to flee more and more. Now, it is winter and they must travel over the mountains, then more mountains as they head to Spain. Then from Spain, a boat takes them to England to live with a relative.

Finally, when it is over and the little girl and her family miraculously arrive back in Paris, alive, they little girl knows that the stone angel that stands on their building was with them throughout the entire time and protected them.

Jane Yolen never disappoints. Once again, a very deep subject is framed in fear and then hope.

Four Stars. ( )