Children of the Stars

This is truly a stunning story, From the very start of the book, I'm talking...just pages in, it will pull you in like a hypnotic, Mesmerizing read, that will keep you in suspense, and your heart ready to burst out of your chest ! It is gripping, and beautiful, and heartbreaking all at the same time. It is about love of family, and sacrifice, and unbelievable courage in some people to go above and beyond, for these children that are mear strangers to them, putting their own lives in jeperady, so badly that it could result in their deaths. This story is written with heart and so much hope, that as I'm reading the story of two young brothers Jacob and Moses, I just knew in my heart, their ending would be good! It begins with two brothers Jacob ( the oldest of only 9yrs) and his brother Moses ( only 5yrs) who live with their Aunt in Paris, that has now been over taken by the Nazi's. The parents are famous playwrights, who put them in their Aunts safe care, until they can find a safe country that will accept their being Jewish, and will let them be reunited, to live all together again. The boys love their Aunt dearly, as she does them, and though she's never had children of her own, she does as best she can for them, knowing they miss their parents so much, and long for them day in and day out. Their harrowing story starts as the boys are leaving to go to school, they walk out of the court yard of their aunts apartment, and hear a commotion going on in the streets ahead, as they look out onto the sidewalk, the street is lined with busses, and the French Police, under Nazi orders, are gathering all the Jewish men, women and children, along with Gypsies, and other Foreigners. They were having a round up, and taking them all to the Velodrome d'Hiver, which was a large stadium. The Horrific night and day the boys spent there, alone, scared, hungry and thirsty, will hurt your heart. Jacob, knows in his heart, Without REALLY Knowing....that this is not going to end well, and him and his brother need to find a way to escape this nightmare and get back to his Aunts to hide.They watch in scarred horror as people fling themselves to their deaths from the highest part of the Stadium seating, committing suicide, for fear of what lies in wait for them. Others perish, where they lie or sit, from incredible heat exhaustion and thirst from the thousands that are packed into the overly hot, overly crowded stadium. The boys together with another little boy they befriended, manage to escape through the sewer systems, but only after litterly managing to fight for their lives inside the stadium from the horrible French Police, who are sometimes as bad, if not worse than the Nazi's. It is here the tale of their story will begin in unimaginable ways. From what news they have learned about Aunt Edith, from the little old lady across the hall that hides and feeds them for the night, and gets them in touch with the first person, that will start their journey of finding their parents. He will help them get through as many towns as possible to the next contact, with the grace of God, not getting caught !!.Their goal is to make it to unoccupied France and then into to Spain, where Jacob knows from the most recent letter Aunt Edith received, their parents are living, and working and trying to get papers and documents to get the boys over to them.The Journey these boys live through, and the wonderful heart warming people they meet along the way is unbelievable. As I read this , of course there are parts a little far fetched, but it is what makes the story have life, and love, and Hope, and belief, which is ALL what we really need to have and cling to when in a most desperate situation. I Absolutely loved this book, it's not one I will easily forget over time. The Author does say Jacob and moses are the fictional characters part of the book, but the round up in Paris in the stadium, is Fact, as are some of the people they stayed with in unoccupied Fran