SAFIYYAH'S WAR

There is a simplicity to 11-year-old Safiyyah's life within the Grand Mosque of Paris, where she lives in 1940. Shala Nyx's narration reflects Safiyyah's innocence, the love and warmth of her family and friends, and the way she cares so kindly for them. But soon curiosity and discomfort creep into her life, which are reflected in Nyx's reading. As German soldiers invade her city, her best friend's family flees, Nazi cruelties accelerate, and her wanderings become circumscribed by her parents, who become secretive. Safiyyah's curiosity turns to gathering clues to what's happening, and Nyx's voice mirrors the tension that comes from her duplicity. Discovering her parents' secrets results in Safiyyah becoming part of the French Resistance, aiding Jews' escapes. Nyx shows her growing bravery and confidence. S.W. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2024]