Safiyyah’s War by Hiba Noor Khan, reviewed by Leontine (12)

Follow this thrilling book filled to the brim with awe inspiring courage as Safiyyah roams the streets of Paris working to keep Jews safe, smuggling them away, handing out fake documents and more. All while also dodging suspicions and the prying eyes of the German soldiers.

“It was very interesting to read about WW2 and how even people who weren’t fighting on the frontlines were helping in the war.”

Leontine (12)

 Set in the streets of Paris, Safiyyah lives in a mosque with her family but when the war starts unfolding in her city and day by day Jews are being arrested, Safiyyah is desperate to help. This desire increases when her father is arrested for aiding persecuted Jews. Safiyyah ends up joining the Resistance and completing her father’s work in his absence.

Based on a true story, this book helps uncover the fundamental role of the Muslim community at the Grand Mosque of Paris in saving Jews.

 I really enjoyed this book as it was very interesting to read about WW2 and how even people who weren’t fighting on the frontlines were helping in the war.

I think this book is good for people who would like to learn more about how World War 2 impacted people’s daily lives.

All in all, this was a really good and thrilling book. Well done Hiba Noor Khan for her amazing debut!

The Unexpected Tale of Bastien Bonlivre by Clare Povey, reviewed by Aysha (11)

In this magnificent book by Clare Povey, the main character, Bastien Bonlivre, gets taken to an orphanage. In this orphanage, the owner, Monsieur Xavier, is not very nice and horrible to the children.

Bastien’s parents died and they left behind a notebook which was told to have something hidden inside it as they were very famous book writers.

I loved this book as it’s based in France and I love reading stories about different places. There are even a few French words in it too!

Aysha (11)

Over the next few days in the awful orphanage bastien meets another boy, Theo, who is a very cunning engineer who can build almost anything out of scrap. As the months go by, Theo and Bastien decide to escape briefly to see France in all its pride and glory.

Suddenly back at the orphanage the notebook gets stolen, can Bastien get is back before it’s too late?

I loved this book as its based in France and I love reading stories about different places. There are eve a few French words in it too!

This book will be right up your alley if you like stories, as Bastien reads a lot of stories to the orphanage boys: mysteries, crime and Paris.