Review by sarahahp -- Hidden: Nistar by Batya Casper
- sarahahp
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Review by sarahahp -- Hidden: Nistar by Batya Casper

4 out of 4 stars
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Hidden: Nistar contains two separate novellas. The first one is in Israel, where a young girl, Pnina, grows up in her grandmother’s home filled with a lot of unanswered questions about her past and where her parents are. The story then goes back to her grandmother’s own upbringing during the 1930’s, and explains a lot of the mysteries leading up until that point. The second story is set in England during World War II, in a family’s home that took in some refugees. Among them are two sisters of Dutch origin who struggle to acclimate to their surroundings and the sadness and fear they feel, missing their parents. Its description of the bombing of London and the details of the war is perfect for the story: scary enough to realize what the characters were grappling with, yet vague enough not to horrify the reader.
Both stories are brilliant pieces in their own right. They show the realities of life and stir your emotions. The author, Batya Casper, successfully engages the reader by writing each of the stories from the point of view of a few of the characters, enabling a full understanding of their perspectives. Additionally, the characters are developed by the detailed descriptions of them throughout the stories: some are relatable, while others are intriguing.
The thing I liked most about the book were the details and emotions that were developed as each story continued. At some points, I even got teary. I felt like I was there with the characters, living somewhere in their lives.
The part I disliked the most was that I wasn’t sure whether the two stories were connected at one point. I think it should have stated on the cover or on one of the first pages that there were two separate stories in the book.
I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars because of the exceptional detail and emotion that the author cultivated. I have read many books on the holocaust and many more on that time period in Israel. But this book personalized the time periods in a way that is hard to forget.
It is clear that both stories are of Jews, but I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good piece of historical fiction. They are captivating and need to be read in one sitting, but each story can be read separately.
I did not notice any grammatical errors in this book.
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Hidden: Nistar
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- Erin Painter Baker
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