For the readers of The Nightingale and Lilac Girls, inspired by the true story of the author's great-grandmother's journey during World War II, The Girl with the Silver Star is the extraordinary story of a mother's love and will to survive during one of history's darkest time periods.As a hailstorm of bombs begins to shatter the city of Minsk in Belarus, Raisa and her family run through the darkness of night to take cover. When Raisa, Abraham, and their daughters, Luba and Sofia, emerge from the bomb shelter, they find an unfamiliar city before them; chaos and terror burn in every direction. Fearing for their lives, they must leave at once to find the rest of their family. But before they are able to escape, Abraham is conscripted into the Russian Army and the family is forced to part ways. Raisa's love and strength are put to the ultimate test as she finds herself on her own with her two young daughters in tow. How will she manage alone without her soulmate by her side?Relying on hope, resourcefulness and courage, they walk, hitch hike and take trains heading for Uzbekistan, over 2,500 miles from home. Along the way they run from bombs, endure starvation, and face death.Raisa finds solace in the women around her. Her mother, sisters, old friends and new help carry her through the difficult war years, but Raisa's longing to reunite with Abraham still rages inside her heart. Will they ever see each other again? Will Raisa and her family find their way back to their homeland?The Girl with the Silver Star is a captivating journey through war-torn Soviet Union as it illuminates a unique part of WWII history, the female heroes. Raisa's journey is a tribute to the nameless women, their determination, bravery, grief and unwavering love during impossible times. Their stories shouldn't be forgotten.What readers are saying about The Girl with the Silver Star⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads ReviewerThe Girl with the Silver Star is a heartfelt, tense, and moving story of one family's journey through Russia during WWII. It recounts the author's great-grandmother's struggle to keep her children and parents safe while her husband is fighting on the front lines.The author's admiration for her great-grandmother comes through on every page, as well as the power of family ties and the strength that carries through generations.While I've certainly never gone through anything like them, I could completely relate to Raisa and the hardships she endured. I felt her struggles and heartbreaks. Her strength and that of the women around her poured through the pages. I loved this book! And I highly recommend it.⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads ReviewerA story of love, loss, family and lasting friendships. This story is beautifully written and it will make you laugh, cry, get angry and want to love and be loved; hallmarks of a great story. The main character Raisa and her necklace are symbols of purity and reflect the themes of: good vs. evil, love and heroism...⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads ReviewerThe Girl with the Silver Star follows the story of an innocent family who are thrust into terror during WWII. Its a fight for survival when mother Raisa and father Abraham are forced to fight for the safety and lives of their two young children, when the family are forced to flee from their home from the bombs, chaos and destruction.[...]This book had me in tears with the heartbreaking trials the family were made to overcome and the atrocities they witnessed in order to stay alive. It is a stark reminder that humanity is equal despite our different races and religions and that we should always treat each other with kindness and love.With real handwritten letters between husband and wife interwoven throughout the book, The Girl with the Silver Star is a story that will stand the test of time. I absolutely loved this book and I highly recommend it!