by Barbara Josselsohn (Author)
"Nobody outside the village knows the orphanage exists, Celina. We're hidden by the mountains and everyone is sworn to secrecy. Please don't give the soldiers a reason to come here..."
1944. In a quiet village in German-occupied France, schoolteacher Celina ushers young Jewish children into her classroom. Watching their bright smiles as they learn how to write, she and sweet, handsome Remy promise to protect them. Every day she pretends to send them home, waving at the local police roaming the streets, as instead they sneak away to hide upstairs.
But Celina can't stop thinking about the note left on her bedside table last night. Written in the secret code used by the Resistance, it told her a baby she's sheltering could be reunited with its mother. Will Remy ever forgive her if she attempts to take the baby home? If she's caught, they could discover the orphanage...
New York, present day. Haunted by a loss he refuses to speak about, Rachel's grandfather is slowly losing his memories. Then Rachel finds a name scribbled into the old children's book he used to read to her, which leads her to a French village with a dark and dangerous past.
Nothing can prepare Rachel for what she finds behind the orphanage's crumbling façade. But as her own future becomes entwined with her grandfather's wartime secrets, she will learn just how much courage it takes to follow your heart.
A breathtaking, emotional historical novel that will sweep you away to World War Two France, to the dangers of Nazi occupation, and the hope that prevailed in the darkest of times. For fans of Victoria Hislop, Soraya Lane and Fiona Valpy.
What readers are saying about The Secret Orphanage:
"Completely stole my heart from the very first page!... absolutely fantastic and had me hooked right from the beginning... perfect, emotional... brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart. This book is a stunning, unforgettable read that I will be thinking about for a long time!" Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I loved this book, it captured my heart from the minute I started reading it... I couldn't put this book down... Highly recommend... absolutely brilliant." Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Wow. I was taken in by this book... there was no stopping me... compelling... I got quite emotional... I'm so glad I got to read this... I can't recommend this book enough... you must read this book. It's a must." Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Absolutely beautiful from beginning to end. I found myself easily swept up [and] utterly captivated... I was moved to tears... an incredible read." Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I loved this book!... The most evocative and beautiful... Loved it!" Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Heartbreaking!... will stay with you for a long time... Must-read!!" Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Number of Pages: 274
Dimensions: 0.62 x 7.81 x 5.06 IN
Publication Date: August 15, 2025
