#1 New York Times bestselling author Sharon Cameron returns with a stunning story about the fight to survive - and find love - in the face of the ugliest of nightmares, based on the true story of two heroes and their resistance in the Sobibor death camp during the Holocaust.Selma Wijnberg is a criminal, a prisoner. Because she is Jewish. For this crime, in the depths of Hitler's occupation of Holland, Selma is deported to the Sobibor death camp, sentenced to sort the clothes of the dead while a smoke made of thousands blackens the sky. And in the light of this enormous funeral pyre, at the end of a Nazi pistol, Selma is ordered to dance. The hand that offers to dance with her is strong. Steady. It belongs to Chaim Engel. Chaim is a Polish Jew and also a prisoner. Chaim and Selma don't speak the same language. But sometimes, love doesn't need a language.
Who falls in love in the middle of hell? Chaim and Selma do. And who knew that love could kindle so much hope.
But when the prisoners of Sobibor hatch a daring plan of escape, it is time to kill or be killed. The gate or the fire. Chaim and Selma will go out on their feet, or out with the smoke. In an hour of terror and panic, of bullets and bloodshed, Chaim and Selma discover that hope--and two hands twined tightly together--can be the key to keeping two people alive.
Based on the remarkable true story of Selma Wijnberg and Chaim Engel, and the infamous revolt and escape of the Sobibor death camp prisoners, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Light in Hidden Places, Sharon Cameron crafts an extraordinary and evocative thriller that celebrates how hope and love can conquer even the most impossible of odds.
About the Author :
Sharon Cameron is the author of the international bestseller and Reese's Book Club pick The Light in Hidden Places and the critically acclaimed thrillers Bluebird and Artifice. Her debut novel The Dark Unwinding was awarded the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators' Sue Alexander Award for Most Promising New Work and the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award and was named a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection. Sharon is also the author of its sequel, A Spark Unseen; Rook, which was an Indiebound Indie Next List Top Ten selection, a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection, and a Parents' Choice gold medalist; and The Forgetting, a #1 New York Times bestseller and an Indie Next Pick of the List selection, as well as its companion novel, The Knowing. She lives with her family in Nashville, Tennessee, and you can visit her online at sharoncameronbooks.com or follow her on Instagram at @sharoncameronbooks or on Twitter at @CameronSharonE.
Review :
Praise for Artifice:
"War, resistance, and art are Cameron's canvas; her palette is a balance of trust and perfidy, beauty and defiance, new life and old. Artifice is a vibrantly-hued and many-layered story, exploring our very human inability to spot a fake when we long to believe that the object of all our desires is the real thing." -- Elizabeth Wein, New York Times bestselling author of Code Name Verity
* "Painterly prose... filled with rich intrigue depicts constantly shifting issues of trust in this complex, absorbing tale." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review
* "Cameron returns with another page-turner full of courage, resilience, and beauty, illuminating the world of art and culture that was stolen and scattered by the Nazis during WWII... [A] gripping read." -- Booklist, starred review
"Part historical thriller, part portrait of a life played out against a turbulent backdrop, this engrossing read inserts fictional Isa into the true stories of two fascinating historical figures... a genuinely immersive, teen-centric answer to the historical thrillers that fill adult shelves and will satisfy plenty of readers. Gripping." -- Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Bluebird:
* "Clearly meticulously researched but deeply engaging and immersive, the narrative seamlessly blends fictional characters and events with real people and places. An excellent follow-up to Cameron's The Light in Hidden Places, great for the author's fans and those who enjoy books by Monica Hesse, Michelle Barker, and Markus Zusak." -- School Library Journal, starred review
* "The depth of Cameron's research on this historical era results in a completely immersive novel." -- BookPage, starred review
"An important, well-executed work of historical fiction." -- Kirkus Reviews
"Equal parts enthralling and frightening... This sweeping tale is perfect for fans of Ruta Sepetys." -- B&N Reads
"A brilliant work inspired by a true story, Bluebird is as intensely thrilling as it is deeply reflective." -- YAHOO! News
"A page-turner until the end." -- Jewish Book Council
Praise for The Light in Hidden Places:
A Reese's Book Club YA Pick
"Beautifully written and meticulously researched. Sharon Cameron captures the extraordinary story of one of history's hidden heroes. Every devastating moment is both gripping and powerful." -- Ruta Sepetys, New York Times bestselling author of Salt to the Sea
"Harrowing, heartbreaking, and yet so full of hope." -- Jennifer Donnelly, New York Times bestselling author of Stepsister
"Haunting and lyrical. An incredible true story of bravery, survival, and defiance." -- Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee
"Sharon Cameron's exciting novel weaves together the lightheartedness, sheer terror, and incredible inner strength of this young woman, my mom. This book exceeds all my expectations." -- Ed Burzminski, son of Stefania Podgórska
* "Authentic writing and well-researched history combined with the gripping and terrifying subject matter make this a must-read for historical fiction fans. Cameron's remarkable, heartbreaking true story of one woman's bravery and selflessness in World War II Poland will intrigue both teens and adult readers." -- School Library Journal, starred review
* "Cameron's wide-ranging research and deft storytelling abilities combine to create an astoundingly authentic first-person narration. Her exquisite prose conveys in riveting detail exactly what it was like for Stefania to live through the horrors she witnessed." -- BookPage, starred review
"A true story of faith, love, and heroism. [Cameron] deftly details Stefania's brave actions and includes moving family photographs in the author's note... Readers will be pulled in by the compelling opening and stay for the emotional journey. An inspirational read." -- Kirkus Reviews
"Empowered by thorough research -- an author's note details events after the war -- Cameron successfully conveys horror and bravery in this powerful and captivating novel. A memorable read." -- Booklist
"Cameron's novel is heartbreakingly real in its attention to detail and its ability to pack emotional punches." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
