The Forest of Vanishing Stars

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of racism, religious discrimination, illness or death, and graphic violence.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. In your opinion, did the magical elements in The Forest of Vanishing Stars enhance your emotional connection to the story, or did they distract you from the historical realities of the Holocaust?

2. How does this novel compare to the author’s other World War II novel, The Book of Lost Names?

3. Which stage of Yona’s journey resonated with you most deeply? Why did it stand out?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Yona must make difficult choices about when to risk her own safety in order to help others. Have you ever taken a personal risk to help someone? What were the circumstances?

2. The characters find creative ways to maintain a sense of hope in the midst of the Holocaust. Which of their methods struck you as being the most profound?

3. Yona’s understanding of “home” evolves throughout the story. What does home mean to you personally?

4. The book explores the ways in which identity can be shaped by choices rather than by inheritance. Reflect on a time in your life when you made a conscious choice to define yourself differently than how others defined you.

5. Jerusza teaches Yona practical survival skills but struggles to connect emotionally, even going so far as to tell her that love is for fools. Consider the mentors in your own life. How have their lessons (or their biases) shaped your understanding of the world?

6. Faith appears in many forms throughout the novel, from Jewish traditions to Catholic sacrifice to Jerusza’s connection with nature. How does the author use these different belief systems to analyze the historical period in which the novel is set?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Siegfried Juttner repeatedly justifies his actions by saying he is “following orders,” a defense used by many Nazi officials during the Nuremberg trials. This rationalization continues to appear in discussions of atrocities worldwide. What does the novel suggest about individual moral responsibility versus institutional authority?

2. Stories of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust, like those depicted in the novel, were often overlooked in earlier historical accounts. Why might these narratives have received less attention, and how does the author address this issue?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The narrative structure follows Yona from childhood to old age, illustrating her transformation. If Harmel had started with the adult Yona and revealed her childhood through flashbacks, how would this structure have altered the tone of the novel?

2. Magical realism appears in subtle ways throughout this otherwise historical novel about the Holocaust. What purpose do supernatural elements serve in this context?

3. The three male characters in Yona’s life (Aleksander, Zus, and Siegfried Juttner) demonstrate vastly different approaches to power and moral choice. What different aspects of masculinity do they represent, and how do they influence Yona’s development?

4. Harmel’s epilogue specifies that after the war, the forest dwellers scatter, finding new homes or returning to rebuild old ones. What do these concluding details imply about the novel’s broader message?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Design a memorial inspired by The Forest of Vanishing Stars to honor those who helped Jewish people to survive during the Holocaust. What elements would you include, and why?

2. The sounds of the forest play an important role in the novel. If you were creating a soundtrack for a film adaptation, what musical styles or specific songs would you include for key scenes?

3. Imagine interviewing Yona at age 100. What questions would you ask her about her life, and what wisdom might she share?

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