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Light in Hidden Places cover art

Light in Hidden Places

By: Sharon Cameron
Narrated by: Beata Poźniak
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Summary

The extraordinary story of Stefania Podgorska, a Polish teenager who chose bravery and humanity by hiding 13 Jews in her attic during WWII - from number one New York Times best-selling author Sharon Cameron. 

One knock at the door, and Stefania has a choice to make.... 

It is 1943, and for four years, 16-year-old Stefania has been working for the Diamant family in their grocery store in Przemsyl, Poland, singing her way into their lives and hearts. She has even made a promise to one of their sons, Izio - a betrothal they must keep secret since she is Catholic and the Diamants are Jewish. 

But everything changes when the German army invades Przemsyl. The Diamants are forced into the ghetto, and Stefania is alone in an occupied city, the only one left to care for Helena, her six-year-old sister. And then comes the knock at the door. Izio's brother Max has jumped from the train headed to a death camp. Stefania and Helena make the extraordinary decision to hide Max, and eventually 12 more Jews. Then they must wait, every day, for the next knock at the door, the one that will mean death. When the knock finally comes, it is two Nazi officers, requisitioning Stefania's house for the German army. 

With two Nazis below, 13 hidden Jews above, and a little sister by her side, Stefania has one more excruciating choice to make.

Also includes a recorded conversation with author Sharon Cameron and reader Beata Poźniak, discussing Beata's decades long friendship with Stefania Podgórska and the legacy of the Podgórska sisters.

©2020 Scholastic Inc (P)2020 Scholastic Inc

What listeners say about Light in Hidden Places

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Walking in her shoes

Without giving anything away..the story of Stephanie and Helena and their heroism will live with me forever.Sharon Cameron’s work on Stephanie and Heal’s powerful story,and the wonderful narrative by Beata Poźniak.I found myself with my earphones on walking in her shoes,asking questions..

1 person found this helpful

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Bravery beyond words

I listened to this book and couldn’t wait to listen to it at every opportunity. It was sad, uplifting and a story about a brave young woman in Poland during World War Two. Thoroughly recommend.
I listened at 1.5 speed quite comfortably.

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Brilliantly written and narrated

I held my breath so many times when listening to this story. It really drew me in.

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Undisputed bravery

Although I struggled with the way narrator chose to perform the story, I couldn’t put it down. The narration was quite theatrical along with the attempts at accents. However it was nice to hear the conversation narrator had with an author in the end and the reasons for such choices.
Story is unbelievable. Both Stefania and Helena… I just cannot imagine being in the position to make these decisions and live in prolonged terror whilst never wavering.

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Traumatic, wonderful tale

My heart was in my mouth so often. The characters were really brought to life by the author and the narrator. The horrors of the Nazi occupation were brilliantly written.

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Incredible true story

Listen to this book! Such an unbelievable story that will move you. Such an important story of such bravery.

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excellent story

This is an amazing story of terror, courage an the will to survive. the narration is good. its like being right there in the story with them. I highly recommend this book. brilliant work Author.

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A remarkable story, brilliantly told.

I can't recommend this enough and I think everyone should listen to it, especially to gain a better understanding of the devastation of this war. The story is brilliantly narrated and you listen with baited breath, hoping for the best possible outcome from every terrifying event. What's more extraordinary is this is all based on real people and real events, proving how remarkable some individuals can be when faced with a terrifying world.

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A powerful and inspiring read. loved it

A powerful and inspiring read. Brilliantly written and narrated, an important and enjoyable book - a must read!

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incredible

wow. what an incredible book, a heart wrenching edge of your seat story/memoir. how lucky we are.

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  • Kami
  • 23-03-20

Honored...

I never have written a review, but I feel moved to write this one because it is not just another good book. It is a legacy of more sacrifice then I have ever herd, packed into these people’s lives. Thank you for this book. Thank you for the narration. I am honored to tuck this story into my heart for when I might need to remember their courage. Because I don’t think that anything I will face will be as difficult as the challenges in this book.

16 people found this helpful

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  • Anonymous User
  • 10-08-20

An Incredible Listen

Great narration. I could hardly put it down. Unbelievable story. Narrator has a beautiful authentic voice. Each character is uniquely portrayed, from the lead - a female loving teenager to a male Jewish postman struggling to survive, or a threatening nazi or just a kid neighbor. There is so much great detail in all those voices. Nice touch “behind the scenes” of having the author and narrator talking together. The power of faith and belief was the key for Stefania’s survival, the heroine who risks her life for saving Jews. Amazing WW2 story of such a young girl. Loved the narrators tone and pacing. Each character is so beautifully painted by her voice. Made the story come to life.

10 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Carlie
  • 29-08-20

amazing gripping so true to your heart

it's the most amazing book I have read or listen to and I would have advised someone to listen to it and then read it

7 people found this helpful

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  • Anonymous User
  • 14-08-20

Amazing Narration! Great Voice! Authentic!

Listening is a real treat, especially for those who like to experience an authentic voice. Beata Pozniak delivers a stellar performance and brings to life all characters in this unforgettable story of a courageous teenager that risks her life to save Jews during WW2. As we find out from the bonus at the end of the audiobook, the reader and heroine were both from Poland. Grew up in the same country and then immigrated to America for a better life. Pozniak channeling Podgorska is so real and just a gem of a performance. Her authentic voice takes you on a deeply emotional voyage.



5 people found this helpful

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  • M&M
  • 08-03-20

A haunting, thrilling performance

Wow! What an incredible book and what marvelous narration. Listening to it, I felt transported to Poland during the 1940’s. Beata Pozniak’s slight Polish accent gives such authenticity and immediacy to Fusia’s tale that it seemed to me as if the real Stefania was sitting beside me telling me her story herself. One of the things I most enjoyed is how the narrator uses her vocal technique to show how Fusia grows and adapts as the story develops. In the beginning, as the very young Fusia, Pozniak’s tone is light and exuberant, her cadence fast and cheerful. As Fusia becomes older, more tired, frightened or defiant, the narrator’s pitch deepens and her inflection changes to movingly illustrate Fusia’s emotions. I was impressed by how the female narrator is able to do such a great job voicing the male characters, making them all sound individual and distinctive. The timber of heroic Max’s voice is completely different from that of the handsome policeman Berdecki. What I found even more remarkable is that the German soldiers and officers all have a distinct accent from the native Poles, and the Germans who speak Polish have a slightly different one from the ones who don’t. I think my very favorite voice is the child-like one of the precocious Helena, who is very young but astonishingly savvy. Pozniak’s dramatization of her is a delight.
To sum it up, this is an amazing tale of how a young woman and her little sister sheltered thirteen Jews in close proximity to Nazi and German officials, sometime with the enemy living in the same house they were hiding the Jews in. It alternately thrills you and then breaks your heart. I found this story of true heroism and love against tremendous odds to be very inspiring and uplifting, and the narrator’s dramatic, empathetic performance truly made it come alive for me. Pozniak is one of my favorite narrators and I’ve eagerly listened to all the books she’s done. This is definitely her best.

5 people found this helpful

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  • David Victory
  • 20-01-21

An absolute must-read

I must admit that in the past I have been someone who did not enjoy reading period or wartime novels. This has recently changed and I am so glad that it did! this book is absolutely incredible, about amazing people who did such honorable things during the war to save the Jews and I was touched in so many ways by this. I cannot thank the author enough for bringing the story to light.

4 people found this helpful

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  • Anastasia V.
  • 20-01-21

A Must Read for All Generations

Just WOW! I can’t stop thinking about this book. I can’t stop thinking about this story. I can’t stop thinking about the characters and what it must’ve been like to be in their shoes.

This was such a beautiful telling of such a tragic and inspirational time. I am in awe of what Stefania and Helena did at such great risk to themselves and in particular given how young they were.

I highly recommend this to anyone interested in history and the great human spirit!

3 people found this helpful

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  • Anycc
  • 23-04-20

This book is for young readers.

An extraoridary story with a good narrator. Unfortunately this is not a book geared towards adults. The editor does children's lit which should have tipped me off but I figured she'd moved to adult work. I am very disappointed and the field is still wide open for an excellent writer to do a masterpiece on the life of Stefania Podgorska.

3 people found this helpful

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  • Robert E. Trabue
  • 12-01-21

Absolute must listen

I have never enjoyed a book more than this one. This is perhaps the best book I have ever read in my life and the audible version makes the experience just that, an experience like no other you will ever have. The narrator brings this book to LIFE. I can’t praise this book enough. The five stars are inadequate. Twenty five is more fitting. An absolute gem.

2 people found this helpful

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  • CMcKinney
  • 06-07-20

Special!

I listen to many excellent historical fiction works on Audible. This is very special. The story, although a novel, is based on the true story of a resourceful and courageous Polish girl in Poland during the German occupation of her small town. I couldn’t stop listening! One heart stopping event after another kept me from pushing the pause button as she struggles to save 13 Jewish people. She is extraordinary and I hope all listeners will find the author’s AND the narrator’s notes/conversation at the end as interesting as I did. The narrator is Polish and her connection with the book is also fascinating.

2 people found this helpful