Safiyyah’s War

Safiyyah’s War is a gripping story of heroic defiance set in World War II Paris, all the more gripping for being based on underknown real-life events. It invites the reader to reflect on our shared humanity and the importance of community and compassion.

The story focuses on the central mosque, where a small team of devout North Africans see it as their moral duty to help endangered Jews escape to safety, despite the massive risks. Safiyyah’s Baba is among them. He does what he can to keep his actions secret from his daughter to protect her, but reckons without her strength of character and purpose. Unafraid to break a few rules in the process, Safiyyah insists on being trusted with the truth and allowed to make her own contribution. There is plenty of tension, but Safiyyah’s nerve holds in the face of her fear of the Nazis, leading her to a triumphant act of heroism.

The story illustrates how extreme circumstances can lead ordinary people to do extraordinary things and raises the old question of justice: can it sometimes be right to break the law? A beautiful, hope-affirming book for young people.