REBEKAH WILKINS ’29
Updated 11:50 a.m. EDT, 07 November 2025
Warning: Mild spoilers
When I first heard of The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, I was intimidated by it. It’s a large book, and I knew it dealt with heavy themes such as war, love, and loss. It sat on my shelf for months before I finally decided to read it, and I wish I hadn’t waited so long. It was an incredibly emotional and powerful story that left me in tears afterwards.
The Nightingale follows the story of two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, living in France during World War II. The sisters’ opposing personalities led them to serve their country in very different ways during the war. Isabelle, bold and fearless, joined an underground network helping downed Allied airmen cross the border to safety. Vianne, quiet and cautious, more discreetly went against the Germans by helping harbor Jewish children for their safety.
Kristin Hannah’s writing beautifully captures the emotion and details of each scene. I could almost see the French countryside, hear the bombs, and feel the character’s fear and hope amid war. This is what I loved most about the book. Everything felt real. The sisters didn’t feel like fictional women, but like women I could actually know. It was easy to place myself in their shoes and wonder what I would’ve done if I were them during the war. I don’t think I would’ve had the courage that the sisters had.
The Nightingale isn’t just a story about war; it’s about love, family, sacrifice, and the quiet ways people resist and survive oppression. This book powerfully showed that anyone can perform acts of incredible bravery and challenged me to consider if I would be courageous enough to stand up for what is right.
If you’re thinking about reading The Nightingale, do it—but make sure you have tissues nearby and a clear schedule, because once you start, you won’t want to put it down. It’s heartbreakingly beautiful and a book I’ll never forget. ★
