Review By: Anonymous
Published: 2025
Genre(s): Historical Fiction
Audience: Grades 8 to 12, Adult
Content Warnings: Anti-Semitism, profanity, sexual content
Goodreads Link: Under the Same Stars
Publisher’s Summary:
It was said that if you write to the Bridegroom’s Oak, the love of your life will answer back. Now, the tree is giving up its secrets at last.
In 1940s Germany, Sophie is excited to discover a message waiting for her in the Bridegroom’s Oak from a mysterious suitor. Meanwhile, her best friend, Hanna, is sending messages too—but not to find love. As World War II unfolds in their small town of Kleinwald, the oak may hold the key to resistance against the Nazis.
In 1980s West Germany, American teen transplant Jenny feels suffocated by her strict parents and is struggling to fit in. Until she finds herself falling for Lena, a punk-rock girl hell-bent on tearing down the wall separating West Germany from East Germany, and meeting Frau Hermann, a kind old lady with secrets of her own.
In Spring 2020, New York City, best friends Miles and Chloe are slogging through the last few months of senior year when an unexpected package from Chloe’s grandmother leads them to investigate a cold case about two unidentified teenagers who went missing under the Bridegroom’s Oak eighty years ago.
Review:
This novel moves across three eras, each centered on a teen facing pivotal global moments. In WWII Germany, the story begins slowly but deepens as a group of friends grows increasingly committed to resisting the Nazis in their small town. The 1980s storyline, featuring Jenny’s move from Dallas to West Berlin, stands out for its immersion in punk culture, fresh setting, and heartfelt exploration of identity and first love. Students who have ever felt like outsiders will gravitate toward Jenny’s journey.
The 2020 storyline adds a modern lens as two New York teens uncover a long buried mystery connected to the Bridegroom’s Oak. Throughout all three timelines, Bray emphasizes how young people can challenge injustice. Her extensive research shows in the vivid atmosphere and strong historical grounding. While beautifully written, its 467 page length and contemplative pacing make it better suited for strong readers. It has strong potential for social studies and ELA collaboration, especially as part of a choice based curriculum list.
