Published: 2021
Author: Janet Skeslien Charles
Genres: Historical Fiction, WWII, Contemporary
Audience: Grade 12+, Adult
Number of Stars: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Goodreads Link: The Paris Library
Content Warnings: War-related violence, death of a parent, and hardships under Nazi occupation.
Publisher’s Summary
Paris, 1939: Odile Souchet has her dream job at the American Library in Paris. But when the Nazis march into the city, she and her fellow librarians join the Resistance using the best weapons they have: books. They risk everything to deliver literature to those the regime has banned. However, when the war ends, Odile is met not with freedom, but with a betrayal that changes her life forever.
Montana, 1983: Lily is a lonely teenager in a small town, captivated by her mysterious, elderly neighbor. As they bond over a shared love of language, Lily uncovers the dark secrets of her neighbor’s past and the extraordinary heroism found in the quietest of places. Based on the true World War II story of the American Library in Paris, this is a novel about the consequences of our choices and the enduring power of stories.
Full Review
The Paris Library is a deeply moving work of historical fiction based on the real-life librarians who stood their ground during the Nazi occupation of France. Janet Skeslien Charles conducted extensive research, using actual letters and library journals to ground the story in reality. The characters are based on real people who viewed the preservation of books as a vital form of resistance.
The story moves between two timelines: 1930s Paris and 1980s Montana. We follow Odile as she and her coworkers defy Nazi orders by secretly delivering books to Jewish subscribers who were barred from the library. Decades later, a teenage girl named Lily forms a life-changing friendship with an older Odile in Montana. Their bond reveals the long-lasting impact of secrets and the weight of choices made during desperation.
I found this book incredibly engaging. We don’t often associate librarians with battlefield bravery, but this story proves that protecting knowledge is a heroic act. The quiet, dangerous efforts made by these individuals provided hope in the darkest of days. The connection between the past and present timelines was beautifully handled, making for a truly thought-provoking read.
📚 Literature as Resistance: The American Library in Paris
The novel highlights a specific historical phenomenon: the use of culture and information to fight fascism. The librarians practiced what could be called “Bibliotherapy”—using books to heal and provide a mental escape from the horrors of war.
The “Soldiers’ Service” and Jewish Subscribers
During the occupation, the “Library War Service” was a real initiative. Librarians risked “Section 14” (the Nazi office in charge of libraries) inspections to serve those the regime deemed “undesirable.”
| Group Served | Method of Resistance | Goal |
| Jewish Readers | “Subscribers in the Shadows”—books delivered by hand to homes. | To maintain human dignity and intellectual connection despite bans. |
| Allied Soldiers | Sending crates of books to the front lines and hospitals. | To provide comfort and “mental armor” to those fighting. |
| The Community | Keeping the library doors open as a neutral, safe space. | To defy the Nazi attempt to control French intellectual life. |
🎒 Classroom & Curricular Connections
- Global History (WWII Occupation): Research the “Reichsleiter Rosenberg Taskforce” (ERR), the Nazi organization responsible for looting cultural property and libraries. How does the novel’s depiction of the “Library Protector” reflect real Nazi policies?
- ELA (Dual Timelines & Theme): Analyze how the author uses Lily’s 1983 story to “mirror” Odile’s 1939 struggles. Discuss themes of Loyalty and Forgiveness—is it possible to forgive someone for choices they made during survival?
- Library Science & Media Literacy: Discuss Censorship.
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Activity Idea: Research the “Banned Books” list in occupied Paris. Compare it to modern instances of book banning. Why is the control of information always a primary goal of authoritarian regimes?
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- Creative Writing: Create diary entries from Lily’s perspective as she slowly realizes her neighbor is a war hero. What details would she notice about Odile that hint at her hidden past?
- Women’s History: Report on the roles of women in the French Resistance. Move beyond the “spy” archetype to look at how women maintained the social and intellectual fabric of France during the war.
