STEALING FREEDOM

by Sylvia Leontaritis

March, 1935. Everything about sixteen-year-old Popi Kapsulis’s life has changed thanks to the rumors of another Great War on the horizon. The Italian Forces have already closed the schools and churches on Popi’s small Greek island of Kalymnos, forced her people to learn Italian, and are now burning businesses to the ground—all in an effort to rebuild the island they’ve come to occupy. Life has become unbearable and Popi can only think of one thing: freedom.

When Popi joins the Resistance, she rallies other island girls and forms a secret knitting society. Her plan is simple: she and the other girls will spy on the Italian troops and knit the intel into doilies using Morse code. The doilies will then be passed on to the Resistance to decode and take action. Her plan has the power to change the course of history, and as Popi’s espionage starts making a difference, freedom feels within her grasp.

Until she meets Emmanuel. Falling in love with the enemy was not part of her plan. Neither was getting caught. Before Popi knows it, everything she loves—her family, her friends, her life, and the freedom she has fought so hard for—is suddenly hanging by a thread.

397 pages, Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Published April 4, 2022

About the author

Sylvia Leontaritis was born and raised in Campbell, Ohio. She has loved words since she was old enough to string them together, and when her second-grade teacher taped her story to the blackboard, she knew she wanted to be an author when she grew up. Sylvia currently resides in North Carolina with her husband, three sons, and their dog, Olive.

Reviews

[Adrienne]

Stealing Freedom is a fast-paced adventure that transports you to a Greek island amid the Italian occupation in the lead-up to WWII. The teenaged protagonist is highly-relatable to most idealistic, love-sick young women. The author manages to mix the unlikely combination of spycraft, knitting, and forbidden love into one engaging YA novel. I think this work occupies an important space that has been sadly vacant within Orthodox lit, specifically the genre of fiction for the YA set.
Disclosure: I was given the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of Stealing Freedom. This is my honest opinion of the book.

[Malamatenia]

A heartwarming, breathtaking novel, alluring to all the senses! "Stealing Freedom" is a story of duty, resilience, hope and love. Things are not as they seem, so beware not to judge too quickly! Life's ups and downs will keep you holding your breath! Popi knows she is playing with fire but she closes her eyes and gets lost in the flames... The novel smells of Orthodoxy and Greek traditions. And it is screaming "Freedom or Death" !

[Amanda]

A beautiful story of hope and courage. Popi takes the reader on journey of what it means to do what’s right even though it may be hard. Be prepared to want to read it from start to finish without putting it down. Thank you @sylvialeontaritis for sending me the ARC to read.

[nina jacobs]

it was very good. it had religious aspects,as well as suspense and romance

[Angelica Fotos]

Popi learns that faith, family, and freedom are worth fighting for at all costs.

[Londyn]

So, so, so good!!! I could not put this book down. Definitely a book will recommend to all of my friends—I love it.

[MELISSA]

Excellent! This book accurately depicts the difficulties of Greek families during the Italian occupation prior to WWII while allowing the reader into the personal lives and thoughts of the main character Popi and her family. Leontaritis accurately fuses together the prideful sense of Greek Culture through the main characters’ strong faith as well as giving insight to her family's rich traditions.

The author's detailed description of the main characters, Popi and her brother Kosta, allow the characters to come to life right off the pages of this novel. Popi is a young girl of 16 that has been taught to love, honor and respect her country and fight for her family, and their freedom at any cost. While this is a historical fiction, so many cherished life lessons can be learned through the main characters' story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and hope there will be a sequel sharing what is next for Popi and Kosta in their newfound freedom. I loved this book and couldn't put it down!

[Mary Coburn]

Thank you Sylvia for writing this wonderful book! My father, who is 97, was born in Kalymnos and came with his parents and three brothers on this same journey in the 1930s to Tarpon Springs, Florida, because my Papou was a sponge diver and there were many Greeks from Kalymnos here. In fact I know the Leontaritis family here in Tarpon, which I ‘m sure are your relatives.

Your book allowed me to see what life must have been like for my grandparents, Emmanuel and Maria, under the Italian occupation which I never really considered . It’s a terrific book that everyone will enjoy, giving perspective on WWII from a mostly unknown part of Greek history.
It shows the simplicity of life on the Greek islands, and how brave those immigrants were to cross the ocean to a far more complex life in the United States. And it’s a wonderful love story. I really enjoyed it!

[Hannah K]

If you’re looking for an exciting romance novel - look no further! This was such a fun book and always full of twists and turns leaving you on the edge of your seat. I couldn’t put the book down and finished in two days. Great job Sylvia! Such a fun and great book. ~ Amanda (@growingthishome)

[Anna Price]

Fantastic book!

I loved this story from Sylvia and I loved seeing Orthodoxy woven in the pages of this story. I felt connected to the characters and the cause. I need to know more about this family and how their lives continue!

[Stephanie Coniff]

Such a beautiful story about faith, loyalty, love and fighting for what it right. Absolute joy to read! Would love to read any more books by this author!