The Book of Lost Names

by Kristin Harmel

“Eva—” he began, his voice low and husky. Suddenly the room felt too small, too warm, and she pulled back. She couldn’t seem to look away, though, and he continued to hold her gaze. “Wh-what is it?” she stammered, her heart thudding. He continued looking into her eyes in a way that made her feel as if he could see straight into her soul. “It’s important you understand that we are not taking away the children’s identities. The Nazis are doing that. We are giving them a chance to live. Never forget that.”

The path of life is darkest when we choose to walk it alone.”

fastidious,

ersatz

Eva didn’t see Erich for the next few weeks, but somehow, knowing he was there, knowing he was feeding information to the priest, brought her some comfort, though the idea of a German ally was still taking some getting used to. It was a reminder that it didn’t matter where someone had come from; virtue could live within everyone. Knowing that Erich was apparently standing up for goodness at the peril of his own life made Eva want to be braver, too.

It’s incredible how familiar the place feels, though I’ve never been here. Once you’ve fallen in love with books, their presence can make you feel at home anywhere, even in places where you shouldn’t belong.

We have to save those we can—because we couldn’t save the people we loved.”

“The stars and the dots are the lost names, the names of the children too young to remember, the names we had to erase so they could survive. I hoped that one day, when the war ended, I could help them to reclaim who they’d once been. But we aren’t defined by the names we carry or the religion we practice, or the nation whose flag flies over our heads. I know that now. We’re defined by who we are in our hearts, who we choose to be on this earth.”