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  • The Schoolteacher of Saint-Michel

  • Written by: Sarah Steele
  • Narrated by: Natalie Pela
  • Length: 12 hrs and 32 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (16 ratings)

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The Schoolteacher of Saint-Michel

Written by: Sarah Steele
Narrated by: Natalie Pela
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Publisher's Summary

The Schoolteacher of Saint Michel is a heartrending and deeply moving story of love and hope in World War II from the USA Today best-selling author of The Missing Pieces of Nancy Moon.

The war taught her to fight. The children taught her to hope....

Inspired by real acts of bravery and resistance, The Schoolteacher of Saint Michel is a heartrending and deeply moving story of one woman's courage and sacrifice during World War II, from the USA Today best-selling author of The Missing Piece of Nancy Moon.

This exquisitely beautiful novel is perfect for fans of The Rose Code by Kate Quinn, The Postmistress, Lilac Girls and The Girl from Vichy.

'My darling girl, I need you to find someone for me....'

France, 1942. At the end of the day, the schoolteacher releases her pupils. She checks they have their identity passes and warns them not to stop until the German guards have let them through the barrier that separates occupied France from Free France. As the little ones fly across the border and into their mothers' arms, she breathes a sigh of relief. No one is safe now. Not even the children.

Berkshire, present day. A letter left to her by her beloved late grandmother Gigi takes Hannah Stone on a journey deep into the heart of the Dordogne landscape. As she begins to unravel a forgotten history of wartime bravery and sacrifice, she discovers the heartrending secret that binds her grandmother to a village schoolteacher, the remarkable Lucie Laval....

©2021 Sarah Steele (P)2021 Headline Publishing Group Ltd

What the critics say

"A beautifully worked tale of bravery, woven into the reality of a time we can't forget." (Mandy Robotham, author of The Berlin Girl)

"An emotional, beautifully constructed read. I loved the way the clues from the past and present slowly knitted together, answering the questions that had been missing their answers for so long." (Sunday Times best-selling author Jill Mansell) 

"Gripping, at times heartbreaking, but ultimately uplifting, I found this beautifully written novel impossible to put down." (Sunday Times best-selling author Katie Fforde) 

What listeners say about The Schoolteacher of Saint-Michel

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    4 out of 5 stars

French pronunciation needs work!

Excellent story, v moving.

However the French pronunciation of « Saint » as in Saint Michel, is very off, as is that of « monsieur ». The latter only appears a couple of times, so is less grating. Saint Michel occurs constantly, and was v irritating to hear butchered so repeatedly.

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  • Sybil Brown
  • 2021-08-21

Great book

I loved this book. I listened to while walking and driving in car. I was listening so intently that I drove past the ordering window at Starbucks and found myself at the pick up window feeling and looking kind of stupid. 😂 The author and the narrator did a great job. If you like World War II stories it’s for you. I felt like I was there in the French village with them and did not want it to end.

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11 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • M. Miller
  • 2021-10-05

Outstanding Narration

As a fan of WWII era fiction, I was intrigued by this story. Despite the use of the almost cliched scenario where a contemporary character “discovers” letters or other documents that lead to the the historical story, this one was well done. And the narration was AWESOME!! Truly beautiful and compelling.

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5 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Pastor Pam
  • 2021-08-14

Good storyline about WWII courageous women.

This was a good cross-generational story about women hero’s of WWII. Albeit fictional it is certainly based on facts.
The reader didn’t distinguish the characters enough so it was difficult at first to know which character was “speaking.”

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3 people found this helpful

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  • Julie
  • 2021-08-12

Lover of WW ll novels

Excellent book with strong women as heroines. Secrets unfolded, in present day. Loved it, hard to put down.

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2 people found this helpful

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  • Cindy Buxton
  • 2023-01-11

Loved the story

It is very interesting and so amazing what people did to protect children from the war.

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1 person found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • Luke
  • 2022-03-21

Find French speaking narrators please

Pela mispronounced “Saint” repeatedly as “sang” which means “blood”! It’s in the title; get it right!!!

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • NICK J.
  • 2022-02-26

One of the best books ever

I was hooked from the very beginning. The way this story was written was instantly engaging and I didn’t want it to end. The characters were all beautifully described. So much bravery and heartache. Don’t hesitate for a second. It’s one of the best “reads” ever.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Cynthia Young
  • 2022-01-29

Riveting intimate story of Ocupied France.

A riveting page turner narrated by an excellent reader. Every one should get it.

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1 person found this helpful

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  • Cathy D
  • 2022-01-11

Great Story and Reader

I loved the book and the reader. Great, but sad story. I recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction. Natalie Pela is a good reader, but I speak French and she needs a coach to help her with the pronunciation of "Saint".

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • tess pechka
  • 2021-08-25

Time waste.

The main story alone wold have made a worthwhile read, but what, the French Resistance rescuing Jewish children was too boring?? The overlay and disruptions of the present day intrusions really made this a slog. Hannah and Jack are both jerks; it was really annoying to listen to Hannah moaning on and agonizing about Jack was ridiculous. I was tempted to just stop reading after a few chapters, but hoped that it would get better. Silly me. The denouement at the end just was not worth it.

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1 person found this helpful