Title: The Piano Teacher Of Montparnasse
Author: Heather Morris
Publisher: Firefinch Books
Release Date: 20th October 2026
BLURB
In 1942, the Nazis come for a Jewish family living in Montparnasse, occupied Paris. In the chaos of their arrest, eleven-year-old Josie flees to the only person she trusts: her piano teacher, Andrée Levallois, secretly an operative in the French Resistance.
Andrée takes her in as a member of the family, spreading their rations and risking everything to keep her safe. But soon the authorities close in, and both Andrée and Josie are caught in a desperate race to stay alive.
REVIEW
Josephine is only 11 years old when the Gestapo arrive at the home she shares with her mother Ruth, and her 16year old brother Leon. The family are in bed when they hear noises outside and soon enough their door is smashed open and the Gestapo stand there shouting orders at them. After some pleading from Ruth the Gestapo allow them to add some warmer clothing to their nightwear. The Gestapo are looking at their paperwork and seem confused and when they read the names on their list to be taken away it is just Ruth & Leon they ask for. Ruth immediately seizes on the fact her daughter's name is not on the list and refuses to confirm who her daughter is insisting it is the law that if she is not on the list they cannot take her. Whilst the Gestapo speak amongst themselves about the extra person they have come across.
Ruth quickly tells Josephine that she must to go to Mademoiselle Andree Levallios’ home and tell her & her family what has happened tonight and that she sent her to them.
Josephine is initially too scared to move very far from her home hides in a doorway watching as her mother and brother are hauled onto a truck and taken away by the Gestapo.
She carefully makes her way to the home of the Levallois family as its still curfew until 6am and if caught out during curfew she can be arrested. Once she arrives at the building where the Levallois live she dare not knock on the door to awaken anyone as it is so early and still curfew time, so she curls up in the freezing cold in the doorway until the concierge Monsieur Dupont opens the doors at 6am and when he sees Josie on the door step he simply says ahh you’re here for your piano lesson, just go on up.
When Andree Levallois answers the door, she is shocked to see one of her young pupils but immediately takes her in her home that she shares with her mother Augustine/Tina and her father Louis. They all sit down to listen to what Josephine has to tell them about what has brought her to their doorstep so early in the day.
The Levallois family hear Josies devastating tale and they quickly think about the risks the Levallois take in a Jewish child. Will they be able to continue their work with the resistance work whilst caring for Josie? How can they feed & clothe Josie on their own meagre rations, as without a ration book that is what they'll have to do. It is decided almost immediately they will care for Josie and if necessary, give their lives for her which is what they risk if caught harbouring a Jewish child by the Nazi’s. They have to think of a plausible cover story to tell people and come up with saying that Josie is Andree’s niece. Will it be accepted by people that Josie is Andree Levallois' niece? It’s the best they can think of and is a simple enough story to stick to for themselves and Josie.
It’s an added risk for the Levallois family as they are already playing quite an active part in a couple of resistance groups too. The Levallois family have to tell the resistance groups they are part of about their decision to give Josie a home as it also increases their risk when they visit their home. The other resistance members immediately begin suggesting ways to help the Levallois family who now find themselves with an extra mouth to feed, an extra body to clothe. Cat suggests that Dr Renee may be able to help out on the documents front and provide a ration book for Josie. The resistance members all say they will help whenever and however possible.
The next thing the Levallois family have to do is sit down with their new addition Josephine. They explain how things have to be now, the different life Josie will live whilst waiting for Ruth & Leon’s return. It is decided Josephine will go by a shortened version of her name, Joise and will pretend they are related so from now on she must call Andree 'Tata [Aunt] Andree' meaning that she will call Louis 'Grand Pere' and Augustine/Tina 'Grand Mere'
Andree stresses to Josie they do not wish to replace her family that they are doing this to keep her safe until she can be reunited with them. Josie eagerly accepts. She will also now be known as Josephine [Josie] Levallois.
When Andree goes to teach piano lessons at Josie’s school she approaches Mademoiselle Marie-Therese Evrard the headmistress to see if Josie can re-enroll under the Levalllois surname to continue attending school. Mademoiselle Evrard is known to the resistance for helping Jewish children stay on at school wherever possible. Andree begins speaking about Josie & her family are mentioned she explains it that Ruth & Leon were both taken. Mlle Evrard puts up her hand to stop Andree speaking and simply says “Are you here to enroll a new pupil? To which Andree replies, yes her niece Josie Levallois . Mlle Evrard gives her the necessary paperwork that needs filling out and as Andree stands to leave the room, the headmistress Mlle Evrard hugs her & whispers she will help with Josie if needed and will protect her as much as she can.
On Josies first day back at school after her mother and brother were taken, her friend Monique runs up to greet her asking if she been sick as she wasn't at school, Josie replies yes then goes to a meeting with Andree & Mlle Evrard. The headmistress stresses to Josie both herself & the teachers will do all they can to protect her. Josie then goes to class. Andree is worried about Joise’s school friends, for example Monique and what will be said about Josie’s new surname. asks Mlle Evrard replies that Monique’s mother is a good woman and that Andree can leave what happens at school for her to take care of.
Andree then leaves the school and heads to her meeting with Dr Renee and “resistance business” Andree mentions Josie to Dr Renee who immediately offers to sort out a ration card for her. Food is so scarce even with a ration card so having a card for Josie will be really helpful and beneficial to the Levallois family who are at the moment sharing their own meagre rations with Josie. Doctor Renee hands Andree the completed falsified medical certificates that say those named on them have conditions that prevent them from being sent to do forced labour for Germany.
Josie soon becomes part of the family and they learn to stay as invisible as possible and to survive on meagre rations. Andree continues giving Piano Lessons, and Austine & Louis continue working at their book store.
Andree even manages to take Josie on a holiday to an old family friend in the country where Josie experiences a little more normality as a new neighbour has a daughter the same age. Josie is soon playing in the forest and climbing trees, being the carefree child she should be able to be. Until one day German troops are in the forest. The two girls hide and return home later than usual scared and subdued that it is the end of their carefree trips into the forest. Unfortunately, Josie has a further bad experience with the neighbour and her daughter that truly upsets Josie and anger Andree so much she confronts the women before thinking of any possible consequences.
Back in Paris one of the other agents codenamed Dancer has a son who is half Jewish and she extends an invitation to the Levallois family to visit her home to carry out some of the Jewish traditions that Josie has been missing out on doing. Josie surprises herself by how much of the prayers, blessings, traditions and the reasons for doing them.
Unfortunately, life becomes worse when the Militia is formed as now those in Paris have to watch out for the Germans and their own countrymen who have joined the Militia. Neighbours turn on former friends in order to be rewarded with a little more food. The Levallois family decide they need a plan in case they are compromised, or arrested, they need some where safe for Josie to run to. Andree speaks to Monique’s mother who despite being scared of the risks she would be taking agrees to take in Josie should anything happen to the Levallois family.
The Levallois family find themselves looking round and their bookstore customers, neighbours and acquaintances for signs of anyone that could give them up to the Nazis or Militia. The Levallois do have friends and mystery benefactors who send food and they are always grateful for any small gift or additional food they are given. They are also extremely grateful for Monsieur Dupont for him turning a blind eye to the fact they have a Jewish child living with them as well as all the Agents that visit their home. Monsieur Dupont, has become more than just a Concierge he has become a friend and its apparent he has a soft spot for Josie.
Just as the lead up to liberation is beginning to happen the Levallois family are arrested, once again Josie escapes and runs to Monique’s house and once again is taken in and cared for despite the risks. Of course, this hits Josie really hard as she feels like she has lost another family. When Monique’s mother decides to go by the Levallois apartment to try to get Josie’s clothes she is luckily stopped by Monsieur Dupont who tells her the Militia are still in the apartment and are arresting anyone who goes to the door! Monsieur Dupont promises to keep Monique’s mother informed of what is going on so she can tell Josie.
It is Mlle Evrard that provides some clothes and a school uniform for Josie. She also takes care of any of the girls that say bad things or call Josie names.
Whilst Josie is once again learning to adapt to a new family and different routine, the Levallois family are at first taken to the infamous prison. They are interrogated, deprived of light, food, decent living conditions and eventually when they still refuse to speak or give up any Agents name’s they are tortured! Augustine is released but her spirit is broken, separated from her beloved Louis and her daughter Andree at first she doesn’t want to go on. But with coaxing and encouragement from Monsieur Maurice Dupont she eventually puts the Levallois home back in order and sends for Josie to come home where they wait for news of those who are no longer with them.
Andree’s refusal to speak and give up the names of other agents means she is shipped off to various places ending up in a concentration camp and being part of a hard labour workforce in the ice-cold forests, chopping down trees for the Germans.
This book is another story based on a true story told to Heather Morris and it is a truly emotional, nail biting read. Will either Ruth or Leon ever return home to Josie and what state with they be in physically and emotionally? Who gave the Levallois name to the Militia? Who will survive the Gestapo and French Militia? Who will return home? And who is gone forever? Josie has been part of three families but what family will she have left at the end of the occupation? You have so many questions as you read the book.
I found the section in the book where Augustine and Josie are going to look amongst the returning survivors, the survivor’s names on a list and the list confirming names of those who are dead and will never return absolutely heartbreaking.
It’s amazing that one of the things that got both Josie and Andree through their darkest days was their love of music.
The book covers so much, it is not just one story. It is Josie’s story, Andree’s and the Levallois family’s, the Levallois section of the Resistance and the missions they carried out alone, and with the help of fellow agents, even with the help of Nuns! as well as the story of the Piano that Andree taught Josie to play on.
Heather does put a section at the end of the book where it is revealed what happened to Josie’s mother and brother. It’s a shame we couldn’t find out what happened to everyone in the book really but obviously records were limited and some probably destroyed or lost.
I’ll be totally honest when I first started reading it didn’t have or didn’t give me the “feelings” that Heather’s other books did straight away. In fact, had I not known Heather Morris had written it I wouldn’t have guessed it was her writing……it felt different….yet I can’t put my finger on the exact reason why. Maybe because we were straight into the action of the night that Ruth and Leon were taken from Josie. I felt I maybe wanted to know what life had been like for Josie, when she was living with her mother Ruth and brother Leon and how they were getting by and being able to manage to still afford the private Piano lessons.
There were so many amazing characters within the book what we need to remember is that these were based on real people. Some didn’t make it to the end of the war and liberation, sadly some missed it by days. The Agents did many heroic missions, some successful, some not. Agents were caught and shot. People gave in neighbours names in exchange for food or money or because they themselves were being threatened. It was an awful time to live in. Yet the Levallois managed with the help of friends such as Monsieur Maurice Dupont, Dr Renee, Moniques mother and Mademoiselle Evrard to keep Josie safe, to give her some light in her life through music and through loving her as their own.
My immediate thoughts upon finishing the book were, how can one race of people hate another race so much? I also wondered how Mlle Evrard managed to keep up the story of Josie being Andree Levallois’ niece when the other students knew Josie by her previous surname. I also thought about the bravery of those who made a stand, those that risked what little they had to help others. I found the details of the acts of resistance interesting too, as well as the human elements of the story.
Summing up, once again Heather Morris has taken someone’s true life experience during the Holocaust and woven a story that so many will read that perhaps did not know the true horrors of the war, the Gestapo and the Militia.
Definitely well worth reading.
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