Sarah’s Key Characters

Julia and Bertrand’s younger daughter, only two years old by the end of the book. Julia names her after Sarah Starzynski, as a tribute to “the little girl with the yellow star” who changed her life.

Julia’s father, a professor at MIT.

Bertrand’s mother. Colette plays a minor role in the novel, but is shown to be similar to Laure in her coldness toward Julia and her attachment to the norms of traditional, reserved French society.

Bertrand’s sister, blond and “angular.” Laure is businesslike and cold. She sides with her mother, Colette, in strongly disapproving of Julia’s research about the rue de Saintonge apartment.

Bertrand’s younger sister, red-haired and “voluptuous.” Cécile runs the antique store started by her grandfather, André, and formerly run by her father, Edouard. She is more emotional than Laure, and is ultimately approving of Julia’s decision to uncover the intertwined history of the Starzynskis and Tézacs.

Sarah Starzynski’s husband. By the time Julia locates him, Richard is unconscious and bedridden with cancer. Little is revealed about Richard except that he is American and married Sarah in 1955.

Richard’s second wife, originally from Italy. Mara is plump and kind, with “black” eyes. She raised William, Sarah Starzynski’s son, from the time he was twelve, after Sarah died. After Julia mistakes Mara for Sarah, Mara gives Julia William’s address in Italy so she can contact him.

Daughter of Richard and Mara, and William’s half sister. Ornella is in her mid-thirties and very friendly. She invites Julia in and introduces her to her mother.

Son of Jules and Geneviève, father of Gaspard and Nicolas.

Alain’s wife, mother of Gaspard and Nicolas.

Gaspard Dufaure’s granddaughter. In an effort to track down Sarah Starzynski, Julia traces the Dufaure family and comes into contact with Nathalie. Nathalie does not know anything about her grandfather’s past, but is eager to learn, and helps facilitate Julia’s interview with Gaspard.

Julia’s coworker, a minor character. Alessandra is Italian. She is attractive and ambitious. Julia admits to not liking Alessandra very much, finding her self-important.

Bertrand’s business partner in an architectural form. Antoine is helping to coordinate the renovation of the rue de Saintonge apartment.

Bertrand’s mistress. Amélie is French and seems to Julia “the image of Parisian perfection.” At the end of the novel, Bertrand has moved back in with Amélie.

Head of a French association that helps Jewish people track their families’ histories following the Holocaust. Lévy is in his sixties, dignified and serious. He helps Julia track the fates of the Starzynskis, on the condition that she will not publish the information in her magazine.

Julia’s good friend and former roommate. Christophe and Hervé are still roommates and often host dinner parties. Together, Julia refers to them as “the boys.”

Friend of Hervé and Christophe. Guillaume’s grandmother was the only member of his family to survive the Holocaust, specifically the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup. Julia meets Guillaume at a dinner party hosted by Hervé and Christophe. Guillaume is supportive of Julia’s research.

One of Julia’s closest French friends. Julia and Isabelle’s daughters are in a ballet class together. Isabelle is incredibly supportive of Julia’s difficulties in getting pregnant and in her marital troubles with Bertrand.

Sarah’s best friend. Armelle is also Jewish, but she and her family escaped Paris before the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup. Armelle is clever, mischievous, and brave. Her bravery makes her a kind of role model for Sarah, even though Armelle herself never appears in the novel.

Sarah’s childhood schoolmate. Léon is Jewish and is imprisoned in the Vélodrome along with the Starzynskis. He asks Sarah to escape with him, but she declines. Léon manages to escape successfully.