National Bestseller In the tradition of All The Light We Cannot See and The Nightingale, comes an incandescent debut novel about a young Dutch man who comes of age during the perilousness of World War II.Beginning in the summer of 1939, fourteen-year-old Jacob Koopman and his older brother, Edwin, enjoy lives of prosperity and quiet contentment. Many of the residents in their small Dutch town … contentment. Many of the residents in their small Dutch town have some connection to the Koopman lightbulb factory, and the locals hold the family in high esteem.
On days when they aren’t playing with friends, Jacob and Edwin help their Uncle Martin on his fishing boat in the North Sea, where German ships have become a common sight. But conflict still seems unthinkable, even as the boys’ father naively sends his sons to a Hitler Youth Camp in an effort to secure German business for the factory.
When war breaks out, Jacob’s world is thrown into chaos. The Boat Runner follows Jacob over the course of four years, through the forests of France, the stormy beaches of England, and deep within the secret missions of the German Navy, where he is confronted with the moral dilemma that will change his life—and his life’s mission—forever.
Epic in scope and featuring a thrilling narrative with precise, elegant language, The Boat Runner tells the little-known story of the young Dutch boys who were thrown into the Nazi campaign, as well as the brave boatmen who risked everything to give Jewish refugees safe passage to land abroad. Through one boy’s harrowing tale of personal redemption, here is a novel about the power of people’s stories and voices to shine light through our darkest days, until only love prevails.
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This book traces the experiences of a young Dutch boy who is a teenager when the book opens in 1939. His naive, placid life is changed when his country is invaded by Nazi Germany and he begins to lose people who are dear to him. He ends up fighting (at different times) for both sides in WWII, and eventually comes to an adult understanding of the war. The book is beautifully written and perceptive.
This book was well written and interesting. I have read many books about WW II but this book came from a different perspective than what I have been used to reading. The inner turmoil that Jakob feels throughout the book is understandable as well as frustrating because as the reader you know the big picture story but Jakob doesn’t.
Ok – not recommended
One young man’s tragic story of WWII. A graphic and tragic side of the war that I haven’t read before.
Great historical fiction piece
War is not very nice, so many innocents get killed. This is a gutsy story of a young man who did survive. His uncle should be considered a Dutch hero if he were real.
An interesting look at history with a twist!
Loved this book!
Very good book.
I loved Ms Willner’s insight and thought process into enlightening us to the very real struggles of the Cold War. Wonderful story of an amazing family that was torn apart for their political beliefs. Could not put it down!
I liked this book, but I didn’t love it. What I really liked was the information about how WWII affected the Dutch. Other countries have received more attention in movies and books, so thi information was new to me.
The twists and turns of it was frustration from “this is all going to work out, oh no, it’s not going to work, why did that character have to die”, etc. It was a challenge to keep the story lines sorted out.
Even with all of that, this book is worth reading and I think the characters will engaged the reader right away.
We must NEVER FORGET
Difficult read and beautifully written,
The characters were not very interesting, so hard to get excited about their story. It was not that compelling in terms of a plot either.
Realistic picture of what WWII was like for ordinary persons living in Europe at that time.
From the Reviews I was lead to believe this was more of a First , or Second, Person story. (Like the series “Trust to begin with”). However, it became obvious that it was bits-and-pieces of things heard or read or made up when it seemed to fit – too much added graphic descriptions of things I questioned ever happening.
A good WWII read, although a bit on the depressing side.
A very engaging story of will and determination . Informative about the sport of boating and the characters who made up a heart-warming team.
Simply Great!
GREAT STORY.