Wartime Holland. Who can you trust? Deep in the Veluwe woods lies a secret that frustrates the Germans. Convinced that Jews are hiding close by they can find no proof.The secret is Berkenhout, a purpose-built village of huts sheltering dozens of persecuted people. Young tearaway Jan roams the woods looking for adventure and fallen pilots. His dream comes true when he stumbles across an American … stumbles across an American airman, Donald C. McDonald. But keeping him hidden sets off a disastrous chain of events.
Sofie, a Jewish Dutch girl, struggles to adapt to living in Berkenhout, away from her family and friends. As weeks turn to months, she’s worried they’ll abandon her altogether.
Henk Hauer, head woodman, is in charge of building the underground huts and ensuring the Berkenhout inhabitants stay safe.
But many grow suspicious of his liaisons with the Germans. Is he passing on secret information that could endanger lives?
All it takes is one small fatal slip to change the course of all their lives for ever.
Review, May 2018:
“It’s a cracking book, gripping, sensitive heartfelt and excruciating all at the same time. I’ve already recommended it to loads of people. It’s a wonderful story as well and the characters are so human. You do a wonderful job of not making them ‘war caricatures’ that so often happens in literature set in that time, but they all come across as believable humans, with flawed personalities caught in personal as well as political turmoil. Although it’s a book set in war-time, it’s more a book about people and their relationships struggling in a given situation; the war is the backdrop. Which is as it should be. Human stories first. I’ll be sad to finish it!” – Liam Gerrard, BAFTA-nominated actor.
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Warning…So disappointed in the ending! Chapter 53 and you are 20 years later. What happened to the characters we were reading about? The story for all but four just stopped. It just felt unfinished.
An ok read
Great story based on true experiences. However the writing was sophomoric.
I’d never heard of this before.
Descriptions in this book lacked greatly. Many descriptions were lacking all together it were so vague as to leave the reader wondering what in earth the writer could possibly be referring to. The book became confusing because it was difficult to make out just what the surroundings were supposed to be like. The Village itself actually got little recognition, and it was the characters who were the story. The balance was awkward.
This was not a page turner I finished it just to get to the end
I didn’t read the whole book, but what I did read was ok
Excellent writing and very informative.
An atypical book about hiding Jews, there is little focus on what is happening in the outside world but, instead, a glimpse into the personalities and profoundly human emotions of those deprived of a normal daily existence. As widely differing characters each seek meaning in life, there is the ever-present knowledge that we are all in this together regardless of country of origin, religion, or political persuasion.
It is a okay story since it gives an insight of forest villages hidden from the Nazis during WWII. Ending seems to end abruptly.
How compassionate many of the Dutch were in their protection of the Jews from the Nazis. I’ve read how horrible the conditions were in Holland during the Nazi occupation, but I didn’t know the efforts to save the Jews were in rural Holland despite the great danger.
Great historical novel of the strengths of people under adversity.
The story told about a part of WW2 that we don’t hear much about.
The similarities to what is going on in America today with Trump Is Erie.
People of America need to read about the Halacost ,to refresh their memory about how bad it can get!
Decent storyline but no ending. It just didn’t seem to fit.
I couldn’t finish the book.
Seemed a little disjointed.
Good read but horrifying what the Jews had to endure.
Nice historical novel.
I gave it a 4, but it was more like a 3.5…..I would have probably given it a 5 star, but I’m completely mystified as to why the author ended it the way she did. She introduced key characters with whom you become so involved and then abruptly popped back to the 3 starter characters without any explanation as to what happened to everyone else. Frankly I found several of the others a whole lot more interesting than Sofie and Liesbeth. How can you go from such an interesting phenomenon of an underground (and hidden aboveground huts) village being built in Holland in a dense forest to house Jews escaping from the Nazis. I love discovering something I never knew. To know that it was true and the hardships they endured was amazing. The storyline lures you in and you become one with them. Betrayal, bravery, fear, and toughness was so prevalent throughout. But again, the key main characters were not nearly as interesting (with the exception of Jan/Johan) and having the author just drop the others without any further references makes the reader feel cheated. What happened to Tante Else, Laura and Wouter, Oskar, Gerit, Henk (was he really the traitor), was Karl a traitor and was he really shot, were the twins killed too, where was Laura during this slaughter. So many unanswered questions that a reader should never be left with. The premise of the book and history depicted was excellent – the author dropped the ball in the delivery. Not sure I’m inclined to read anything else by her.