The Orphans of Amsterdam by Elle Van Rijn #Publisher Bookouture #Historical Literary Fiction #Book Review #We had to save them

 

MY THOUGHTS AND BOOK REVIEW

This WW2 historical novel is a true remarkable story written by Rijn focused around the largest and most modern Jewish nursery located in Plantage Middenlaan, Netherlands, its Jewish teachers and the children in the nursery. At this period of time in 1942 Jews were not allowed to marry non-Jews, they were not allowed to play sports, all transportation in any form were halted for Jews, curfews for shopping grocery, Jewish butchers were forced to close their doors, even not allowed to sell their home furniture, not allowed to use the telephone or visit non-Jews. In the story even in the middle of hatred and exclusion, I was astonished and felt empathy for the main character Betty Goudsmit - Oudkerk, a highly optimistic and cheerful young lady who has done something of courage, charm, naivety, fearlessness and perseverance by taking care and almost saving a hundred of children from the German SS troops. In autumn 1942, she was working as a seventeen-year-old nursery teacher where at a place from which many people would be sent to their deaths. Life with the children for Betty was playing, eating, sleeping, playing and bathing where children adored her. 

I was amazed by the network the director of the nursery, a silver-grey haired stocky older woman, Henriette Pimentel had set up secretly in her nursery at the main place Hollandse Schouwburg theatre, where Dutch Jews were gathered and deported through Westerbork to Auschwitz. Over 6,600 Jewish men have been transported from Amsterdam to Westerbork at this point.

A must read for those who love historical fiction novels. The author Elle Van Rijn has taken great effort for researching the gripping story during World War 2 in Europe.

I just reviewed the book, The Orphans of Amsterdam by Elle Van Rijn, Thanks to Bookouture  and NetGalley for an advance copy for my honest review.

                                                            About the author 

                                                               Elle Van Rijn

Elle van Rijn is a Dutch actress, screenwriter of series and films, and author of columns, although her greatest passion lies with writing novels.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bookouture (July 5, 2022)
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• Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 5, 2022
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• Language ‏ : ‎ English
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• Pages        :  344 

Book Description

Amsterdam, 1941. My hands are so shaky I’m fumbling. Where to hide? I pull open the dresser, throw aside the blankets, put the baby in and push the drawer shut, just as the nursery door swings open. The German officer marches into the room, yelling over the crying downstairs: ‘You! Grab all the children – now!’

Based on the heart-wrenching true story of an ordinary young woman who risked everything to save countless children from the Nazis.

My name is Betty. Until a few months ago, I was just like every other nursery teacher in the city… then the Nazis came and began to take our children away. Now, the nursery is part of a German deportation centre. Little ones and their families are being forced across the border, to a place called Auschwitz. No one comes back.

So when I hear there’s an underground network to save the children, I know I have to help. Sometimes the parents won’t be parted from them, and sometimes we can’t get to them in time – there are spies everywhere. But each time I smuggle the warm, innocent bundle of a sleeping baby past the Nazi guards and into the arms of the resistance, I know it’s worth the risk.

Tonight, in the pitch black, we are readying five little ones to escape ahead of a transport tomorrow. We don’t know where they’re going, and they may never see their parents again. As I button their coats and smooth their hair, my hands trembling, I hear the nightmare sound of heavy army boots on the stairs. My breath catches and my blood runs cold…

A heartbreaking and gripping read that will have you reaching for the tissues. Perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, We Were the Lucky Ones and The Nightingale.

• Disclosure of Material: I have received a review copy of this book by the publisher in the form of e-book from NET GALLEY as Advance Reader Copy. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”