This week my Sunday Book Review is for a book by one of my favorite authors of historical fiction, Paulette Mahurin – The Girl From Huizen. Why I enjoy her stories so much is not only that book after book I read in this genre, it never ceases to astonish me at the cruelty of mankind, but this author seeks out the humanity in others, and in the chaos, at a time where there wasn’t much civility. This book is no exception. This is a tale about Dutch teen Roz Jansen who lives on a farm in Huizen, a village in the province of Northern Holland. A courageous story of true events.
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Blurb:
The German occupation of the Netherlands brings with it food shortages, harsh treatment for resistants and deportation of Jews. The changes dramatically affect Rosamond Jansen’s life on her family’s farm on the outskirts of Huizen. When she finds herself under constant surveillance and oppressive treatment in her government typist job and the Nazis deport her best friend, her resentment turns to fear and a deepening hatred. Verbal cruelty, belittlement and emotional turmoil take their toll on her until a man arrives at the farm who, along with her uncle from Amsterdam, enlist her father into resistance work. When her father does not return home, Rosamond, too, is drawn into resistance activity. As more people disappear from her life, her involvement goes deeper, bringing her to a villa in Huizen where a woman named Madelief has a secret. As Rosamond becomes close to Madelief and the secret is revealed, her life starts to unravel.
Based on actual events at the villa, The Girl from Huizen tells the story of how Rosamond, working with Madelief, dared to defy the SS and their collaborators. But this is no ordinary Resistance versus Nazi story, rather it is a story of a shocking and unexpected unfolding where flames of tension ignite the page, as loss and grief consume and drive the girl from Huizen. It is a powerful story about the trusting friendship between two women. Ultimately The Girl from Huizen is a homage to the brave resistance members who risked everything to fight against Nazi oppression. Their efforts saved thousands upon thousands of lives.
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My 5 Star Review:
This author never disappoints in taking us right into her stories. Her characters are richly portrayed, as she takes us into both, the scenes of the action, and inside her character’s heads, having us feeling all their emotions as this tale unfolds. A well researched and gripping story from beginning to end. This incredible story had me turning the pages and picking up the book every chance I had.
It was a peaceful village in Gooimeer until the SS, Gestapo, and Dutch snitches and traitors turned Gooi into a starving village as most crops grown were mandatory donations to feed the enemy. As the war progressed and Hitler demanded his wolves to frequently check households for hidden Jews on a regular basis because he wanted to eliminate all the ‘vermin’, no home was safe from an SS invasion at any given time for spot checks.
Roz had been through enough already, watching her best friend Emma taken by the SS, and her job turned into typing for the SS. The cruelty of what was happening in her once peaceful life, had taken its toll.
When her father doesn’t return from a resistance mission, Roz was determined to join the resistance to help save children from being captured by the dirty Nazis. Roz leaves her job to help out on the farm, and is eventually introduced to Madelief, who she learns plays a big role in saving and hiding Jewish children (true events). And Madelief holds a deep secret about the villa which she is currently dwelling in, and using as a temporary holding, safehouse, before the children’s final safe destination. Once all is revealed by Madelief, and the relentless oppression, Roz’s life feels like spinning out of control.
This story will grip you through every mission taken by the resistance – risking their own lives to save the lives of innocent neighbors and strangers. Selfless and often hungry themselves, but sharing with someone worse off. Reality checks when Roz takes in pause to remember what it felt like to walk in shoes with soles, when she could enjoy the outdoors and life without fears off being stopped or raided by the Nazis who seemed to be everywhere, or where a sliver of chocolate could linger on her tongue long enough to take her back to plentiful times. These things reminded her of the simple pleasures that were once part of her life. Despite the climate of war, survival, and trying to help others, risking her own life, her strength to go on, despite her losses – both in life, and of life, a very important friendship made with Madelief kept her determination fueled to save the children.
As expected from this author, so much of the human condition in this story, and a wonderful telling of watching Roz turn from a mere girl to a young woman of maturity as the times had everyone growing up much too fast. This could be my favorite of many books I’ve read by this unsurprisingly, best selling author.
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