Review #415
I gave this historical fiction a 4.5/5 stars. Monica Hesse writes one point of view, first person, which feels rare for this genre. The last 60 pages were a whirlwind after a slower beginning but a solid read overall.
Lots of spoilers below!!!
Hanneke works for the black market to help support her family during the war. When one of her customers admits to hiding a Jewish teenager and needs her help, Hanneke doesn’t see anything in it for her. But the girl’s mysterious disappearance has sparked her interest.
Hanneke’s boyfriend, Bas, died in the war semi-recently but it still seems out of the ordinary when Bas’ older brother pays her a visit. What is it that he wants to talk to her about?
I really like her narration when she’s lying about memories to make them more pleasant then tells us “that’s not what really happened.”
Does she think she’s responsible for Bas’ death? And if so, why? Will she fall in love with his brother?
Why would Mirjam care enough to lock the door behind her when she fled? What purpose does that cause?
At the halfway mark the stakes are raising but I wish she put the princess/code names in the letter instead of real names.
Chapter 18- I want to believe she cares this much about a stranger but it feels unbelievable.
Why would the resistance find who they all are and where they are because of the camera? I doubt she’d be stupid enough to have taken pictures of her friends on it…
What’s been bothering me the whole story finally shows itself on page 214: “Focus on how close you are to saving Mirjam. Focus on that one life. I have to focus on her because I don’t want to think about my third grade teacher, who I won’t be saving, or Mr. Bierman, who I won’t be saving, or any of Mirjam’s classmates, or the entire group of people walking so close to us right now. I won’t be helping any of these people.”
Well… not that THAT happened I have no idea what the last 60 pages will be about.
Page 262 makes me angry. Because it’s like “why does it matter if that body wasn’t Mirjam’s?” … it was SOMEONE and they should be grieved over all the same.
Beautiful, realistic ending
Beautiful sentiment
Beautiful sadness
