WOW. I SOBBED and SOBBED at the end. This is an absolutely unputdownable read. For a valuable insight into the holocaust from the viewpoint of Jews in Holland in WW2, this is the book to read! This author’s previous holocaust book When The World Was Ours is AMAZING as well if you haven’t read it yet. In a very aptly named new story based on some true events, the reader learns about the angst, bravery and hope of two Jewish sisters who have been taken in by a Dutch family to try to pass as non-Jews in order to escape Nazi persecution. It’s utterly nail-biting, and absolutely beautifully written. For children of today (and their adults) to continue to learn and be aware of the Shoah (Holocaust), which took place in living memory for many, these stories are vital in the fight against anti-semitism and wider prejudices. In an oh so clever twist, one of the family’s living descendants, a 12 year old girl called Liv is set a project at school to find out about her heritage…

This is a powerful & incredibly moving exploration of courage & defiance in the darkest of times. It shines a light on the ordinary people who risked everything to save the lives of strangers. Liz cleverly weaves together the two different time narratives to create a more personal insight into the long term effects war has on families and how it can impact on future generations. The ending is stark but realistic and pulls no punches on the brutality of the time. A must have for every school library, definitely recommend for UKS2 and KS3.

As a primary school teacher who has taught World War Two for the last five years (and has read many children’s books based on the time period) , I COULD NOT PUT THIS DOWN. Told through multiple perspectives, the story centres around German-occupied Holland during WW2 and the present day in England. It’s beautiful, respectful and thoughtful in all perspectives used: the way that we follow events of the time when Jewish people (and those who protected them) were publicly persecuted; the many social challenges that young people face in the modern day and how this is perceived through the eyes of teenagers. Once I started reading this, I knew that I needed to finish it in the same day. I needed to know what happened to the characters. Who would survive? What would happen to Bo? Who would get a happy ending when life isn’t always like that? There were times that I grinned broadly, times when I cheered with delight, times when I held my breath waiting to see if they would make it and then times when I cried when not all of them did - I went on the full emotional rollercoaster! It is a humbling story which brought to life the bravery, determination (especially in the face of adversity), impossible choices and harsh realities of those who lived during WW2 and honours their memory. When we see through Liv’s perspective, many of these same themes are echoed, as well as being true to yourself, even when those that you considered friends aren’t who you thought they were. There are so many important messages that children can take from this book, as well as learning about what life was like for children in WW2 or simply just enjoying beautiful writing. I will definitely be recommending this to my pupils, as well as my colleagues and any one else who will listen, as well as looking to add more books by Liz Kessler to my own library! Thank you to NetGalley, Liz Kessler and Simon & Schuster Children’s UK for the ARC of this story in exchange for my honest review

As a primary school teacher and someone who has a passion for WW2, I asked for this book for Christmas. It did not disappoint - I could not put it down and loved it. I liked the time slip element and cried at the end. It was so sad but a fitting ending. Highly recommend!

Set in Amsterdam during the Second World War, this is a tale of bravery against the odds, and (in the here and now) of a granddaughter helping her grandmother to come to terms with the past. Incredibly moving and well researched. I was hooked from the first page.