A little girl’s memories, and so much more
- Book: When a Toy Dog Became a Wolf and the Moon Broke Curfew
- Location: Amsterdam
- Author: Hendrika de Vries
Hendrika de Vries gives us a child’s eye view of occupied Amsterdam with a depth of feeling and careful observations that do make us feel that we are right alongside her. When her beloved father is sent off to a POW labor camp in Germany, she and her mother are left to fend for themselves. The mother soon joins the resistance, and she and Hendrika hide a Jewish teenager, Nel. After a remarkably happy interlude, Nel is captured and taken away. The book brings us right into Hendrika’s world, and shows how, over time, she and her mother continue to cope. It’s a book about how we respond to evil, and what we must always guard against. It will keep you up at night in the best way, and will give you a lot to ponder. Even if you’ve never had an interest in this time and place, you’ll be glad you read it.