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Wartime Holland #1
The Hidden Village
Deep in the Veluwe woods lies a secret that frustrates the Germans. Convinced that Jews are hiding close by they can find no proof.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 19, 2017
4928 people are currently reading
3471 people want to read
About the author
Imogen Matthews
17 books88 followersImogen Matthews lives in Oxford, England, and is the author of two romantic fiction novels. The Hidden Village is her first foray into historical fiction and YA.
She was born in Holland to a Dutch mother and English father and moved to England when she was still a baby.
Imogen has always enjoyed holidays in Holland and since 1990, has gone regularly with her husband and two children to Nunspeet on the edge of the Veluwe woods.
It was here she discovered the story of the hidden village and, together with her mother's vivid stories of life in WW2 Holland, she was inspired to write her historical fiction novels about bravery, courage, resilience and love.
She was born in Holland to a Dutch mother and English father and moved to England when she was still a baby.
Imogen has always enjoyed holidays in Holland and since 1990, has gone regularly with her husband and two children to Nunspeet on the edge of the Veluwe woods.
It was here she discovered the story of the hidden village and, together with her mother's vivid stories of life in WW2 Holland, she was inspired to write her historical fiction novels about bravery, courage, resilience and love.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 368 reviews
January 23, 2022
The Hidden Village is an average read. I must admit to being somewhat disappointed since the storyline holds such potential.
WWII is at it’s height. Holland is occupied and the Germans have begun “The Final Solution”. Jews are being rounded up and taken to concentration camps. Rumors are flying as to what actually happens there. Whatever it is the Dutch know it’s not good. One town decides enough is enough. They will hide their Jews and any other whose community is targeted by the Germans: Poles,Russians, Allied pilots all will be helped. It soon becomes apparent that hidden rooms will not be enough. The town decides to build a “village “, deep in the woods, partially underground and hidden from German eyes. Berkenhout “The Hidden Village“is born. They hope to hide 80 people there. This story is based on an actual town that did just that. For some unknown reason the author has changed the name of the town, village and people involved. An authors note would have been very helpful here but none was present with the audiobook version I read. It would have helped answer this question and many others I had.
This story is a complex one that is simply written. Using simple prose and dialogue works well. One is able to keep straight the numerous characters and setttings in the book. No dictionary is needed here. The pace is even for the first half of the book advancing the story well, building up the characters to a point that we care and slowly building up the tension. Then it feels like another author takes over. The pace slows to the point that any tension is lost. By the time the book reaches its dramatic peak the tension is so low I have difficulty caring about what happens. But I still do and that leads me to my second problem. The ending, it felt very rushed and major side stories are just dropped with no resolution. There is an epilogue but it is far from complete and still gives no answer as to what happened with some prominent secondary characters. I now know there is a sequel focused on two characters who went missing but there were others who I would have liked to know about. The epilogue could have been used to hint at a second book and I would have known my answers might be found there but it didn’t.
The audiobook. Here is where I feel this book could have been helped but wasn’t. I’m not sure if the writing is the problem or the narrator or both. The narrator handled the American voices very well and no attempt is made at Dutch or German voices leading to a couple of confused moments. The build up of tension could have been helped greatly by the inflection of the actresses voice but was not. Though not quite flat the actress did not emote different feelings like joy, terror or anger (to name a few) particularly well. This is a very rare case where I may have enjoyed the print version more.
I was tempted to give 2 stars because of so many missed chances to make this a strong novel, but I did like the first half and there is much here to like So I give it 3 stars. Remember though, your mileage may vary! If you are intrigued by the story by all means try it there are plenty of reviewers that enjoyed this book!
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley. This fact in no way influenced my review.
WWII is at it’s height. Holland is occupied and the Germans have begun “The Final Solution”. Jews are being rounded up and taken to concentration camps. Rumors are flying as to what actually happens there. Whatever it is the Dutch know it’s not good. One town decides enough is enough. They will hide their Jews and any other whose community is targeted by the Germans: Poles,Russians, Allied pilots all will be helped. It soon becomes apparent that hidden rooms will not be enough. The town decides to build a “village “, deep in the woods, partially underground and hidden from German eyes. Berkenhout “The Hidden Village“is born. They hope to hide 80 people there. This story is based on an actual town that did just that. For some unknown reason the author has changed the name of the town, village and people involved. An authors note would have been very helpful here but none was present with the audiobook version I read. It would have helped answer this question and many others I had.
This story is a complex one that is simply written. Using simple prose and dialogue works well. One is able to keep straight the numerous characters and setttings in the book. No dictionary is needed here. The pace is even for the first half of the book advancing the story well, building up the characters to a point that we care and slowly building up the tension. Then it feels like another author takes over. The pace slows to the point that any tension is lost. By the time the book reaches its dramatic peak the tension is so low I have difficulty caring about what happens. But I still do and that leads me to my second problem. The ending, it felt very rushed and major side stories are just dropped with no resolution. There is an epilogue but it is far from complete and still gives no answer as to what happened with some prominent secondary characters. I now know there is a sequel focused on two characters who went missing but there were others who I would have liked to know about. The epilogue could have been used to hint at a second book and I would have known my answers might be found there but it didn’t.
The audiobook. Here is where I feel this book could have been helped but wasn’t. I’m not sure if the writing is the problem or the narrator or both. The narrator handled the American voices very well and no attempt is made at Dutch or German voices leading to a couple of confused moments. The build up of tension could have been helped greatly by the inflection of the actresses voice but was not. Though not quite flat the actress did not emote different feelings like joy, terror or anger (to name a few) particularly well. This is a very rare case where I may have enjoyed the print version more.
I was tempted to give 2 stars because of so many missed chances to make this a strong novel, but I did like the first half and there is much here to like So I give it 3 stars. Remember though, your mileage may vary! If you are intrigued by the story by all means try it there are plenty of reviewers that enjoyed this book!
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley. This fact in no way influenced my review.
September 18, 2017
I was enjoying this book and becoming invested in the characters, then three quarters of the way through it started to peter out, and then suddenly it ended with a major event for which I was left with so many unanswered questions. Next thing, the story popped to twenty years later. It felt like the author lost interest and just wrapped it up with lots of loose ends.
August 16, 2019
For the most part, I really enjoyed this book, but towards the end, I was a little disappointed. "The Hidden Village" is a book based on events that took place during WWII, but it is obvious that the characters and the events associated with those, were purely fictional. Matthews was also inspired to write this book due to her own dutch family, after hearing about their person experiences during the war. I thought that Matthews had obviously done a great level of research before writing this.
I enjoyed the writing style, although it was a bit repetitive at times, as there was a distinct overuse of the word "pensive" in this book. Someone, in nearly every chapter, apparently looked "pensive" Things like that, can get a little samey.
I thought the characters were well developed, and most of all, were interesting, and kept me reading on at a faster than normal pace. When I was coming near to the end of the book, I felt like everything changed. I'm not sure if Matthews was in a rush to finish it, but all the events were terribly rushed, and unexplained, which was pretty devastating for me, as I felt so damn invested in the characters.
Although I've been quite negative here, I actually enjoyed this book. It showed courage, and parts of it were incredibly moving, showing us just how far human compassion can really go. I would definitely read more from Imogen Matthews.
I enjoyed the writing style, although it was a bit repetitive at times, as there was a distinct overuse of the word "pensive" in this book. Someone, in nearly every chapter, apparently looked "pensive" Things like that, can get a little samey.
I thought the characters were well developed, and most of all, were interesting, and kept me reading on at a faster than normal pace. When I was coming near to the end of the book, I felt like everything changed. I'm not sure if Matthews was in a rush to finish it, but all the events were terribly rushed, and unexplained, which was pretty devastating for me, as I felt so damn invested in the characters.
Although I've been quite negative here, I actually enjoyed this book. It showed courage, and parts of it were incredibly moving, showing us just how far human compassion can really go. I would definitely read more from Imogen Matthews.
December 16, 2017
The author was inspired to write this WW2 by actual events which did take place but is clear that that was solely the creative spark and the incidents described are fictional. She was also inspired by her own Dutch family tales of their wartime experiences in Holland. The novel comes across as well researched ( there are notes at the end) and is easy enough for young adult readers but intriguing enough for older adults too. I very much enjoyed it until the end which felt rather rushed and contrived.
March 1, 2022
Keep Them safe
Holland is overrun by the Nazi soldiers. The Jewish population fear for their lives and the lives of their children. One village decides to help them at the risk of their own lives and those of their own children. First they hide the Jewish in attics and cellars and sheds, then they decide to build a village of huts far back in the woods where they can be hidden from the Nazi's. They call this village Berkenhout.
Many of the Jewish are at first fearful of staying in the village, but soon adapt to life there, even Sofie who misses her friends and her home. Her family sends her away after they are visited by the Nazi's. Oscar and Jan are two brother's that help other villagers keep the secret of the village and help supply them with company and food.
Hank Hauer is in charge of looking after the needs of the village as he has a van and the means to travel in his job. However, the villagers grow wary of him when they hear of his dealings with the Germans. Can he be trusted?
Jan is a young man that dreams of finding a downed pilot. He finds Donald McDonald in the woods. This find leads to catastrophe. It only takes one small mistake to bring the German's to the village and the Jewish people hiding there.
In a time of great peril to all, who can be trusted? Who will survive the end of the war and who will not. Will the German's find the village?
I loved the story and the courage of these young people and all the people of this village in Holland that helped build a safe place for the Jewish people and found supplies to keep them fed and warm in their huts. The co-operation between the village people to build and run this village was enormous. As more and more people came they struggled to make room for everyone.
As more people arrived and the word got out in the Jewish community, the Nazi's heard rumors and they were determined to find this hidden village no matter what.
It was a good book, I loved all the characters and enjoyed reading it. I would recommend this book. The audio books was very well narrated and a joy to listen to.
Thanks to Imogene Matthews for writing a great story, to Antonia Whillans for a great job narrating it, to Bookouture audio for publishing it and NetGalley for making it available to me to enjoy.
Holland is overrun by the Nazi soldiers. The Jewish population fear for their lives and the lives of their children. One village decides to help them at the risk of their own lives and those of their own children. First they hide the Jewish in attics and cellars and sheds, then they decide to build a village of huts far back in the woods where they can be hidden from the Nazi's. They call this village Berkenhout.
Many of the Jewish are at first fearful of staying in the village, but soon adapt to life there, even Sofie who misses her friends and her home. Her family sends her away after they are visited by the Nazi's. Oscar and Jan are two brother's that help other villagers keep the secret of the village and help supply them with company and food.
Hank Hauer is in charge of looking after the needs of the village as he has a van and the means to travel in his job. However, the villagers grow wary of him when they hear of his dealings with the Germans. Can he be trusted?
Jan is a young man that dreams of finding a downed pilot. He finds Donald McDonald in the woods. This find leads to catastrophe. It only takes one small mistake to bring the German's to the village and the Jewish people hiding there.
In a time of great peril to all, who can be trusted? Who will survive the end of the war and who will not. Will the German's find the village?
I loved the story and the courage of these young people and all the people of this village in Holland that helped build a safe place for the Jewish people and found supplies to keep them fed and warm in their huts. The co-operation between the village people to build and run this village was enormous. As more and more people came they struggled to make room for everyone.
As more people arrived and the word got out in the Jewish community, the Nazi's heard rumors and they were determined to find this hidden village no matter what.
It was a good book, I loved all the characters and enjoyed reading it. I would recommend this book. The audio books was very well narrated and a joy to listen to.
Thanks to Imogene Matthews for writing a great story, to Antonia Whillans for a great job narrating it, to Bookouture audio for publishing it and NetGalley for making it available to me to enjoy.
February 27, 2018
This is a compelling story about a village built by rebellious Dutch citizens to help hide their Jewish (or in other way dissident) neighbors and countrymen. Located deep in the Hoge Veluwe National Park, this village really did exist and several huts have been reconstructed in the original location.
The author wrote her book after reading a non-fiction book about this village. However, her novel is not a rehashing of history, but a suspenseful and dramatic glimpse into the lives and inner thoughts of the villagers – both those being hidden and those helping them. The story takes us into their daily lives, scares, sicknesses, and ultimately their betrayal.
It a well-written, moving story of courage, hope, and survival.
My only criticism is that it ends quite abruptly. I would have liked to learn more about what happened to the characters after the war. Perhaps she’s leaving room for a sequel?
4.5 out of 5 stars
The author wrote her book after reading a non-fiction book about this village. However, her novel is not a rehashing of history, but a suspenseful and dramatic glimpse into the lives and inner thoughts of the villagers – both those being hidden and those helping them. The story takes us into their daily lives, scares, sicknesses, and ultimately their betrayal.
It a well-written, moving story of courage, hope, and survival.
My only criticism is that it ends quite abruptly. I would have liked to learn more about what happened to the characters after the war. Perhaps she’s leaving room for a sequel?
4.5 out of 5 stars
January 14, 2022
★★★★ 4.5 stars
I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Imogen Matthews' inspiring tale of THE HIDDEN VILLAGE.
Upon reading the premise for THE HIDDEN VILLAGE I immediately became intrigued as it offered something a little different than your usual Holocaust stories. The author was inspired by her own Dutch family's tales of their personal experiences during wartime Holland and though based on actual events, it is otherwise entirely fictional.
A compelling tale, THE HIDDEN VILLAGE comes across as an easy read for young adults to understand which is what I particularly liked as it wasn't bogged down with historical facts that tend to lose me in the quagmire. It was written in an easy to understand way featuring all young children and adults as the main perspectives.
It is not clear which year what year it is when the story begins, as with most books of this genre, so it is therefore left to the reader's imagination. It starts of with the innocence of childhood as Sofie, a young Jewish Dutch girl, grumbles about the teacher overlooking her abilities despite her topping her class in a maths test. She is too busy harbouring a resentment for Oscar with whom she shares a teenage affection and flits between being annoyed with him and being in love with him. Her best friend Liesbeth nudges her playfully which only makes Sofie frown more.
Oscar is the same age as Sofie and though he is not Jewish, he and his family do not welcome the Nazi occupation. His father Max is strict but reasonably fair as he works for the underground movement in helping to keep those in danger from the Germans safe. His mother Sara is English and while she is not involved in the underground she silently supports it. No one wants or welcomes a Nazi regime in Holland. And while Oscar yearns to see more of Sofie, circumstances soon make that impossible.
Then there is Oscar's 11 year old brother Jan, a young tearaway who gets himself into mischief with his two friends Nico and Lex. Together they roam the woods, despite being told countless times by his mother not to, looking for fun and adventure. Fate brings fallen pilots to their den in the woods as Jan endeavours to help the airmen. And while the woods are not teeming with Germans yet, they could be and so Jan brings the pilot home to keep him safe. Was that a wise move? Jan didn't care because now he was playing a part in a big adventure and for him it was exciting.
Then when the net closes in and Germans begin to steal the Jews away, forbidding them any birthright or privilege, the villagers know the time has come when they must hide them. And so plans are made...
A secret purpose-built village deep in the Veluwe woods called Berkenhout. There dozens of persecuted people, mostly Jews, were sheltered in the underground huts that soon became home for them. They were helped by a community of men, women and children from the nearby village who gather food and other necessities for all those who were hidden there. The need for secrecy was paramount and instilled in anyone who knew of its existence...for a betrayal could cost many of them their lives.
Sofie was one of the first to be hidden in Berkenhout where she moved in with a family of strangers who soon became a second family to her. Her own parents went to a Dutch family who only had room for two of them, thereby paving the way for Sofie to live in Berkenhout. There she learnt how to cook under surrogate mum Corrie's guidance and even set up a little school alongside Laura, another girl her age who was from Ghent in Belgium. Together they taught the younger children and created activities to keep them occupied. It was not an easy life but it was one they adapted to. And all the while, Sofie longed to see Oscar and spend a few moments alone with him.
Oscar and his family worked tirelessly with others to keep Berkenhout and its inhabitants secret and safe. Even Sofie's best friend Liesbeth helped with gathering supplies for the village. Jan longed to be privy to whatever secrets were being kept from him and his yearning to help often put them in danger. Berkenhout must remain secret; its inhabitants kept safe.
But little did they know that trouble was a lot closer than they thought...
The easy style of this story made it an enjoyable quick read I devoured in a day. I wondered how on earth you could hide an entire village from discovery but the people of this village did just that to all intents and purposes. And that's what compelled me to read this story as it didn't read like any other Holocaust tale I have come across. I have read many Auschwitz like stories and after a while they all become too similar...so I was after something similar but different. And THE HIDDEN VILLAGE is just that.
The sheer terror at being discovered by the Germans is felt upon the pages - by both adults and children alike. Such as when Jan hides in the woods from the Nazi officers he encounters. So it was difficult to appreciate their courage as well as their fears in helping those in this hidden village.
I thoroughly enjoyed THE HIDDEN VILLAGE but I do however have one complaint. The ending. The story was unfolding at a perfect pace with the reveal of a major event when suddenly the last chapter jumps twenty years to a whole other era and I felt like...what just happened? It felt rushed and unexplained and it almost leaves the reader feeling a little bit cheated having invested so much in getting to know the characters. I don't even know what happened to some of them. And one explanation from Henk Hauer was just unbelievable. Just no. Maybe we'll get more answers in the sequel "Hidden in the Shadows" ...
Despite this, THE HIDDEN VILLAGE is a thoroughly engrossing read and a very easy one at that. Perfect for fans of historical fiction, particularly those surrounding the Holocaust and the underground movement working against the Nazi regime.
I would like to thank #ImogenMatthews, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheHiddenVillage in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Imogen Matthews' inspiring tale of THE HIDDEN VILLAGE.
Upon reading the premise for THE HIDDEN VILLAGE I immediately became intrigued as it offered something a little different than your usual Holocaust stories. The author was inspired by her own Dutch family's tales of their personal experiences during wartime Holland and though based on actual events, it is otherwise entirely fictional.
A compelling tale, THE HIDDEN VILLAGE comes across as an easy read for young adults to understand which is what I particularly liked as it wasn't bogged down with historical facts that tend to lose me in the quagmire. It was written in an easy to understand way featuring all young children and adults as the main perspectives.
It is not clear which year what year it is when the story begins, as with most books of this genre, so it is therefore left to the reader's imagination. It starts of with the innocence of childhood as Sofie, a young Jewish Dutch girl, grumbles about the teacher overlooking her abilities despite her topping her class in a maths test. She is too busy harbouring a resentment for Oscar with whom she shares a teenage affection and flits between being annoyed with him and being in love with him. Her best friend Liesbeth nudges her playfully which only makes Sofie frown more.
Oscar is the same age as Sofie and though he is not Jewish, he and his family do not welcome the Nazi occupation. His father Max is strict but reasonably fair as he works for the underground movement in helping to keep those in danger from the Germans safe. His mother Sara is English and while she is not involved in the underground she silently supports it. No one wants or welcomes a Nazi regime in Holland. And while Oscar yearns to see more of Sofie, circumstances soon make that impossible.
Then there is Oscar's 11 year old brother Jan, a young tearaway who gets himself into mischief with his two friends Nico and Lex. Together they roam the woods, despite being told countless times by his mother not to, looking for fun and adventure. Fate brings fallen pilots to their den in the woods as Jan endeavours to help the airmen. And while the woods are not teeming with Germans yet, they could be and so Jan brings the pilot home to keep him safe. Was that a wise move? Jan didn't care because now he was playing a part in a big adventure and for him it was exciting.
Then when the net closes in and Germans begin to steal the Jews away, forbidding them any birthright or privilege, the villagers know the time has come when they must hide them. And so plans are made...
A secret purpose-built village deep in the Veluwe woods called Berkenhout. There dozens of persecuted people, mostly Jews, were sheltered in the underground huts that soon became home for them. They were helped by a community of men, women and children from the nearby village who gather food and other necessities for all those who were hidden there. The need for secrecy was paramount and instilled in anyone who knew of its existence...for a betrayal could cost many of them their lives.
Sofie was one of the first to be hidden in Berkenhout where she moved in with a family of strangers who soon became a second family to her. Her own parents went to a Dutch family who only had room for two of them, thereby paving the way for Sofie to live in Berkenhout. There she learnt how to cook under surrogate mum Corrie's guidance and even set up a little school alongside Laura, another girl her age who was from Ghent in Belgium. Together they taught the younger children and created activities to keep them occupied. It was not an easy life but it was one they adapted to. And all the while, Sofie longed to see Oscar and spend a few moments alone with him.
Oscar and his family worked tirelessly with others to keep Berkenhout and its inhabitants secret and safe. Even Sofie's best friend Liesbeth helped with gathering supplies for the village. Jan longed to be privy to whatever secrets were being kept from him and his yearning to help often put them in danger. Berkenhout must remain secret; its inhabitants kept safe.
But little did they know that trouble was a lot closer than they thought...
The easy style of this story made it an enjoyable quick read I devoured in a day. I wondered how on earth you could hide an entire village from discovery but the people of this village did just that to all intents and purposes. And that's what compelled me to read this story as it didn't read like any other Holocaust tale I have come across. I have read many Auschwitz like stories and after a while they all become too similar...so I was after something similar but different. And THE HIDDEN VILLAGE is just that.
The sheer terror at being discovered by the Germans is felt upon the pages - by both adults and children alike. Such as when Jan hides in the woods from the Nazi officers he encounters. So it was difficult to appreciate their courage as well as their fears in helping those in this hidden village.
I thoroughly enjoyed THE HIDDEN VILLAGE but I do however have one complaint. The ending. The story was unfolding at a perfect pace with the reveal of a major event when suddenly the last chapter jumps twenty years to a whole other era and I felt like...what just happened? It felt rushed and unexplained and it almost leaves the reader feeling a little bit cheated having invested so much in getting to know the characters. I don't even know what happened to some of them. And one explanation from Henk Hauer was just unbelievable. Just no. Maybe we'll get more answers in the sequel "Hidden in the Shadows" ...
Despite this, THE HIDDEN VILLAGE is a thoroughly engrossing read and a very easy one at that. Perfect for fans of historical fiction, particularly those surrounding the Holocaust and the underground movement working against the Nazi regime.
I would like to thank #ImogenMatthews, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheHiddenVillage in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
February 21, 2018
A wonderful premise for a book and a story that definitely needs to be told : unfortunately though, as a story this book doesn't work well. The writing is poor and the characters under developed.
February 7, 2022
The Hidden Village is based on a true story of a secret village hidden deep in the forest near Vierhouten, near the house named 'Pas Op' (Beware). It was built to provide shelter for more than 80 refugees who lived there for more than a year in 1943/1944. This story features fifteen year old Sophie and her friends and neighbours. She is the only one from her family given refuge, getting the last spot. There are constantly Nazi Patrols searching for the village they have heard of, making it a game of cat and mouse as the villagers take supplies and care for the refugees.
I enjoyed this book for the most part, but towards the end, it seemed to run out of steam. "The Hidden Village" is a book based on events that took place during WWII, but the characters and the events associated with those, were purely fictional. The story is told from the point of view of the youth and children of the town and secret village which is a bit different. Imogen Matthews was inspired to write this story after hearing stories from her Dutch family about their experiences. I became invested in many of the character's lives and experiences, but the story seemed flat at the end. This is a YA story and I like that it wasn't too graphic, yet honestly portrayed a difficult time in history and that there were heroic people to stand up and help them, risking their own lives to do so. I definitely recommend you read the author's notes at the end of the book. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Antonia Whillans. She did an excellent job portraying the different voices and emotion with her expression, tone and inflection. I do recommend this book to those 12 and up, to learn about this time, these events and the heroic efforts of young persons.
I enjoyed this book for the most part, but towards the end, it seemed to run out of steam. "The Hidden Village" is a book based on events that took place during WWII, but the characters and the events associated with those, were purely fictional. The story is told from the point of view of the youth and children of the town and secret village which is a bit different. Imogen Matthews was inspired to write this story after hearing stories from her Dutch family about their experiences. I became invested in many of the character's lives and experiences, but the story seemed flat at the end. This is a YA story and I like that it wasn't too graphic, yet honestly portrayed a difficult time in history and that there were heroic people to stand up and help them, risking their own lives to do so. I definitely recommend you read the author's notes at the end of the book. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Antonia Whillans. She did an excellent job portraying the different voices and emotion with her expression, tone and inflection. I do recommend this book to those 12 and up, to learn about this time, these events and the heroic efforts of young persons.
August 23, 2017
The Hidden Village, by Imogen Matthews, was a phenomenal read. This book is set in Holland during World War II and it features the work of the Dutch resistance, who hid people from the German army. The Hidden Village, was created by the group and also was hidden deep in the woods. This became very problematic for the Germans because they spent many years trying to discover it. I loved the characters, Sofie and Henk, because they were perfectly written. This book reminded me of how I felt when I read
, both moved me and I am really happy that I read them.
, both moved me and I am really happy that I read them. 
April 3, 2024
This story is based around the hidden village similar to the one located in forests near Vierhouten, in the Netherlands, built to hide mainly Jewish families fleeing the Germans in WW2.
Always hard to review these books because the stories are always incredible and some of the situations truly harrowing, unfortunately sometimes the writing and structure let them down and that is the case with this one. Just a bit of a mess to be honest.
I
Always hard to review these books because the stories are always incredible and some of the situations truly harrowing, unfortunately sometimes the writing and structure let them down and that is the case with this one. Just a bit of a mess to be honest.
I
April 25, 2020
The story of the Berkenhout village hidden deep within the Veluwe forest is a fascinating one. In telling the story, the author has chosen to focus on some of the young people caught up in the undertaking, either those involved in helping to sustain the village, such as Jan and his brother Oscar, or those living there, such as Sofie. Therefore it’s only natural that much of the story is dominated by their teenage preoccupations – the strain on friendships, separation from family members, the limitations on their freedom and the drudgery of daily chores, such as fetching food and water.
Although other readers may feel differently, personally I would have welcomed a little more detail about the construction of the village. Initially, I found it hard to picture what the huts looked like, what they must have been like to live in and how a community housing so many people could remain undiscovered. The photographs on the author’s website helped greatly in this respect.
What wasn’t difficult to appreciate was the courage of the local people involved in supplying the village. Their willingness to take strangers into their homes, knowing the risks involved should they be discovered, was inspiring. I enjoyed finding out about the ingenious hiding places and how they rehearsed procedures in the event of an unexpected raid by the Germans.
I found the pacing of the book a little uneven. Having proceeded at a measured pace, dramatic and life-changing events affecting some of the characters and the village as a whole were wrapped up very quickly in the last few chapters. Although the epilogue provided closure in relation to some characters and storylines, I was left with unanswered questions about others. However, perhaps the author has saved the answers to those for the sequel, Hidden in the Shadows (published in December 2019).
Although other readers may feel differently, personally I would have welcomed a little more detail about the construction of the village. Initially, I found it hard to picture what the huts looked like, what they must have been like to live in and how a community housing so many people could remain undiscovered. The photographs on the author’s website helped greatly in this respect.
What wasn’t difficult to appreciate was the courage of the local people involved in supplying the village. Their willingness to take strangers into their homes, knowing the risks involved should they be discovered, was inspiring. I enjoyed finding out about the ingenious hiding places and how they rehearsed procedures in the event of an unexpected raid by the Germans.
I found the pacing of the book a little uneven. Having proceeded at a measured pace, dramatic and life-changing events affecting some of the characters and the village as a whole were wrapped up very quickly in the last few chapters. Although the epilogue provided closure in relation to some characters and storylines, I was left with unanswered questions about others. However, perhaps the author has saved the answers to those for the sequel, Hidden in the Shadows (published in December 2019).
September 12, 2018
Set in Holland during Hitler's reign of terror, this book is unlike any I have read before. I expected it to be similar to "The Diary of Anne Frank" in that the entire tale would take place indoors, however, I was thankfully wrong. Don't misunderstand me, I loved reading Anne Frank's diary, it's just that since then I have read numerous accounts of people in similar situations and I am ready for something different, something I have never heard about, or something completely new.
I had never heard of anything so daring as trying to hide an entire village full of people in a forest. It shocked me that THE HIDDEN VILLAGE was based on a true story.
The author has done a great job of crafting a tale that centers on the people's lives, rather than on the war itself. Any violence portrayed in this story is there with a purpose - that of moving the story forward.
I was greatly impressed by the narrator and his ability to create and maintain distinct voices for such a large number of characters. His pacing was perfect and he used inflection to create mood. I rate his performance as 5 out of 5 Stars.
I highly recommend this story to anyone who loves not only historical fiction, but a great drama. I think that buying this book in audio book format is the best way to experience this tale.
I rate THE HIDDEN VILLAGE audio book as 4.5 out of 5 Stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received a free copy of this audiobook through AudioBookWorm Promotions, however, this is no way effected how I reviewed this book.
To read more of my reviews visit my blog at http://Amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com
Follow me on Instagram @Amiesbookreviews
I had never heard of anything so daring as trying to hide an entire village full of people in a forest. It shocked me that THE HIDDEN VILLAGE was based on a true story.
The author has done a great job of crafting a tale that centers on the people's lives, rather than on the war itself. Any violence portrayed in this story is there with a purpose - that of moving the story forward.
I was greatly impressed by the narrator and his ability to create and maintain distinct voices for such a large number of characters. His pacing was perfect and he used inflection to create mood. I rate his performance as 5 out of 5 Stars.
I highly recommend this story to anyone who loves not only historical fiction, but a great drama. I think that buying this book in audio book format is the best way to experience this tale.
I rate THE HIDDEN VILLAGE audio book as 4.5 out of 5 Stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received a free copy of this audiobook through AudioBookWorm Promotions, however, this is no way effected how I reviewed this book.
To read more of my reviews visit my blog at http://Amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com
Follow me on Instagram @Amiesbookreviews
June 29, 2017
Interesting read
I had heard that the Dutch population had made significant efforts to protect their Jewish neighbors but this is the first novel I have read to explore this history. Well written and interesting read
I had heard that the Dutch population had made significant efforts to protect their Jewish neighbors but this is the first novel I have read to explore this history. Well written and interesting read
November 28, 2018
The is part of the Holocaust story of which many are unaware. Although fictionalized, the book is based on historical accounts. You will cry and you will cheer and you will know a great sense of loss.
December 29, 2018
This excellent book is my very first acquaintance with this fine lady author, and I have to say in all honesty that this book has captivated and intrigued me right from the start till the very end.
At the beginning of the book you'll find a well documented Introduction concerning this tale, for it explains there in a clear and delightful manner the reasons and ideas behind this very engaging story, while at the end you'll find a well translated Glossary of Dutch-English Words & Phrases, as I'm a Dutchman it makes me very proud and happy to say this and also for the Dutch words used within this splendid story, as well as a Glossary in German-English.
Storytelling by this lady author is of a superb quality, and she has the ability to bring vividly to life these very hard and brutal times in a clear fashion, as well as the atmosphere in which the Jews had to live in WWII, and all that in a gripping and heart-braking way within this wonderful tale.
All the characters come superbly to life within this fascinating story whether they are from the Dutch resistance, runaway and hiding Jews, or the German Nazi oppressor.
The Veluwe surroundings around this hidden village are superbly and beautifully pictured in this story, but nevertheless this "Hidden Village" is also making this tale a fearsome dark one, especially for the people who have to find shelter there.
The story itself tells us in a most enthralling and captivating fashion the persecution of the Jews, and what a lot of people of the underground/resistance did, by trying to shelter as much Jewish refugees as they could within this "Hidden Village" and more, and so trying to save them from deportation to work-camps and/or even worse from death in one of those famous concentration-camps.
The book will conclude with a revealing reminiscing chapter which is situated 20-years later on, and it's about the lives of some of the main characters of this wonderful story.
Highly recommended, for this book is a beautiful story relating about the lives and hardships the Jews had to endure during WWII against Nazi Germany, and who's interested in it, I like to say read this little masterpiece, which I'm going to call as "A Gripping & Fascinating WWII Story"!
At the beginning of the book you'll find a well documented Introduction concerning this tale, for it explains there in a clear and delightful manner the reasons and ideas behind this very engaging story, while at the end you'll find a well translated Glossary of Dutch-English Words & Phrases, as I'm a Dutchman it makes me very proud and happy to say this and also for the Dutch words used within this splendid story, as well as a Glossary in German-English.
Storytelling by this lady author is of a superb quality, and she has the ability to bring vividly to life these very hard and brutal times in a clear fashion, as well as the atmosphere in which the Jews had to live in WWII, and all that in a gripping and heart-braking way within this wonderful tale.
All the characters come superbly to life within this fascinating story whether they are from the Dutch resistance, runaway and hiding Jews, or the German Nazi oppressor.
The Veluwe surroundings around this hidden village are superbly and beautifully pictured in this story, but nevertheless this "Hidden Village" is also making this tale a fearsome dark one, especially for the people who have to find shelter there.
The story itself tells us in a most enthralling and captivating fashion the persecution of the Jews, and what a lot of people of the underground/resistance did, by trying to shelter as much Jewish refugees as they could within this "Hidden Village" and more, and so trying to save them from deportation to work-camps and/or even worse from death in one of those famous concentration-camps.
The book will conclude with a revealing reminiscing chapter which is situated 20-years later on, and it's about the lives of some of the main characters of this wonderful story.
Highly recommended, for this book is a beautiful story relating about the lives and hardships the Jews had to endure during WWII against Nazi Germany, and who's interested in it, I like to say read this little masterpiece, which I'm going to call as "A Gripping & Fascinating WWII Story"!
December 23, 2021
“It’s surprising what people will do when faced with danger.”
The Hidden Village is a novel based on a forgotten part of history that took place in Holland during WW2. After listening to her Dutch mother recount tales from her youth of thrilling and extraordinary adventures during the German occupation and the Hunger Winter, the author chose to write about young people and explore how they coped with the constant fear and danger of war. You don’t have to read too far into this novel before you feel you are privy to the excitement of being caught up in a real life adventure. The narrative was also shaped by the author’s discovery of a memorial stone and two hidden huts on a bike ride through the Veluwe Forest one summer day in 2011. Both events contribute to a unique perspective on wartime fiction.
The story is written from the perspective of two young people; Sofie, a young Jewish girl forced to go up and live in a hidden village and an adventurous boy, Jan, whose curiosity takes precedence over a multitude of warnings not to go into the woods on his own. As one would expect, the story focuses on teenage preoccupations such as limited freedom, the duty of chores, separation from friends, and the strain of war on friendships.
On the edge of the Veluwe Forest, a community pulls together to help desperate people stay safe. They build Berkenhout Village, a hidden village of underground huts for those fleeing the Nazis and then selflessly provided food, clothing and medicine to ensure their survival. With the Nazis hunting for hidden Jews and this village they’d heard rumours about, can the forest community remain undetected? You’ll have to read to find out!
With plenty of discourse to keep you involved, this novel focusing on the resistance movement as seen through the eyes of the youth, is a worthy read.
I was gifted this advance copy by Imogen Matthews, Bookouture, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
The Hidden Village is a novel based on a forgotten part of history that took place in Holland during WW2. After listening to her Dutch mother recount tales from her youth of thrilling and extraordinary adventures during the German occupation and the Hunger Winter, the author chose to write about young people and explore how they coped with the constant fear and danger of war. You don’t have to read too far into this novel before you feel you are privy to the excitement of being caught up in a real life adventure. The narrative was also shaped by the author’s discovery of a memorial stone and two hidden huts on a bike ride through the Veluwe Forest one summer day in 2011. Both events contribute to a unique perspective on wartime fiction.
The story is written from the perspective of two young people; Sofie, a young Jewish girl forced to go up and live in a hidden village and an adventurous boy, Jan, whose curiosity takes precedence over a multitude of warnings not to go into the woods on his own. As one would expect, the story focuses on teenage preoccupations such as limited freedom, the duty of chores, separation from friends, and the strain of war on friendships.
On the edge of the Veluwe Forest, a community pulls together to help desperate people stay safe. They build Berkenhout Village, a hidden village of underground huts for those fleeing the Nazis and then selflessly provided food, clothing and medicine to ensure their survival. With the Nazis hunting for hidden Jews and this village they’d heard rumours about, can the forest community remain undetected? You’ll have to read to find out!
With plenty of discourse to keep you involved, this novel focusing on the resistance movement as seen through the eyes of the youth, is a worthy read.
I was gifted this advance copy by Imogen Matthews, Bookouture, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
July 6, 2017
Excellent plot and wonderfully written!
Much more of a story than I anticipated . I was amazed by how many of the Dutch fought the Nazis in their own way. They were willing to make sacrifices for other people at the expense of their own daily needs.
Very inspiring!
Much more of a story than I anticipated . I was amazed by how many of the Dutch fought the Nazis in their own way. They were willing to make sacrifices for other people at the expense of their own daily needs.
Very inspiring!
August 30, 2017
The Hidden Village
An amazing story of survival. The people involved are so strong when they stood up to the Germans and they tried to help the Jews who lived among them as well as strangers who kept coming .
An amazing story of survival. The people involved are so strong when they stood up to the Germans and they tried to help the Jews who lived among them as well as strangers who kept coming .
December 18, 2018
Meh. Just okay for me. Felt like I was reading something for a high school kid. The dialogue and writing was very elementary then I got bored. Never finished it.
December 17, 2021
One of the things I love about WWII is there are still so many stories left to discover. I love that Matthews wrote her latest historical fiction based on her homeland. It’s based On a story I hadn’t heard about before, a hidden village. Acts of heroism were very real through the pages. The story was engrossing and I loved the author’s explanation. Reading what people endured during WWII gives me the strength to face modern society. Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the early read.
Read
June 3, 2024The Hidden Village by Imogen Matthews. This is a fictitious account of a hidden village that was actually created in Veluwe, a national park in Holland. During World War 11, a group of Jews hid from the Germans by living in underground huts in this village. They were helped by a group of men and women and children in the nearby village. This group of rescuers gathered food and other necessities for the hundreds of people who eventually lived in this hidden village. Imogen Matthews used archive materials, letters, photos, interviews, and a book called ‘Het Verscholen Dorp’ by A. Visser which was an account of this village. She also used this book as a way of writing down the stories her own mother told of the years spent in Holland during its occupation by the Germans. The result is a very unique look at this hidden village and the people who lived there and helped hide them.
The story revolves around a Holland youth, Jan, and a Jewish girl, Sofie, along with her best friend Liesbeth, a Holland girl. Sofie was in school with Jan’s brother Oscar and her best friend Liesbeth. Sofie had a crush on Oscar and he had one on her. Liesbeth, who was more outgoing than Sofie, encouraged her to get to know Oscar better. Shortly after this, Sofie’s world collapsed when she was forced into hiding because she was Jewish. She was among the first to go to live n Berkenhout woods and the last to leave. Oscar had helped build the huts they were to live in and then was sent elsewhere to help. Liesbeth worked with the underground to get food for the Jews and helped keep Sofie’s spirits up as she was separated from her parents. Jan, Oscar’s little brother, ached to help but was continually thwarted from helping by his own father. Jan didn’t understand that his father was trying to protect him. However, a ten-year-old boy finds a way to get into trouble.
The book is quite interesting and well-written. Knowing that Berkenhout did indeed exist as did the majority of the characters makes it even more interesting. It makes you wonder how many places like this existed throughout Europe and remain unknown to this day.
The story revolves around a Holland youth, Jan, and a Jewish girl, Sofie, along with her best friend Liesbeth, a Holland girl. Sofie was in school with Jan’s brother Oscar and her best friend Liesbeth. Sofie had a crush on Oscar and he had one on her. Liesbeth, who was more outgoing than Sofie, encouraged her to get to know Oscar better. Shortly after this, Sofie’s world collapsed when she was forced into hiding because she was Jewish. She was among the first to go to live n Berkenhout woods and the last to leave. Oscar had helped build the huts they were to live in and then was sent elsewhere to help. Liesbeth worked with the underground to get food for the Jews and helped keep Sofie’s spirits up as she was separated from her parents. Jan, Oscar’s little brother, ached to help but was continually thwarted from helping by his own father. Jan didn’t understand that his father was trying to protect him. However, a ten-year-old boy finds a way to get into trouble.
The book is quite interesting and well-written. Knowing that Berkenhout did indeed exist as did the majority of the characters makes it even more interesting. It makes you wonder how many places like this existed throughout Europe and remain unknown to this day.
December 14, 2021
One of my favourite genres at the moment is historical WW2, even more so when it’s based on fact. The Hidden Village of Berkenhout was a secret village built by the Dutch resistance and local townspeople to hide Jews from the Germans. Before I read this book, I did not know there was such a place, so I found that aspect of the book fascinating. It never fails to amaze me when reading this type of book the number of people who were willing to put themselves and their families in danger. They showed great courage in the most dangerous of times.
The book centres mostly around Sofia a young Jew forced to go into hiding and Jan, a local boy who is only to willing to help the Jews, at 11 some choices he made were foolhardy, but his heart was in the right place. I thought the characters were well developed and you get a genuine sense of the fear and danger that they faced day in day out.
Imogen Matthew’s has created a story that’s fraught with danger, courage, and hope. The story is heart wrenching as you share the characters’ struggles. It’s not difficult to imagine the loneliness in being separated from their loved ones and the constant threat of being found by the Germans.
I had one small quibble. I thought the ending felt rushed as it left me with so many unanswered questions relating to some characters. The author has done a great job of creating a story that’s not overwhelmed with the atrocities that took place in WW2, the stories main focus is on the people living this awful period of time.
The book centres mostly around Sofia a young Jew forced to go into hiding and Jan, a local boy who is only to willing to help the Jews, at 11 some choices he made were foolhardy, but his heart was in the right place. I thought the characters were well developed and you get a genuine sense of the fear and danger that they faced day in day out.
Imogen Matthew’s has created a story that’s fraught with danger, courage, and hope. The story is heart wrenching as you share the characters’ struggles. It’s not difficult to imagine the loneliness in being separated from their loved ones and the constant threat of being found by the Germans.
I had one small quibble. I thought the ending felt rushed as it left me with so many unanswered questions relating to some characters. The author has done a great job of creating a story that’s not overwhelmed with the atrocities that took place in WW2, the stories main focus is on the people living this awful period of time.
July 25, 2018
If I were a publisher and I received this manuscript, I wouldn't even pass it on to an editor to see if it could be fixed. I'd send a polite note to the author saying, "I think there is a good story in this historical event, but this isn't it. Try again." To me the writing was what you would expect from middle schoolers, trying hard to remember the writing techniques they had been studying. It was written at about a 4th grade reading level. The characters were flat, barely one dimensional. Instead of seeing them as real people, I saw them as very bad actors on a stage. The settings were also incomplete. What drew me to this book was an underground village. The way Ms. Matthews described it, when she described it at all, was not the least bit underground. I got no feeling that this was a real place. I read the book on my Kindle and discovered a picture of a hut at the end of the book which didn't match any of the few descriptions in the book. Unfortunately, pictures don't translate well to the Kindle. The "Twenty Years Later" part was especially disappointing. The young girl came across as a petulant 15-16 year old, not a 20-year-old college student. Ms. Matthews sprinkled the book with Dutch and German words and then had an apple purchased for 25 cents. The inconsistencies drove me crazy and I hated all the loose ends. I look forward to someone else taking this event and writing a good novel about it. I found this one boring and tedious.
October 17, 2017
My father was sent to Europe in 1935
I read all of World War II books as my father was in Europe then. He was sent to England first, then he was sent from there to the Netherlands, and Germany. He gathered espionage information and
Returned to England and submitted it to British military and the U.S. government. He was blonde and had fair skin and was blue eyed, so he did not stand out from the Northern Europeans. I was not born until 1945 , and really heard little about his experience., so it was like having a biography of that portion of his life. He went from there to Asia's to China.
I read all of World War II books as my father was in Europe then. He was sent to England first, then he was sent from there to the Netherlands, and Germany. He gathered espionage information and
Returned to England and submitted it to British military and the U.S. government. He was blonde and had fair skin and was blue eyed, so he did not stand out from the Northern Europeans. I was not born until 1945 , and really heard little about his experience., so it was like having a biography of that portion of his life. He went from there to Asia's to China.
May 28, 2017
What an excellent book! So good I couldn't put it down, as you can see I read it in a day. I didn't know anything about the Dutch hidden villages, so not only was the story page-turning but I learnt something new at the same time.
The story revolves around characters in a Dutch village who help hide Jews from the German soldiers during WW2. From the first chapter you are engaged with the characters and I even found myself warning them when they were due to be raided - OUT LOUD! Sensitively written, with a page-turning plot, this is a wonderful new book from Imogen.
The story revolves around characters in a Dutch village who help hide Jews from the German soldiers during WW2. From the first chapter you are engaged with the characters and I even found myself warning them when they were due to be raided - OUT LOUD! Sensitively written, with a page-turning plot, this is a wonderful new book from Imogen.
December 31, 2018
Interesting topic, terribly written. I considered not finishing this, as there are other books in life to read, but I was traveling and didn't bring another book with me. The writing was so clunky and felt so elementary -- like a high-school student took a stab at creative writing. It did nothing for the characters; they came across as vaguely annoying, but nothing else. For such an incredibly difficult and horrific time, everything seemed very flat and dispassionate -- even at the end, when a lot of truly horrible stuff happens. Bad writing and zero editing.
September 22, 2017
I've read many historical fiction works and I must say that this is not my favorite. However, I would recommend reading it. The subject matter is unusual and the characters (underdeveloped) were interesting in their bravery and selflessness. I'm glad to know that there actually was such a place for all the helpless people and to learn once again how much suffering was endured by many nations.
December 11, 2019
A very moving and compelling read.
Although fictional, this story is based on an actual hidden village in a forest during World War II in Holland.
It is a cleverly constructed , and very moving story of the horrors the Jewish community and other refugees faced during the war.
I would have no hesitation in recommending this excellent read.
Although fictional, this story is based on an actual hidden village in a forest during World War II in Holland.
It is a cleverly constructed , and very moving story of the horrors the Jewish community and other refugees faced during the war.
I would have no hesitation in recommending this excellent read.
August 21, 2017
Excellent
Definitely recommend reading this book. A story of survival during WWII of Jews, many separated from there families, and taken in and hidden by the town's peoples. Every well written.
Definitely recommend reading this book. A story of survival during WWII of Jews, many separated from there families, and taken in and hidden by the town's peoples. Every well written.
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