Overview

A human story of resilience in the face of evil; a memoir to be cherished. - Dr. Hemchand Gossai, Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences As the daughter of a Dutch postman and his German wife, five-year-old Meta finds her life totally changed when WWII begins. Meta’s anxiety is exacerbated by der Stiefel, a Nazi soldier who haunts her. Life continues downhill until starvation renders the formerly vivacious child so weak that she doesn’t care if she dies. After the war ends, poverty, prejudice, and PTSD continue to dog her every step, and Meta finds herself unable to pursue her dream of becoming a physician. Should she give in to despair, just put on a brave face, or accept reality and work towards those goals that are still possible?

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Meta's experiences during a turbulent time in history stand as an example of exceptional bravery and courage. This is a story of a girl who, being half-German, had a different perspective on WWII. It details how the occupation affected her family, her community, her country, and her childhood. Her perseverance will encourage readers to find their own courage during difficult times, even if that means traveling across the globe to accomplish their dreams. -Tim Carver, Principal, Urbandale High School, Urbandale, IA A moving series of vignettes from the life of a girl living in the occupied Netherlands during World War II. Written in a candid fashion that is accessible and directly relatable for most people, it stands as a witness to both the solemnity, fear, and pain brought about by that terrible destruction of life and the beauty, joy, and fun that comes from time spent with family and friends. This book is ideal for homeschooling parents and teachers who are seeking for a way to communicate history with a grace and sensitivity that is largely absent from history books. It would also be of interest to people who are either interested in gaining a deeper understanding of their cultural heritage or would like to meaningfully experience the perspective of others. -Francis Cooper, Community College Student, Des Moines, IA A lovingly detailed memoir of a childhood that was ultimately wrecked by Hitler's invasion of the Netherlands. Meta's courage in the face of intense hardship is unforgettable. -Gina Dalfonzo, Author of Dorothy and Jack and One by One, Editor, and Content Developer for Plough Quarterly and The Great Courses, Fairfax, VA This book is such a personal narrative that people will find themselves sometimes hurting with Meta and other times laughing with her. Indeed, I often was laughing with tears in my eyes. Yes, Meta is plucky, but she also is willful AND she is treated unfairly. I was rooting for her all the time while at times thinking, Oops, Meta, that is not quite what you should do! I have read many books about WWII, and I think that this book captures growing up-maturing-from 1935 through the war and after from a unique and appealing personal perspective that adds valuable insights for all of us. I heartily recommend it. -Bruce Hann, Emeritus Professor of Creative Writing, Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny, IA It is impossible to read this compelling and captivating memoir without thinking of the current terror and brutality in Ukraine. Meta's story must be told and retold to ensure that it is not lost in time, not only as a reminder of the very dark and evil side of humanity, but of the buoyancy of the human spirit where light pierces darkness. -Dr. Hemchand Gossei, Author of numerous books on the Jewish Bible, Holocaust expert, Professor of Liberal Arts, Northern Virginia Community College This detailed and unflinching account of a child's life under the jackboot of Nazi oppression during WWII serves as a primary source in company with others such as those written by Anne Frank, Corrie Ten Boom, and Rutka Laskier. Extensive use of Dutch words, dialogue, and descriptions of home and family link contemporary readers with a time and place that might otherwise be inaccessible to many young people today. -Amy Imbody, Founder and Director, Center for Redemptive Education, Ashland, VA Set in the Netherlands' darkest days, this is a story of perseverance and a child's fearless attitude. -Harm Timmerije, Administrator for the Facebook group My Dutch Heritage, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Author Information

Caroline is both Meta's daughter and an immigrant to the US. Over the past 20 years, Caroline has worked as a biology professor, the chief executive officer (CEO) of a startup company, the president of a nonprofit, a private tutor, a technical writer, a research scientist, a consultant and a communications expert. Her last position involved teaching microbiology-very topical.Caroline maintains a blog, RamblingRuminations, and is the author or coauthor of eight nonacademic books, including Growing the Church 101 and Free to Think. Caroline is married to Richard and has four grown children, eight grandchildren, and a bulldog who snores very loudly.

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