The Hiding Place

Age recommendations: 11 and up!

Summary: Corrie Ten Boom had lived all her life in her fathers watch shop in Holland. Her and her family were devout christians, who loved the Lord more than anything. The she led was uneventful for the most part. However when World War II starts and Jews are fleeing from Hitler, Corrie’s life is turned upside down. She and her sister, Betsie Ten Boom, and her Father, Casper Ten Boom start taking in runaway Jews, and soon form a Dutch underground. But when she and her friends are found out by the Nazies, and sent to death camps, her faith is put to a challenge, and God’s loving grace is seen guiding her through this time of trial.

My Review: Oh wow. This. Book. Is. So. Amazing. I can not do it justice in this review. It is a harder read, as the Nazis were quite violent, and Corrie back tracks to her early life. But the miracles witnessed in this book are incredible! It is written in a charming style, where you see her pain, as her father and a lot of her family die, and when she goes through the hardship of one of the most infamous concentration camps, Ravensbruck. But in the end you see the big picture of how God works through trials to bring glory to him, through fleas and medicine, to evangelism in death camps. This book is distinctly christian, and does not feel preachy. It is also a true story, which makes it so much more incredible. The whole book continually points us to God as our every help in trouble.

Good quote (Its hard to just put ONE here. There are so many good ones): “This is what the past is for! Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see.”

― Corrie Ten Boom

Concerns: Nazi violence, and death camps. However it is not too extreme, and not at all graphic. Also a lot of people die, and there is very high and real stakes.

Overall rating: 5 out of 5