May we never forget

Based on a true story of survival during WWII, When We Were Shadows makes sure we won’t forget. Author Janet Wees tells the story of young Walter and how his Jewish family had to live with their bags always packed ready to flee Germany at a moments notice.

Their escape led them to many hiding places, most notably in the Dutch woods in what came to be known as the Hidden Village.

Deeply moving story for any age

Although written for young readers aged 9-13, I read this book at the recommendation of my 12 year old son. In fact, he kept asking me if I had read it yet. In his mind it was a book worth reading immediately.

He was right. Janet Wees, a retired teacher who lives here in Calgary, has a crackerjack personality. She keeps her pen very busy as she not only exchanges postcards with me, she has written an incredible story.

Canadians liberate Walter’s town

Mail plays a central role in this story. Walter is separated from his Grandmother and his sister during the war and he writes both of them several letters about his life in hiding.

He talks about how he has to be quiet much of the time, the people who are providing the family with food and safety, and the scary run for his life in a forest; all of this from the perspective of a boy who is 10 when the Canadians liberate the Dutch town of Zwolle.

My son highly recommends this book, in fact he was recently talking about it with his friend. He told his friend that he should read this book because it was such a good story and that he couldn’t believe this happened in real life.

If 12 and 13 year-olds are talking about WWII and the horrors that took place I see this as very good thing. It means we will never forget.

Had you heard of the Hidden Village before?