Hunger Winter by Rob Currie

Dirk is a thirteen-year-old living in the Netherlands during the onset of World War II. At a young age, he bears a lot of responsibility, namely caring for his six-year-old sister Anna. Early on in the book, we learn their mother has died, and the whereabouts of their father, who is part of the Dutch Resistance, is unknown. The book opens up when the Gestapo captures Dirk’s older sister Els, and Dirk, at home alone with Anna, must flee to safety.

Hunger Winter follows Dirk’s escape with Anna and Els’s captivity under the Nazis. Dirk and Els recall the things they have learned from their father, which sometimes helps them survive. There are twists and turns as Dirk and Anna find solace at an aunt’s house, only to be captured briefly by Nazis. They manage to escape, with the help of a defected German soldier, and get to their grandparents’ house in another city. Here, the children escape a kidnapping attempt, and their father, who’s been in hiding, shows up. They aren’t out of danger yet, as people still consider the father a valuable target. Els’ story continues in that she is released from the Nazis’ hold and makes her way to the grandparents’ house. The family is happily reunited as they plan to leave for a safer country.

Reading Level: Ages 8-12
Read Aloud Age: 10+

This WWII novel is full of action. Dirk is portrayed as more mature than most WWII books (at least the ones I have read) portray thirteen-year-old boys. Hunger Winter is unique because it doesn’t focus on or incorporate any Jewish characters. It’s historical fiction and promotes some positive values like family, bonds between siblings, bravery, and overcoming adversity while maintaining hope.

My favorite part of the novel comes after the story has ended. Here, the author incorporates some of the details into the book (an orange ribbon, a rock, etc.) and briefly describes these symbols in the war-torn Netherlands. I wish this section had been longer, since it would have added to this
historical fiction novel.

I did not like how the novel glorified the Dutch Resistance, mainly because it could be confusing for today’s young readers. Given the state of our current culture, I would not want young readers to be influenced by this slippery slope.

Language:
Several times, the book uses derogatory terms in the Dutch language like “moffen.” As someone who doesn’t speak Dutch, it is hard to say how strong a word is. There is the language of “hate” for people.

Questionable Behaviors:
In the novel, the main character Dirk does things like grabbing a knife in self-defense, slamming his hand on a table in anger over a situation, and engaging a grown man in a fight (again, in what could be seen by some as self-defense). Other minor characters smoke. Those in the Dutch Resistance do things like steal and set fire to things as acts of defiance.

Sexual Content:
The book mentions men looking at women in uncomfortable ways.

Other Things to Know:
The book mentions violence and torture, Nazis raiding homes, a Nazi soldier who defects, an attempted kidnapping, and description of Els’s interrogation, which includes shouting and some violence.

For a very brief moment, Dirk and Anna are captured and subjected to forced labor. Throughout the book, the youngest main character, Anna, tells Dirk that he should ask God to help them. He finds it hard to believe that God will, and his prayer may seem to some as indulging his sister’s request and not coming from the heart.

Dirk also dreams of his deceased mom speaking to him in a dream, which he takes to be warning him of danger.

While captured by the Nazis, Els talks about turning her heart to stone, and “a heart of stone” is a phrase she repeats to herself.

This review is written by Good Book Mom contributor, Melanie. To learn more about Melaine click HERE.

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