A Review: The Hiding Place (Young Readers Edition-Ages 9-12) by Corrie Ten Boom

A Review:  The Hiding Place (Young Readers Edition (Ages 9-12) by Corrie Ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill

Here's a children's edition of The Hiding Place that takes place in Holland and centers around the Ten Boom family who owned a watch shop in Haarlem.  As the story begins, the Ten Boom Watch Shop
is celebrating its 100th birthday party in 1937.  On that day Corrie, Betsie, and Father ten Boom welcome friends and family who lavish flowers, food, and congratulations onto the watch shop family.  Everyone especially honors Father ten Boom who was affectionately called "Haarlem's Grand Old Man."

On that morning, as always, at 8:30AM sharp Father ten Boom gathered Corrie, Betsie, and his workers around the oval table to read the Bible and pray before beginning their day.  Cristoffels, the clockmender, who was never tardy and never dressed up, arrived a bit late resplendent in a new suit.

Children who attended loved being near Father ten Boom either in his lap or on the floor.  As Corrie wrote, they were especially attracted to father for "he ticked."  For inside Casper's numerous coat pockets were ticking watches he was adjusting and fixing.

Overall what a day it was!  The only harbinger of events to come was the arrival of brother Willem who was escorting a Jewish man who had been beaten by some angry men.  Just as soon as Willem introduced Mr. Gutlieber he was warmly welcomed by Father ten Boom. This little shadow that happened that day, Corrie observed, was but a hint of things to come.

As time went on war broke out, the Germans invaded Holland, and Hollanders as Casper, Corrie, and Betsie became part of the Dutch Resistance.  Soon the Ten Booms began to hide desperate Jewish people in their home eventually building a secret hiding place.  An alarm system was installed, and a special sign was put in their window.  Even their telephone calls had coded messages.

For a time, all seemed to be going well until one day a man entered the watch shop and tricked Corrie into revealing information about the underground operations.  Soon after, Corrie, her family, and others bravely faced being arrested by the Nazis and taken away to the police station before being imprisoned.  While at the police station, Father ten Boom courageously took out his Bible and read Psalm 91 so all around him could hear.

At Ravensbruck, Corrie and Betsie stayed in a dirty room that was so full of fleas that even the guards didn't come in.  This allowed Corrie and Betsie to have Bible studies using a little Bible that had miraculously been kept hidden from the prison officials.  Finally, Corrie is released and begins to tell her Corrie story of The Hiding Place.  Read Corrie's true story to find out why she and her family were willing to risk their very lives for the Jewish people.

Find the book in the Lighthouse Trails store.  Click here: 
https://www.lighthousetrails.com/remembering-the-holocaust/987-the-hiding-place-young-readers-edition.html?search_query=young+reader%27s+edition+the+Hiding+Place&results=167