Title of the Book: The Hiding Place    
Author: Corrie ten Boom
Number of Pages: 239  
Rating: ☆☆☆☆ 

Review:  “We knew that in spite of mounting risks we had no choice but to move forward. This was evil’s hour: we could not run away from it.”  This bold statement was made by Cornelius (Corrie) ten Boom in her nonfiction work called The Hiding Place. Would you have the courage to stand in the face of evil as she did knowing that death might await you?  This book takes you on Corrie’s journey from quiet watchmaker to a leader in the Dutch underground during the Nazi occupation of Holland in World War II.  The author shares snapshots of daily life and struggles under the brutal Nazi control that are shared from her personal view. There are amazing stories of rescues and people working together to help others who are being oppressed. Her efforts saved the lives of hundreds of Jewish people but that is only part of her story.

Disaster came in February of 1944 when the Gestapo raided their home looking for hidden Jews and arrested all of the family members. This milestone marks the beginning of a very different journey with years spent in prison and concentration camps for Corrie and her sister, Betsie. While there are moments of brutality and scenes that show the horror of these places, this is a tale of the triumph of the human spirit in unimaginable difficulties. In spite of striving to just survive in a German concentration camp, she reveals miracles that happened and moments of forgiveness, compassion and hope.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes reading about history or wants to be inspired by someone who has lived through really hard times and not become angry or cynical. The story can be a little slow in some spots as Corrie provides lots of details about her daily family life before the Nazi invasion. While this may seem unnecessary, I believe that this background helps us understand the author as a person and why she later is willing to risk her life to help others. Even so, readers will enjoy this story and will at times laugh or cry with Corrie but always appreciate her selflessness and courageous spirit.