Publisher's Synopsis
In early 1940, Johan was a happy teen in Haarlem, Holland. By May, the Second World War brought oppression, persecution and despair with the Nazi invasion of his homeland. Hitler's regime took control of everything. Choirs, Boy Scouts, radios and Jewish friends all began to disappear.
Hidden in Haarlem is based on the true stories of an ordinary Dutch family who survived five war-torn years of insurmountable odds - showing courage, conviction, ingenuity and resilience while risking their lives to help fellow human beings survive.
For many Dutch families, the war was not just on the front lines. Doing nothing was not an option many chose. Everyday people became unlikely rebels behind the scenes, defying a ruthless enemy by hiding Jewish refugees, Allied pilots, and Dutch work-draft dodgers. The Resistance brought together many unlikely characters and sometimes led to unexpected enduring love.
