The Girl Across the Wire Fence – ARC Book Review

1944, Amersfoort Concentration Camp, Holland. Based on a true story, the unforgettable tale of two young lovers who risked everything to keep hope alive in the very depths of hell.

On a cold, dark day in a tiny Dutch village, Saskia and her boyfriend Frans watch as Nazi soldiers force thousands of prisoners towards Amersfoort Concentration Camp. Their hearts break as they see the desperate faces of innocent men and women and realise that the war is closer to them than it’s ever been before…

Saskia’s father’s shop is raided when the guards suspect that he is Jewish, and Frans is soon forced to enter the concentration camp every day to collect scraps of food as it’s the only way to feed the animals on his family’s farm. But despite the growing fear the couple feel, when a prisoner begs Frans to send a letter to his beloved reassuring her he is alive, they know they must risk everything to help him. They smuggle his letter out, right under the noses of the Nazis. And eventually they ferry hundreds of messages for prisoners, bringing them hope in the darkest moments of their lives.

But every letter Frans gets out of the camp puts him in even more danger.

And every reply Saskia manages to collect is a risk.

And then Saskia is led into Kamp Amersfoort and is forced to wear a yellow star.

Inside, she cannot ignore the pain of the other prisoners, and Frans knows she will be putting herself in more danger to help them – attracting the attention of the guards. The couple know they must act. Everyone says it’s impossible to escape the camp, but it’s the only option they have left. Their love has kept them together but is it enough to help them survive?

No. of pages- 240 pages

Date published:- will be published on 15th September 2021

Genre:- Historical Fiction

Rating:-

Many Holocaust books are based on true stories and this book is one of those stories–based in a Dutch concentration camp during the Nazi rule in Netherlands. This is a story between two lovers–whose life changed when the Nazis marched into Netherlands.

What makes this story truly a gem to read?

–This story is indeed a truly heartbreaking and emotional read. There were some tear jerking moments in the book and not only that–the love story between Saskia and Frans is so emotional and cute.
–The writing was intense and the author did a good job making the reader glued to the story and making the reader feel like they are a part of this ordeal.
–The fact that this book is based on the true story makes this book more precious and as usual, you wouldn’t believe that such brutality existed during that time–particularly the treatment towards the Jews.
–The story is told from the perspectives of Franz, Saskia and Theo. Franz visits the the concentration camp with the intention of feeding the cattle at the camp and gets involved in passing the letters between Theo and another girl named Anneliese.
–This is really a touching story–beware some parts will make you cry!

Overall, this is an emotional read, page turner and unputdownable that will make you cry till the end!

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.