The story of Corrie Ten Boom as related in her classic book The Hiding Place is one of those must-read books. I was excited to receive an updated version of this book that is geared towards the young reader. Having a 13-year-old daughter in our home, I am quite confident this condensed version will connect young minds with this timeless true life tale of faith, tragedy, and hope.
While the regular version of The Hiding Place is not a tremendously hard read, providing a version that young people can enjoy and read through in a reasonably short amount of time is an excellent move on the part of the publisher. Quite frankly, I wish more publishers would take this same approach and condense more classic works for youth to enjoy.
The story of Corrie Ten Boom is a heart-wrenching tale. Risking their lives to save Jews from the hands of the Nazi regime, the Ten Boom family is betrayed and Corrie is tossed into a concentration camp for daring to stand up against the Nazi atrocity. This is an important book even today. It speaks of the need to stand up in the face of evil, even if it means putting your own life in jeopardy. It speaks quite frankly of doing what is right even when all those around you are not.
Throughout this version, there are well-done black and white drawings that will provide the young mind with a bit of a picture of what was taking place. While some may not view such pictures as important to the overall story, for younger readers, it helps break up the chapters into more manageable sections, essentially giving them something to shoot for goal wise as they are reading. Kids often have shorter attention spans than adults (well sometimes) so short chapters with interspersed picture breaks is a great approach and will keep the young reader connected to the overall story.
Furthermore, as a homeschool parent, this is a tool we will use when we get to this section of world history. The Hiding Place puts a needed personal connection for the reader to this period of history, making what took place more than just facts and figures in a history book. Understanding from the perspective of someone who endured the horror of the Nazi concentration camp is a vital teaching tool. When the time arises, I plan to use this book as part of our teaching strategy as we homeschool our daughter.
I highly recommend this book for parents to read with their children, especially in relation to discussions about the Nazis or persecution in general. In the United States, we are somewhat insulated from such things and The Hiding Place is a needed and sobering reminder of the horror of man’s inhumanity to their fellow man.
This book is available for purchase from Chosen Books by clicking here.
I received this book for free from Chosen Books for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Michael lives in Belleville, IL, a suburb of St. Louis, MO with his wife Erica, adopted daughter Alissa, two cats Molly and Sweetie Pie and horse Beckham. After spending eight years in the United States Navy as a Yeoman, he has been employed for the past ten years by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) where he oversees advanced educational programs. Michael holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Religion (Biblical Studies) from Liberty University and is currently closing in on completing a Master of Arts in Religion (Biblical Studies) from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He is an avid reader and blogger.
