The Dutch Orphan - by Ellen Keith (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From the author of The Dutch Wife comes a riveting novel set during World War II about a woman who offers shelter to a Jewish baby, and her sister, who must choose between family loyalty and her own safety.

Amsterdam, 1941. When the Nazis invade Amsterdam, singer Johanna Vos watches in horror as the vibrant music scene she loves is all but erased, her Jewish friends forbidden from performing with her onstage. Alongside her friend Jakob, Johanna helps organize the Artists' Resistance, an underground network allowing Jews to perform at house concerts hosted by their allies. When Johanna hears of a Jewish orphan headed for deportation, she does not think twice. She takes the baby in as her own, hiding the truth from even her own sister, Liesbeth.

Meanwhile, Liesbeth finds herself in a dilemma, as she knows of her sister's staunch support for the Resistance, but her husband supports the Nazis. When a charming member of the Dutch Fascist Party sets his eyes on her, her predicament only deepens. As secrets continue to grow between the sisters, severing their once-unbreakable bond, they are both forced to make choices that will alter their lives forever.

Review Quotes

"Keith weaves an intricate tale of survival as two sister's loyalties to spouse, country, and each other are tested when Nazis invade and the lives of those they love are put at risk. A compelling and heart-pounding read." --Noelle Salazar, bestselling author of The Flight Girls

"Vivid and deeply personal, The Dutch Orphan is a harrowing story of two sisters torn apart by secrets, then forced to make an impossible choice. A heartbreaking, compelling story I couldn't put down until the very last page." --Genevieve Graham, bestselling author of Bluebird

"The Dutch Orphan will enthrall you with its unforgettable characters forced to choose between following the rules to survive, or flouting the rules and risking their own lives to save others. Ellen Keith brings to life the intricate bonds of sisterhood, ruptured by WWII fascism." --Shelly Sanders, bestselling author of Daughters of the Occupation

"The Dutch Orphan is a dazzling, intimate, and gripping story of two sisters whose courage and devotion transcends occupation and war. Ellen Keith writes the most beautifully realized historical fiction." --Carol Windley, bestselling author of Midnight Train to Prague