Hero

by Martha Attema

Els is a courier, a girl who takes Jewish children on the back of her bike to safety on farms in Friesland. When she leaves Isaak, disguised as Jan, at a farmhouse with kind people, he is miserable until he makes friends with a beautiful black horse, Hero, a Frisian wanted by the Germans. The first time the Germans come for the horse, Isaak comes up with a plan to save him, but the second time they come, Isaak can do nothing to protect the animal he loves.

Genres: World War II

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

I was born on a dairy farm in Friesland, a northern province in the Netherlands. I loved horse back riding and dressing up in a traditional Frisian costume. When I grew up I became a kindergarten teacher.

In 1981, I moved with husband, Albert, and our three children to Canada. We settled in North Bay, Ontario.

The English language was new to me. To learn this new language I went to university to obtain my B.A. and B.Ed. In 1987 I became a kindergarten teacher for the second time. I started writing in the English language and with the encouragement of my writing friends at the North Bay Writers' Club, I started submitting stories to publishers.

After many years and many rejection letters, my first novel, 'A Time to Choose' was accepted by Orca Book Publishers, and launched in the fall of 1995. It was a dream come true and the beginning of a wonderful rewarding writing career.

Reviews

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book it has more of a softer approach in easing children or adults in to the topic on how anti-Semitism took impact on so many people young and old.

[Y4A5 Tsz · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want the summary!

[Beatrix · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was ok, but I didn't like parts of it.
It was easy and short, so I got through it fairly quickly.
I like the plot and the setting, they were really well described!

[Dan Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable story to introduce young readers to the Nazi's occupation of many European countries and the subsequent mass deportation of millions of Jews.