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The Hunger Journeys
“First, that is a lie. You are not trying to take a train to Germany. Second, your papers are false. Do you think you can trump up false papers and just walk onto one of our trains?”
It’s World War Two in Amsterdam. Lena leaves her starving family to travel by train with her friend Sofie to Almelo, a town close to the German border, in search of food. It’s a risky plan. The girls have false papers and are quickly pulled off the train by German soldiers. Only by fluke do they get back on again-with the help of Albert, one of the soldiers. After Lena discovers that the train had also been used to transport Jews to concentration camps, she fears her new friendship with the well-meaning Albert may lead her into more danger. Sofie, too, befriends a soldier, a relationship that quickly turns serious and has unfortunate consequences for both girls.
It’s World War Two in Amsterdam. Lena leaves her starving family to travel by train with her friend Sofie to Almelo, a town close to the German border, in search of food. It’s a risky plan. The girls have false papers and are quickly pulled off the train by German soldiers. Only by fluke do they get back on again-with the help of Albert, one of the soldiers. After Lena discovers that the train had also been used to transport Jews to concentration camps, she fears her new friendship with the well-meaning Albert may lead her into more danger. Sofie, too, befriends a soldier, a relationship that quickly turns serious and has unfortunate consequences for both girls.
240 pages, Paperback
First published July 30, 2010
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462 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 9, 2011
I really did enjoy reading this book. It shows how war can rear its’ ugly head, and it brings out the worst qualities in average every day people. It shows a different point of view (as Lena is not Jewish). However, like most books which take place during this awful period in history I couldn’t help but feel so much anger towards some of the characters, and because of this I think the book does a great job in bringing out emotions from the reader.
Of all the characters in this book, I hated Lena’s father the most. He was an awful horrible man who treated his family with such disrespect. He was so selfish and horrid. I felt like wringing his neck when he gave himself more helpings of food when his wife needed more, and his children were practically starving. He wasn’t self sacrificing or did things for the sake of his family. He just cared about himself. To make things even worse, he also didn’t like the idea of Lena and Sarah being friends because of his own prejudices. He was just a character I could not stand to read at all. He was just so hateful and selfish. There were other characters that made me see red, but then the review would then be an awful long hate list.
At first, I thought Sofie was really fun to read, she seemed like a such a fun person to be around with. However when things turned around and looked bad, she would chicken out and let Lena do all the hard work. I had to agree with Lena, there were plenty of times where you just wanted to slap Sofie hard for her stupidity! I’d say about the second half of the book I was starting to dislike Sofie.
Plot wise, I thought the book was good. It was a little slow to start out but once the setting and the atmosphere was established the book got interesting. I really did like Lena and Albert together. I understood her reluctance to be with him, and her resistance to reciprocate his feelings, but I thought Albert was really a nice character despite who he’s fighting for. The book does a good job in showing a ‘human’ side to who we would normally consider our enemies, yet on the other hand, showing who we would consider our ‘allies’ as not so friendly at all. Naturally, it only takes about several moments for Sofie to do something ridiculously stupid and puts Lena into a huge bind - again. However I admire Lena for her courage and maturity. She matured ten times faster than Sofie did (Sofie eventually sees a bit of reason, but not until literally the last few pages of the book).
I did enjoy reading the little epilogue, but I feel as if more should have come out of this story. I wanted to know what happened once Sofie and Lena had reached their destinations! I wanted to know if Lena and Albert end up being together! what about Lena’s father? does he get his come uppins? it’s these little things that weren’t revealed, yet I thought if they were, the book would have probably received a perfect 10 from me.
However, don’t let that deter you from reading this book! I thought this was a great novel showing how war can bring out the best and the worst qualities in people. It shows how sometimes the people you expect to act in a certain way could act the exact opposite, and possibly worse. I really do recommend this book to those interested in the Second World War and Resistance activities.
Of all the characters in this book, I hated Lena’s father the most. He was an awful horrible man who treated his family with such disrespect. He was so selfish and horrid. I felt like wringing his neck when he gave himself more helpings of food when his wife needed more, and his children were practically starving. He wasn’t self sacrificing or did things for the sake of his family. He just cared about himself. To make things even worse, he also didn’t like the idea of Lena and Sarah being friends because of his own prejudices. He was just a character I could not stand to read at all. He was just so hateful and selfish. There were other characters that made me see red, but then the review would then be an awful long hate list.
At first, I thought Sofie was really fun to read, she seemed like a such a fun person to be around with. However when things turned around and looked bad, she would chicken out and let Lena do all the hard work. I had to agree with Lena, there were plenty of times where you just wanted to slap Sofie hard for her stupidity! I’d say about the second half of the book I was starting to dislike Sofie.
Plot wise, I thought the book was good. It was a little slow to start out but once the setting and the atmosphere was established the book got interesting. I really did like Lena and Albert together. I understood her reluctance to be with him, and her resistance to reciprocate his feelings, but I thought Albert was really a nice character despite who he’s fighting for. The book does a good job in showing a ‘human’ side to who we would normally consider our enemies, yet on the other hand, showing who we would consider our ‘allies’ as not so friendly at all. Naturally, it only takes about several moments for Sofie to do something ridiculously stupid and puts Lena into a huge bind - again. However I admire Lena for her courage and maturity. She matured ten times faster than Sofie did (Sofie eventually sees a bit of reason, but not until literally the last few pages of the book).
I did enjoy reading the little epilogue, but I feel as if more should have come out of this story. I wanted to know what happened once Sofie and Lena had reached their destinations! I wanted to know if Lena and Albert end up being together! what about Lena’s father? does he get his come uppins? it’s these little things that weren’t revealed, yet I thought if they were, the book would have probably received a perfect 10 from me.
However, don’t let that deter you from reading this book! I thought this was a great novel showing how war can bring out the best and the worst qualities in people. It shows how sometimes the people you expect to act in a certain way could act the exact opposite, and possibly worse. I really do recommend this book to those interested in the Second World War and Resistance activities.
February 8, 2016
Date Read: January 2016
This is my 1st time reading it.
Rating: 2.5 stars.
Review:
This book was average overall, I enjoyed reading it but there were a lot of things that weren't great.
The characters were all bad. Most of the characters were undeveloped because they would be introduced and then be permanently gone after a very short time, which made it impossible for any real development to occur. The only characters who were in the entirety of the book (Sophie and Lena) didn't develop either, despite the fact that we spent a lot of time with them. Same with the 2 romantic relationships, which rubbed me the wrong way. All the characters and relationships in this book were very trope-y, underdeveloped, and just aggravating in general. I wasn't strongly rooting for anyone or any pairings. Nothing changed at all throughout the whole book except the plot.
The plot was engaging though, but it ended up progressing in a strange way. I was always really interested to see where the story would go, but by the time I got to the end nothing was wrapped up. The story just kept going and going and I couldn't really see an ending in sight and I didn't understand how it all connected, and then it just kind of ended with no resolutions really, which made everything throughout the book seem kind of pointless. We didn't really find out what happened. It didn't seem like the book had a solid beginning/middle/end, it just kind of kept going and going and going, just buildup and buildup to an abrupt ending instead of a climax.
I also didn't like how the main characters avoided trouble in almost every dangerous situation purely because of luck. The odds were against them almost every time they did anything yet they rarely encountered any actual adversity, someone would always be in the right place at the right time. It seemed kind of lazy to me.
The writing style was very basic and kind of exhausting. In fact, I feel like this whole book was kind of basic and exhausting. There is nothing original about it, and the plot goes in a direction that doesn't make a lot of sense, but it is interesting and keeps your attention. I don't think I gained anything from reading this book, but I don't think I lost anything either.
August 22, 2018
It's a different view of the war, this time in occupied Amsterdam, showing families that are stressed and starving don't always act in loving ways. The struggle of Lena, whose story is told, to feel as if she wanted to help in more ways than work hard and her struggle to meet the kindness of the enemy showed a different kind of character in all its complexity. It isn't a pretty story and perhaps that's the way war really is, a devastation to many, a heartbreak for all.
October 4, 2018
I liked this book because even though it started out boring, it got better and showed the struggles of World War II from a girl's eyes. Lena struggles through hunger and desperation, but she fights back when she leaves her hometown to find food for her family. With a new baby in the house, food is scarce but Lena takes matters into her own hands with her journey. This book shows amazing displays of courage and I enjoyed this book a lot.
September 5, 2017
Great writing. A different view of the effects of Nazi occupation. The Dutch are starving towards the end of the war and many in the cities are forced to send their children on dangerous "hunger journeys" into the countryside to beg for food. I sometimes became impatient and even angry with some of the characters, but overall this is a very good historical novel.
May 20, 2020
This wasn’t a terrible read, maybe 3.5 stars. I enjoyed the story line but felt that the writing style could have been a bit more descriptive at times to paint a better picture. Despite that, it was interesting reading about the struggles faced by non-Jews during WW2, as it has never been a perspective I’ve read before.
January 14, 2023
A little bit unsettling to see how the Dutch people feared the Germans and the extreme hunger they had. And so many of the Dutch people, the farmers, would share with the people who came for food even though they had little themselves.
Read
October 11, 2011It’s WWII in Amsterdam, and families are starving. In teenaged Lena’s family, tensions run high as she struggles to find food enough for everybody — including her pregnant mother. With no food left in the city, Lena leaves her family and, equipped with false papers, travels by train with her friend Sofie to Almelo, a city near the German border. Things quickly go wrong, and the girls must rely on two German soldiers to protect them. Sofie befriends one of the soldiers, and as their relationship grows closer, it will have unforeseen consequences for both girls.
Author Maggie de Vries’ young adult debut is a powerful work of historical fiction. Inspired by stories told to her by her motherin- law, de Vries offers readers education into an aspect of WWII in vivid detail.
Lena is a typical teenager in many ways, and has a naïve picture of the world. The complexities of the war are lost on her. She sees everything in black and white, good and evil, but she is still thoughtful. She is also a girl caught between childhood and adulthood, and resents the added responsibilities being placed upon her by her family.
Sofie by contrast is impulsive, flighty and daring, and does as she pleases without thought of consequence. As misguided as she often is, she forces Lena away from the sidelines and helps her to transform from passive to active.
This is not an easy book to read, but it’s well worth the effort. Themes of friendship, loyalty, and courage are prevalent, making this an excellent book for classroom use or for fans of great historical fiction.
Author Maggie de Vries’ young adult debut is a powerful work of historical fiction. Inspired by stories told to her by her motherin- law, de Vries offers readers education into an aspect of WWII in vivid detail.
Lena is a typical teenager in many ways, and has a naïve picture of the world. The complexities of the war are lost on her. She sees everything in black and white, good and evil, but she is still thoughtful. She is also a girl caught between childhood and adulthood, and resents the added responsibilities being placed upon her by her family.
Sofie by contrast is impulsive, flighty and daring, and does as she pleases without thought of consequence. As misguided as she often is, she forces Lena away from the sidelines and helps her to transform from passive to active.
This is not an easy book to read, but it’s well worth the effort. Themes of friendship, loyalty, and courage are prevalent, making this an excellent book for classroom use or for fans of great historical fiction.
November 30, 2015
*Spoilers*
Well considering I read this whole book from yesterday morning till now. I freaking loved the book the story the adventure she had to take the courage she had to have and the events she had to overcome. She had to go through the historical references that told me how it was in WW2
The story was about a girl around my age,that took a journey through war, starvation,romance,and true friendship. The story was slow at first but when Lena Ended up leaving with Sophie on a hunger journey it was just insane what these girls went through. Now I love there friendship but they draw apart in the end but still are friends. Then there's Albert oh how I hate the ending for the reason that you don't get to truly know if they will end up together. Then I love the ending for the reason that she is reunited with her family. Overall this was an amazing book and I would recommend anyone who loves an adventure with a bit of historical fiction to read Then hunger Journeys.
Well considering I read this whole book from yesterday morning till now. I freaking loved the book the story the adventure she had to take the courage she had to have and the events she had to overcome. She had to go through the historical references that told me how it was in WW2
The story was about a girl around my age,that took a journey through war, starvation,romance,and true friendship. The story was slow at first but when Lena Ended up leaving with Sophie on a hunger journey it was just insane what these girls went through. Now I love there friendship but they draw apart in the end but still are friends. Then there's Albert oh how I hate the ending for the reason that you don't get to truly know if they will end up together. Then I love the ending for the reason that she is reunited with her family. Overall this was an amazing book and I would recommend anyone who loves an adventure with a bit of historical fiction to read Then hunger Journeys.
July 11, 2014
This book started out slow and I began to question myself if it was worth my time . But I received a free copy through Goodreads giveaway and was committed to reading it. About a third of the way through, I was happy that I continued.
Maggie De Vries gave me great characters and a well written storyline that pulled me into their world. Some of those characters, I just wanted to beat over the head, and others that I wanted to hug.
She showed me that in war, sometimes it is only the color of the uniform that makes a person an enemy.
Overall, this was a good read and I am happy to recommend it to anyone.(less)
Maggie De Vries gave me great characters and a well written storyline that pulled me into their world. Some of those characters, I just wanted to beat over the head, and others that I wanted to hug.
She showed me that in war, sometimes it is only the color of the uniform that makes a person an enemy.
Overall, this was a good read and I am happy to recommend it to anyone.(less)
July 25, 2016
I usually do not read these kind of book but I thought I would give this one a try. I thought the book was written well and was very honest about the war and all the nastiness that it brings. This book did start of kind of slow so it was a bit of a struggle for me to get into it and keep read. But after some time it did pick up and become interesting. I thought the plot was well developed and was full of surprises.The main reason I enjoyed this novel was because is was different than other world war two novels because it focused on non-Jewish and non-German experiences during the war and the struggle they went through.
May 5, 2011
It could have been longer...
It had a really interesting story line, and considering the majority of my fiction reading about WWII is about the Holocaust it was a change to read a book about non-Jewish Europeans during World War Two. The book was quite good, and because of this book I may branch out and start reading more about WWII, who knows!
But, it definitely could have been longer with more details as about to vague descriptions...
It had a really interesting story line, and considering the majority of my fiction reading about WWII is about the Holocaust it was a change to read a book about non-Jewish Europeans during World War Two. The book was quite good, and because of this book I may branch out and start reading more about WWII, who knows!
But, it definitely could have been longer with more details as about to vague descriptions...
August 4, 2014
Wonderful historical novel set in World War II Netherlands. A 17 year-old girl whose family is starving leaves Amsterdam with her friend to find food. Vivid characters, captivating prose - this is a must-read for fans of Elizabeth Wein or "Between Shades of Grey." Only real YA/content warning is men making sexual advances on teenaged girls. Aside from that I would even rec it to younger fans of "Number the Stars," etc.
August 19, 2012
Two teenage girls travel by train out of Amsterdam during 1945 to try to find food for their starving families. Good description of the dire circumstances the Dutch were living through by the end of the war. Just an OK read, though. It's a young adult book; I'd probably recommend it to teens who wanted to know more about the war.
May 27, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. It started off slow but as soon as the adventure of Lena and Sofie took off I couldn't put the book down. They were brave girls trying to cross the German border, living in conditions that weren't the best in those years. I won this book off of goodreads. Thank you for writing this book Maggie de Vries.
June 23, 2015
3.5 Stars
Great book that really shows the ‘human side’ of the enemy. Started off a little slow, but left me craving for more in the end. I really liked how this book shows that everyone makes mistakes, but the only way to mature is to learn from those mistakes. Overall a great WWll book showing the point of view of children who are not Jewish.
Great book that really shows the ‘human side’ of the enemy. Started off a little slow, but left me craving for more in the end. I really liked how this book shows that everyone makes mistakes, but the only way to mature is to learn from those mistakes. Overall a great WWll book showing the point of view of children who are not Jewish.
June 29, 2015
This was a gripping story. The author creates and maintains tension for Lena, the protagonist - almost everything that can go wrong, does, and she is surrounded by people she might not be able to trust. I couldn't put it down. It brought to life the terrible fate of an occupied country and how hunger can be used as a weapon. Very well done.
March 14, 2013
I really like books centred around war but this book did NOT meet my expectations. Very dry and bland in MANY spots compared to other books, war or not. Try The Greenies or The Diary of Anne Frank instead!
January 4, 2014
It was a good book, but not very memorable for me. It didn't have that wow factor or whatever you'd call it. I didn't feel like it had enough closure. There was so much more I wanted to know like how's her family doing? Where's Albert now?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2014
****won in goodreads giveaway****
Although this book started off a bit slow, it ended up being a wonderful novel. The characters are brilliantly portrayed and the effect war has on humanity is unflinchingly depicted.
Although this book started off a bit slow, it ended up being a wonderful novel. The characters are brilliantly portrayed and the effect war has on humanity is unflinchingly depicted.
December 18, 2010
Beautifully written! My friend's dad was a teenager during the German occupation of Holland and had stories of causing trouble for the German soldiers.
March 19, 2012
If you've read much WWII literature at all this book presents no challenge and no added information.
July 30, 2012
I'm Dutch and reading this book was really special to me :)
December 28, 2013
A lovely YA novel about the Hunger Winter in the Netherlands. Compelling, vibrant characters give a lot of life to a common theme. Wonderful story.
August 29, 2014
Loved the main characters. Took me back to the war and what it must have been like for those who lived through it.
July 8, 2015
Really good read. It was quite draggy at first but it got better somewhere in the middle as they set out to travel towards Almelo. Brave young girls indeed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2016
Historical fiction WWII, Netherland. Lena has a new friend, Sophie, and together they leave home in search of food.
October 11, 2016
I found this an interesting perspective on a piece of history I knew little about. However, the characters fell a little flat to me, as did the full plot.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews