Anna's War

by D.J. Taylor

Holland, 1943: In the last eighteen months of World War II, 14-year-old Anna’s life becomes a perilous world of secrets and danger. Her town in German-occupied southern Holland is transformed into a war zone , where trust is rare, and courage and resistance are everything. When the Nazis begin arresting local men and deporting them to work in German factories, Anna’s father hides in a cramped, secret cellar beneath their home. Even the youngest of his children don’t know he is there. Then Anna meets Karl, a young German translator, and his piercing gaze and unexpected kindness leave her conflicted. Against her better judgement, she is drawn to Karl and begins to believe he can be trusted - especially when he keeps her father’s hiding place a secret from Horst, the ruthless Nazi officer he translates for. But as her feelings deepen, so do the risks. One misstep could unravel everything Anna and her family have fought to protect. Anna’s War is a gripping tale of resilience, forbidden connection, family loyalties and the growing bravery of a young girl thrust into the deep shadows of war. Can Anna protect her family or will the cost of trust prove too great in a world torn apart?

192 pages, Paperback

Published July 2, 2025

Reviews

[Brenton Cullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

ANNA'S WAR by @ditaylor53
published by @riveted_press

How lucky to receive a preview copy of this book to read. I finished it in two sittings - and remained on edge, gripped, emotionally-invested, and absolutely floored the entire time. A little-known part of World War II history, Anna is a 14 year old girl dealing with the impact of war upon her small village. With the Nazis closing in, and the awful General Horst seemingly out to get her, she is running messages for the secret resistance, helping her mother and grandmothers and father, and keeping secrets about her war work from her best friend Josephine.

DJ Taylor is a debut author and all I can say is - DJ, where have you been? And why on EARTH has the world been forced to wait so long to read your words? Thank goodness Riveted Press published this incredible book. And I hope we have many more titles from DJ Taylor to look forward to - her storytelling ability to spin a tale of hope, horror, angst and heart keeps readers glued to the book. I stayed up until 1:45am last night to finish reading the book and my heart was in my throat the whole time.

The historical detail is extremely fine, and used smartly to create an engaging story with true-to-life characters. I knew exactly how Anna, and all the characters, felt - that is down to the remarkable talent and skill of the author. You will root for Anna as she navigates a treacherous year during World War II, with much trauma and heartache to come (but I won't spoil anything here) and, always, happy moments and light at the end of the tunnel.

Anna is a true heroine - and this book is extremely cinematic. It would make a wonderful miniseries or film.

If you have a penchant for historical fiction, and ripper reads that will latch onto your heart and make a difference, or if you just want to bask in an exquisitely-written story, then ANNA'S WAR by DJ Taylor and published by Riveted Press is for you.

One of my favourite middle-grade/YA historical novels of the past couple of years, Anna's War is an absolute privilege to read.

[Middle Grade Musings · Rating 4 out of 5]

“We can’t give up hope, my Anna. It’s all we have.”

Recommended as a must add to my middle grade historical war fiction book list, I was happy to have this one in my hands and explore the work of another debut novelist, and boy did it deliver.

Set in Holland during the last few years of WW2, Anna and her family are caught up in the terror of war when their town falls under German occupation. Soon all the working men are dragged out of homes and trained off to Germany to work in factories, but not Anna’s Papa though. He goes into hiding, and aided by a young German translator, is kept secret from the Nazis. But this draws Anna and her family into a dangerous world of risk-taking, where they don’t know who to trust, and any wrong word or foot out of place could be their downfall. As her family’s situation grows more and more dire by the day, will Anna’s trust in others prove a masterstroke for her family’s survival or will it bring about her greatest fear, a broken family separated by war?

Wow, what a powerful read this one was. Driven by the history of her in-laws family, Dianne has written a gripping and sombre story - one of hope, survival and incredible determination. Aided by rich descriptions full of imagery, Dianne has crafted a story that will make you feel all the emotions. She does not hold back in including some unsettling scenes that capture the grim reality of the time, but also provide a window into the love and sacrifice that also existed. Don’t miss out on the ‘Author’s Notes’ either, which provide a fascinating insight into the stimulus of the story.

You won’t be disappointed by reading this one, congratulations on a stunning debut Dianne.

[Roe Kitchin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Up front, the author Di Taylor is a friend from years back, so I really wanted to love this book for her! Did I? Oh, my goodness, totally and I highly recommend it to any aged reader. In honesty it was so brilliantly crafted to create the true horror of living through the War for families in a Dutch village that at times I didn’t feel brave enough to keep reading! Talk about gripping. I don’t know Riveted Press but maybe they only publish books that keep you riveted? I was. Well done Di. You nailed it. So well written, brilliant descriptions that have you living ‘in their moment’ and wonderful characterisations (I could see Di as the young Anna!). So, I assume the sequel, so we can enjoy the friendship of Anna & Karl post war or Josephine & Anna post high school…are no doubt ‘in production’ or at least Di is perturbating them? My hope for this book is that not only is it a best seller but it becomes a mandatory read for High School English Literature. Again, congrats and thanks for the experience.

[Sarah Hockaday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna’s War — perfect for pre-teens, teens, and young 44-year-olds! This book, based on true stories from the war, is an incredible opener for young readers to understand even a glimpse of what life was like back then.

I just finished it in just over 24 hours—a personal record for me! I absolutely loved it and couldn’t put it down. Everyone needs a Josephine in their lives!!! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I especially loved the ending, the babies’ names, and the detail about Anna not liking sherry. The true tales of the knitted socks and bouncing the ball were wonderful touches that made it feel so real.

It was a fantastic book—thank you for such a great read! Riveted Press Australia Yellow Brick Books

[Helen Kenworthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful piece of historical fiction that is full of suspense. As a retired teacher, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Anna and her family and had trouble putting the book down because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. DJ Taylor’s writing style pulls you into the story straight away and it is easy to imagine yourself in Anna’s shoes.
I think this book would be a valuable resource in many school curriculum areas including: English - a great novel study; Philosophy - understanding people/their perspectives/beliefs/choices; History - understanding the impact of war on society. I highly recommend this book to young adults, parents and teachers. A very enjoyable read!

[Christine Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

whilst aimed at the teenage market, it is also a great read for adults! I couldn't put it down. The fear and hunger experienced by the main characters were palpable and real. You were there, in Nazi occupied Holland. Beautifully written, with DJ Taylor authentically transporting us to another era. While the author was inspired by her inlaws' childhood wartime experiences, it is also relevant in the current world with the rise of fascism. I thoroughly recommend this book to adults and teenagers alike!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so engaging that I read it in a week-end. The characters are well developed, and the story has enough tension to keep you reading – but not keep you up at night! It’s a perfect read for young adults but also enjoyable for older adults. I need to know what happened to the characters after this part of their lives - please, please write a sequel.

[Grace Hockaday · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am typically not a fan of war themed novels, though I enjoyed this book. Anna’s War is highly captivating, whilst educating young viewers ( myself being one ) on the topic of war, demonstrating the struggles families went through during this time. I highly recommend this book, especially for younger kids.

[Steve Kellermeier · Rating 5 out of 5]

At 70+ I am a tad outside the target audience for this book, but it was recommended by a friend, an avid reader. Rarely have I read the first couple of pages of a novel and been so involved. By the end of Chapter 1 I was fully engrossed. Di Taylor’s awesome description swept me up until the end. I will be in line waiting for the next instalment of the life of Anna, her friends and family.

[Raye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this first novel by Di Taylor. I think it is a perfect book for teachers to read to upper primary students. The dialogue and sentence structure is well chosen for the targeted audience. The suspense builds well and I hope Di Taylor is writing book 2, to continue Anna’s story.

[Jodie Finlay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna's War is a fantastic historical fiction read, the characters are brave and endearing- all the more so because they are based on real people from the author's family who endured such an awful time in history. Well written and thought provoking.

[ROBYN MULDER · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be intended as young adult fiction, but as someone not so young, I found it a compelling read. I really engaged with the plight of the characters. The author is very good at giving us a cinematic sense of the setting, as the characters move through it at such a fraught time in their lives.

[Brian Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a retired English teacher, I can see this book appealing to teenagers and leading to lively classroom discussions. The characters are engaging and you want to keep reading to find out what happens to them. It is also a timely reminder of how democratic freedoms can be eroded away.

[Elisabeth Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not an avid reader at all but couldn't put it down. I kept reading through dinner. I was so mad and sad and was desperate to know what was going to happen to Anna and her family. Hope you write another one.

Elisabeth 12 years

[Olivia Barnard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me from the start. I wanted to know every detail and couldn't wait to see how it ended. such a great and easy read, completely heart breaking knowing that it is based on a true story. Hoping for a sequel soon.

[Cameron Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a reader but my mum made me read a book on the holidays and this was the one she chose. I couldn't put it down. I even skipped dinner because I needed to know what was going to happen. I hope there is a sequel

[Amanda Dulvarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story - it was gripping and I found myself caught up in the tension and emotion that Di built. I found parallels with what is happening to families today - at least what I hear from the U.S and the treatment of immigrants.

[Debbie McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book suitable for teenagers, adults and seniors. While the subject matter tears at your heart, it's written with compassion and great dialogue.

A focal point of the novel is trust......a real page turner. I loved it.

[Marta Mahoney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Engaging story and characters which kept me turning the pages and was hard to put down. Read it in a couple of days. Highly recommend

[Tom Hockaday · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the best book I’ve ever read. I’m a teenager into war and factual events. This was a fun and easy read and I loved that it was based on true facts. Would recommend to young teenagers

[Karen Chalmers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book … soooo good …. Recommend it for young teenagers and adults

[John Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written story about a theatre of WW2 that I didn’t know anything about

[Elly Bass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading Anna’s War by Di Taylor, didn’t want to put it down. A must read for all.