Time for Courage

Hunger Winter

by Rob Currie

During WWII, when the Nazis hunt Jewish children, the kids’ only hope is help from the Dutch Resistance. But these brave volunteers are outgunned, outmanned, and all they have is each other.

In this sequel to Hunger Winter, thirteen -year-old Dirk and his family move to a farm near Utrecht, Netherlands, in January of 1945. When the Nazis focus on capturing Jewish children to send to gas chambers, Dirk’s family intervenes. Their methods include providing ration cards and finding families to hide Jewish children and teens.

With edge-of-your-seat action and suspense, the reader follows Dirk and his family as they work with the Dutch Resistance to protect the children and battle the zeal and determination of the Gestapo to find the children and send them to their deaths.

This World War II historical fiction novel for kids excitement and danger set against the backdrop of the HolocaustHistorically accurate accounts of WWII events not normally covered in other booksMaps of the Netherlands to help parents and teachers prepare lessons for children about the history of WWIIThis middle-grade book is an adventure to be read again and again, a story that should not be forgotten.

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II, Christian

327 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 6, 2026

About the author

An award-winning author, Rob Currie has been reading World War II books since he was a teenager. But why write this book?
Life conspired to get him to write Hunger Winter. Rob's father is a World War II veteran, his wife is of Dutch descent, and his son wrote a short story about World War II in the Netherlands. I guess you could say he finally took the hint.

Reviews

[Katja Labonté · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. It was only when halfway through that I realized this was a sequel, but I was perfectly able to read it as a standalone. For a middle-grade novel, it impressed me; it was pretty well-written most of the time and I really liked the realistic family relationships (& sweet reconciliation between the older and younger sibling at the end). I was also delighted by the deep faith thread! Personally I as an adult struggled with the more intense moments just because I hate being scared, and several times I was terrified, wondering how on earth the characters would get away; child me would definitely have put the book away for a few days; so more sensitive children may struggle with that. Overall, I’d love to read book 1 and I will keep an eye on this author’s new releases while recommending this book to my little siblings.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*

[Luminous Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Utrecht, Netherlands, in 1944, Dirk and his family risk everything to protect Jewish children from the relentless Nazis. Inspired by true history, this story explores themes of courage, resilience, and faith as the characters strive to find safe homes for Jewish orphans, help children escape danger, and make a desperate escape when the Gestapo comes after a young Jewish boy hidden with them. With suspense that's exciting yet appropriate for middle-grade readers, this is an adventure you'll want to revisit time and again!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Savannah McCrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book! Full review to come.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to @netgalley and @tyndalehouse for the advance copy of this book. I was gifted the book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What 13 year old boy doesn’t love adventure, excitement, and maybe even a bit of danger? This middle grade WWII novel opens with Dirk Ingelse running for his life from the Nazis.

This opening scene will get your adrenaline pumping and keep you on the edge of your seat all the way through the book.

A Time for Courage is the sequel to the book Hunger Winter. You could read it without having read the first book but there are parts that will make more sense if you’ve read Hunger Winter first.

Dirk and his older sister, Els, learn what it means to have courage in the face of evil. The Ingelse family had moved to Utrecht, Netherlands, to help the Dutch Resistance save Jewish children. With their father often gone and in hiding it is up to Els to care for Dirk and Anna. Together they find homes for Jewish children, smuggle ration cards around to hidden Jews, and even breaking free from arrest. They also learn to trust God and go to Him for the strength and courage they need for all of life’s challenges. I loved the theme of faith and courage all throughout the book.

[Jasmine Bazak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow is all I can say with this one. I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this book early. It is incredible even reading it as an adult. I literally stayed up until 1 am to finish it because I got so invested in the characters. So interesting reading about the impacts of WW2 in the Netherlands the horrors that they experienced. I will be thinking and reflecting on this book for quite some time.

[Ava Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You don't have to feel brave to act courageously. You just have to do the right thing when it's time for courage."

4.5 Stars!

This was an amazing book! It is a sequel to Rob Currie's previous book, Hunger Winter, though you can still understand it without the context of the first book.

This Christian fiction middle grade novel follows the story of a family who is dedicated to making a difference during World War II. Els, Dirk, and Anna, three siblings, work together to protect a young Jewish boy, Isaac (also called Jelle), from the Nazis. Their efforts bring danger to, not only Isaac, but also themselves and their family. Through various encounters with soldiers, they are forced to think outside of the box, take care of the little boy, and dodge the hand of the enemy. The overall theme, as the title states, is courage, and each character, in the height of their determination, finds courage through fear, desperation, and apparent hopelessness.

"And sometimes, you have to take a chance because it's the only chance you have."

Rob Currie does an excellent job of displaying the tragedies and injustice of war for a younger audience. Many of the topics and encounters in this novel are based on true events. He handles these heavier themes with sensitivity, truthfulness, and compassion. Although violence is a key theme of war, this book still remains appropriate for middle grade readers.

Additionally, he weaves in the Christian themes extremely well. The book handles topics like God's timing, His protection, and prayer. Paired with the setting of World War II, the author shows real examples of why faith is important and how to trust when God seems distant.

"And Major Schwartz is ruthless."
"Yes, he is," she said. "But I also know a few things that he doesn't know. Like pride going before a fall, and I pray to the God who defends orphans."

This book is a beautiful call to action, and it is full of encouragement to step up despite the circumstances, judgement, and fear. It reminded me of The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom and Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen.

I would recommend this to readers ages 10+ who enjoy:
- World War II historical fiction
- stories of courage
- action, tension, and high stakes
- dynamics of sibling relationships
- admirable characters who serve as incredible role models

"Don't think about your fear," Papa had said. "Think about the needs of the people you're helping and the difference you're making."

Content to note:
- middle grade level wartime violence

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Netgalley

In this sequel to Hunger Winter, we rejoin the Ingelse family as they settle in to life at a farmhouse outside of Utrecht, Netherlands so that the father can continue to work with the Resistance. Els has finally allowed Dirk to join the efforts as well, and the book starts with a daring heist of food coupons for the orphans in the care of their Aunt Cora, as well as a harrowing chase scene. Dirk still doesn't always make good choices but is slowly starting to fully grasp the extent of how careful he must be after a Finnish girl, Enny, pulls him away from an elderly woman at a train station who is asking him for personal information. Dirk's six year old sister, Anna, is constantly asking for a younger brother (even though the mother has died), so when Dirk is unable to take three year old Isaac to his foster family, she is thrilled that he will be living with them. The Nazis soon attack the farmhouse, and Isaac's safety is in jeopardy. The father is on the run, as are the children. Will the Ingelse family be able to survive the war?

This was an excellent sequel, and I'll definitely purchase it for my fans of World War II, but it was a tense read filled with constant danger. There were some more lighthearted moments, such as when the group releases a bunch of cats in the train station to throw the Nazi dogs off the scent so that food parcels could be retrieved for delivery, but even that was a very serious and dangerous situation. The father's refrain that he won't tell his children what was happening "Not until after the war" was heartbreaking.

My main take away from this book was that the world should have learned valuable lessons from World War II, and yet many did not, and the world has once again plunged into endless cycles of conflict that are killing and displacing so many people. It's good to see the indomitable spirit of the Dutch, but given the current global climate, this just made me sad.

https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...

[The Bookish Pilgrim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was held captive by Rob Currie's Middle Grade novel, Time for Courage that's based on true events surrounding the Nazi push to deliberately capture and exterminate Jewish children too, no matter how young. In Netherlands, this effort was particularly seen in and around Utrecht. The Dutch Resistance, including many volunteer youngsters and teens, little more than children themselves, made themselves available on pain of death, capture, torture and the camps to help terrified, hunted, often orphaned children like themselves find safe havens.

This is the story of one such family: the Ingelse family. Their courage, resourcefulness and sheer determination to do what's right is astounding in ones so young, until you realise how mouldable and pliable young ones are to influences for either good or evil.

Their sacrificial determination to best the Gestapo is astounding and I found myself immersed in the book, cheering them on, hoping and praying they'd get the better of Gestapo goon, Major Schwartz and the very real danger he posed.

All through the book, Currie shows how believing, praying and trusting God to provide immediate, practical solutions to their dilemmas/difficulties and needs was key to their success and often, safety. In this, it is vastly different from other books of this genre. Yet, you don't feel preached at.

I like the author's style. It's my first Rob Currie book and this won't be my last either. I was given an ARC to read by Netgalley and the publishers, but the opinions expressed are my own.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t realise at first that this was the second in a series, but it honestly didn’t matter reading the books out of order - and if I can find it I will go and read book one now, because the stuff alluded to all sounded very exciting!

If you like Enid Blyton then you’ll love this I reckon because it felt very much like The Famous Five Foil the Nazis. It’s thrilling and adventurous and full of a lot of perilous situations, but all with that slightly unrealistic tint that only a kids book can have, where young teenagers can outsmart the villains and get away with things that surely would have gotten them killed by the Gestapo had this been real. There’s also the idiotic mayor’s son who is such a bumbling prat that his idiocy makes you shake your head!

I read a lot of WWII books and this one was a fun change from the usual fare - younger protagonists written for a younger audience, and while there were still a lot of dark themes, there were much more narrow escapes and happily ever afters than usual. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and it had me on the edge of my seat on many occasions!

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really struggled with Time for Courage.

I initially signed my 9-year-old daughter — who reads at a 12-year-old level — to read and review this book, but she disengaged within the first chapter. That prompted me to read it myself to better understand why.

The book is well written, but it reads as historical fiction written for adults rather than for a middle-grade audience. The subject matter surrounding WWII, the Holocaust, and the persecution of Jewish children is extremely heavy, and the descriptive language requires a level of emotional maturity that many children ages 9–13 may not yet have.

While the story is important and historically grounded, the pacing is slow and the emotional intensity is overwhelming for its intended age group. I believe this book would be better suited for older teens or adults rather than middle-grade readers.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

[Lindsey courson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time for Courage is a thrilling and adventurous read that kept me hanging on to every word. The story moves quickly, with so much happening that I found myself genuinely worried about the characters—as if I knew them personally. Rob Currie does a wonderful job bringing the setting to life through vivid descriptions and thoughtful details, making it easy to feel fully immersed in the story.

As the plot unfolds, you truly come to appreciate the ages of the characters and the immense challenges they face. Understanding what they were required to accomplish at such young ages makes their journey all the more powerful and genuinely courageous.

This is a fabulous, well-written book that balances excitement, emotion, and depth. I highly recommend Time for Courage for both teens and adults who enjoy fast-paced, meaningful adventures.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A read that should be mandatory for all teens, we need to never forget!
Setting is Netherlands, and the German's have a stronghold here, and are after a people with a religion they now hate. They are also after those who are actively sabotaging their efforts, and helping others escape their evil.
This story is set in January 1945, and as I'm reading, with danger all around I can't help but think if it were only a few months later.
This book highlight these people, who risk everything, some very young and yet actively helping!
Such a great job the author has done with showing what was actually happening, and although fictional, some of the things are factual!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Tyndale House, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Brittany Roberson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a perfect sequel to “Hunger Winter”. Chapter One of “Time for Courage” begins just a few weeks after the last chapter of Hunger Winter in 1944, when the Nazis still occupied the Netherlands.

Although this storyline and the characters are fictional, many of the events described in this story really happened. Jewish children were targeted by the Nazi regime in the Netherlands during World War II, and in this story siblings Els, Dirk and their other family members are part of the Resistance movement to save those whose lives were endangered.

Would definitely recommend for ages 10+, especially if you are studying WWII.

[Suzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a well written book that shows the how a bunch of youth helped during the resistance against the Nazis.
I didn't realize this was the second book but I will go back to read the first one.
I liked the look at how these youth still had faith and used scriptures throughout to help guide and lift them up.
A beautiful middle grade novel about WWII for adults and youth alike to read.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

[Bev Walkling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 2 in a series of books that are inspired by true stories of what life was like in the Netherlands in WW2 told from the viewpoint of a young boy and his family who were involved in the resistance putting their lives in great peril. It is geared towards middle aged youth but was fascinating for me as adult too. My father spent quite some months in the Netherlands during the war, living with a Dutch family for a good part of that time which made this story of even more interest to me. Children had to grow up very quickly and take on way more responsibility than we would normally expect, even making potentially life or death decisions. For many Dutch families, their faith was an integral part of why they resisted and such it was in this story.

Readers will find lots of action in this story. It felt like not a day went by without having to take dangerous risks. They had a particular focus on helping to save Jewish children who needed to be taken to safe houses where they could potentially be kept safe, at least for a little while. It's hard to imagine what type of mental pressure this added to the lives of the youth involved in the resistance.

I definitely think this book will be of interest to those of middle school age (as well as adults interested in WW2 stories). Now that I've read this one, I hope to find a copy of the first book in the series - Hunger Winter.

Many thanks to #NetGalley and #TyndalePublishers for making an advance reader copy available to me to read. All opinions are my own.

[Emma Filbrun · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is great for any boys (or girls) who loves a story with non-stop adventure and danger! Dirk had to stay on alert at all times to save his life and his sisters’ lives—not to mention the little Jewish boy the family took in for awhile. The author has done a good job of blending many real stories together to create one cohesive story that shares the history of the Dutch Resistance with today’s young people. It was interesting to recognize at least one experience from a nonfiction book I have read. Rob Currie has done his research well, and this book should appeal to many children.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.