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Trains and Tulips
How do you respond when your country is conquered by enemies?
When loving your neighbor could lead to prison or death, what do you do?
Can you still believe God is good when all you see is darkness?
On May 10th, 1940, Germany invades the Netherlands. And so begins five years of enemy occupation. Rules, rations, and curfews are implemented. Jews are discriminated against, banned from public places, forced to wear a yellow star, and then hauled off to concentration camps.
All twenty-year-old Pieter Knies wants is to continue studying theology at Utrecht University and one day become a pastor. But as time passes and the persecution of the Jews increases, it becomes harder for him to ignore the Nazis. He becomes convinced that Christ’s command to “love your neighbor” includes the Jews.
Gerrit Vogel, a cheerful, young farmer who hates injustice, is engaged to Pieter’s sister Marit. From the moment the Nazis first set foot in his country, he knows he cannot simply stand by and do nothing. Marit agrees, but what can they do?
David Meijer is a veterinary student at Utrecht University. But soon, he's no longer allowed at the university–because he is Jewish. And things only get worse. When his family is arrested, David goes to Gerrit for help, and now Gerrit and Marit know what they can do.
Elsje DeLong's life is turned upside down on her eighteenth birthday when a neighbor comes to her with a request: Will you take a Jewish baby and claim her as your own?
Soon Pieter, Gerrit, Marit, David, and Elsje find themselves heavily involved in the Resistance. But helping the Jews and standing against the Nazis carries a cost–and for some, it will cost everything.
Trains and Tulips is extensively researched historical fiction with a plot built around the real historical facts of the war. While focusing on fictional characters, it is largely inspired by the true stories of World War II heroes such as Corrie ten Boom, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Hans Poley, Diet Eman, and Johanna Ruth Dobschiner.
When loving your neighbor could lead to prison or death, what do you do?
Can you still believe God is good when all you see is darkness?
On May 10th, 1940, Germany invades the Netherlands. And so begins five years of enemy occupation. Rules, rations, and curfews are implemented. Jews are discriminated against, banned from public places, forced to wear a yellow star, and then hauled off to concentration camps.
All twenty-year-old Pieter Knies wants is to continue studying theology at Utrecht University and one day become a pastor. But as time passes and the persecution of the Jews increases, it becomes harder for him to ignore the Nazis. He becomes convinced that Christ’s command to “love your neighbor” includes the Jews.
Gerrit Vogel, a cheerful, young farmer who hates injustice, is engaged to Pieter’s sister Marit. From the moment the Nazis first set foot in his country, he knows he cannot simply stand by and do nothing. Marit agrees, but what can they do?
David Meijer is a veterinary student at Utrecht University. But soon, he's no longer allowed at the university–because he is Jewish. And things only get worse. When his family is arrested, David goes to Gerrit for help, and now Gerrit and Marit know what they can do.
Elsje DeLong's life is turned upside down on her eighteenth birthday when a neighbor comes to her with a request: Will you take a Jewish baby and claim her as your own?
Soon Pieter, Gerrit, Marit, David, and Elsje find themselves heavily involved in the Resistance. But helping the Jews and standing against the Nazis carries a cost–and for some, it will cost everything.
Trains and Tulips is extensively researched historical fiction with a plot built around the real historical facts of the war. While focusing on fictional characters, it is largely inspired by the true stories of World War II heroes such as Corrie ten Boom, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Hans Poley, Diet Eman, and Johanna Ruth Dobschiner.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
Paperback
First published December 5, 2025
3 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Savannah Jane McCrary
10 books31 followersSavannah Jane McCrary is an author, artist, history lover, and most importantly, a follower of Jesus passionate about creating beauty and spreading hope and light through her words and art. She is the author of several books for children and young adults. She’s experimented with a variety of genres but especially loves writing true stories and accurate historical fiction that points readers to the hope of the kingdom of heaven and reminds them that God is good.
The third born in an amazing family of seven children, Savannah was homeschooled all the way through and lives with her family in beautiful western Montana. Besides writing, drawing, reading, and researching, Savannah loves spending time with her family and their Bernese Mountain Dogs, going on adventures, enjoying God’s creation, getting together with old friends and meeting new ones, and cups of hot tea.
The third born in an amazing family of seven children, Savannah was homeschooled all the way through and lives with her family in beautiful western Montana. Besides writing, drawing, reading, and researching, Savannah loves spending time with her family and their Bernese Mountain Dogs, going on adventures, enjoying God’s creation, getting together with old friends and meeting new ones, and cups of hot tea.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 11, 2026
5 stars. Wow! I think the first thing to say is this book impressed me. My hat is off to the author for the amount of time she spent researching and writing this—mostly researching, because that was very obvious to me (I recognized a lot of pieces inspired by The Hiding Place, haha). I've read so many WWII novels, especially set in the Netherlands, and this one, I think, best covered the day-to-day life and decisions of christians during that period. This was well represented by the characters, from impulsive Marit, to stubborn Gerrit, to conscientious Pieter, to patient Elsje, to passionate David. Through their eyes and conversations you get to see how different people viewed the war and the resistance. While I didn't agree with the characters on everything, or how they chose to respond to certain things, I came away challenged, encouraged, touched, and with a lot to consider. I really really appreciated how much Christianity bled through the pages—these people were christians, and lived as christians, and it was refreshingly obvious. I also was very impressed by how the author managed to speak of the atrocities committed by the Nazis and impress the reader with the intensity and danger, she also didn't over-detail things, keeping this age-appropriate for a MG. Overall, I definitely recommend this novel, and I am so excited to hear of another WWII work by this author!
*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.*
*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.*
August 6, 2025
Trains and Tulips is an extremely well-researched novel with deep themes and a cast of delightful characters. In this stirring tale, Savannah Jane McCrary allows the reader to experience both the tragedies and the triumphs of life in the Netherlands during WWII. She tackles difficult topics sensitively, creating an educational story that the whole family can enjoy!
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December 5, 2025Hello friends! Here’s my official author review!
But first, today (December 5th) is release day!!!
You can order the e-book on Amazon here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G3STBH2G/
The paperback on Amazon or Barnes & Noble:
https://www.amazon.com/Trains-Tulips-...
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trai...
Or special edition signed books directly from me!
https://back40enterprises.square.site/
Now onto my author review of the book!
Highlights:
🚂World War II historical fiction from a Christian perspective
🌷hope amid darkness
🚂focused on action, not romance
🌷inspired by true stories
🚂extensively researched for historical accuracy
🌷featuring five point of view characters, three boys and two girls
🚂heroes who are ordinary people, yet exhibit extraordinary courage, self-sacrifice, and faith
🌷strong family relationships
If you enjoy the stories of World War II heroes such as Corrie ten Boom, Hans Poley, Diet Eman, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, or if you like World War II historical fiction books such as Journey Through the Night by Anne DeVries, The Auschwitz Escape by Joel C. Rosenberg, or The Resistance by Douglas Bond, then you just might enjoy this book! 📖
Content description:
Obviously, this book is about World War II and the Holocaust, so it deals with some heavy topics–war, anti-semitism, concentration camps, executions, etc. While there are some very sad parts and characters face some serious moral dilemmas (such as: when is it justifiable to kill to save others?), I refrained from going into graphic detail and tried to keep it appropriate for readers as young as early teens. I was homeschooled and have many fond memories of my parents reading aloud to me and my siblings, and I still enjoy read-alouds with my family. My vision for this book includes teens and adults enjoying it on their own or with family and friends, and younger kids reading it with a parent. Overall, it’s a very clean read, but I know it won’t be for everyone! Here is a detailed content breakdown, so you can see for yourself if it would be a good fit for you/your family!
Spiritual Elements: This book is written from an unashamedly biblical Christian worldview perspective. While I’m non denominational, I made most of my characters be Dutch Reformed Christians, as the vast majority of Protestant Christians in the Netherlands at this time were members of the Dutch Reformed Church (which is very similar to the Presbyterian Church). Characters pray, read the Bible, talk freely about God, quote Scripture and the catechism, and wrestle with difficult spiritual and moral questions. I also do represent other belief systems in the book including Orthodox Judaism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Communism, and secular humanism.
Violence: Most of the violence is only implied or talked about, not actually shown “onscreen,” so to speak. Characters talk about how the Nazis are killing Jews and people with disabilities, including children, but it’s never shown, and no details are given. One character also tells another about the medical experiments the Nazis are doing on prisoners. What we actually “see onscreen” includes a couple of shootouts between Dutch Resistance fighters and Nazis, a few executions by shooting (not graphic), a few young men and boys are beaten up, and depictions of hunger and sickness in concentration camps.
Sexual and romantic content: Very little and nothing at all graphic or inappropriate. Two of the main characters are a young engaged couple, but while it’s obvious they love each other, the romance is not the main focus of the story, and a hug is the farthest any physical affection goes. A teenage girl pretends she had a child outside of marriage in order to protect the child which leads to a few awkward conversations, but again, there’s nothing graphic or inappropriate.
Language: No foul language. A few characters refer to a concentration camp as being “like hell.” Nazis make anti-semitic remarks and derogatory comments about people with disabilities. The Dutch have a few derogatory names for Nazis.
Drug and alcohol content: A few mentions of drinking alcohol and brief smoking of cigarettes (both portrayed negatively.)
Other noteworthy elements: A character very briefly, in a moment of despair, almost wishes to die, but quickly regains his will to live. Characters (often after quite a bit of wrestling over what the right thing to do is) lie, steal, and kill in order to save others.
The heart behind this book 🧡
There are several reasons I chose to write about this time period, but I will share here two of the main reasons I am so passionate about sharing the stories of World War II and the Holocaust and a bit of the heart behind this story.
I want to remind people that God is good and give them hope. 🌷
As I’ve read the stories of real heroes from World War II, one of the things that has stood out to me the most is how they kept hoping, kept believing in the goodness of God, in even the very darkest of circumstances. They found beauty and light in even the worst places and never stopped hoping. I personally have experienced the goodness of God and the incredible hope and joy and peace that comes from trusting Him, and I want to share that with my readers.
I want to remind people that life is valuable. 💐
Another of my biggest takeaways from my World War II heroes is that every life is precious.
During World War II, the Nazis sought to exterminate Jews, the disabled, and anyone else they deemed “unfit.” Two-thirds of the Jewish population as a whole in Europe were killed by the Nazis, and approximately 90% of Jewish children in Europe were murdered. Thousands of disabled children and adults, Russians, Romani people, and others were also systematically killed. This is a horrific tragedy that should not be forgotten.
While there were many Christians in Europe who did nothing in the face of such evil, there were also many Christians such as Corrie ten Boom, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Hans Poley, Diet Eman, and others who worked to rescue those persecuted by the Nazis and spread the truth that God values life.
While today, we thankfully don’t have concentration camps and gas chambers, there is a disturbing disregard for human life, evidenced in the wide acceptance of abortion, human euthanasia, and doctor-assisted suicide. And in the past few years, anti-semitism and crimes against Jews have risen alarmingly.
All of this convinces me that these stories must be told. We must remember and learn from our history. While the practicals will look different for us than they did for the Dutch Resistance during World War II, as we’re not living in an enemy-occupied country in wartime, we can still work to rescue the needy and vulnerable as they did. I desire to use my writing to be a voice for those who have no voice–the unborn, the sick, the elderly, the orphan, the persecuted, the enslaved, those with special needs. I want to share the truth that every life is created by God in His image, and therefore, has great value.
Lest you think this story is all seriousness, though, let me assure you that there is humor interspersed in it as well! I like to describe my writing as “infused with a hearty dose of hope, truth, and beauty, plus a dash of humor.” I love to laugh and think serious subjects should be lightened up with a bit of fun! 😀
But first, today (December 5th) is release day!!!
You can order the e-book on Amazon here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G3STBH2G/
The paperback on Amazon or Barnes & Noble:
https://www.amazon.com/Trains-Tulips-...
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trai...
Or special edition signed books directly from me!
https://back40enterprises.square.site/
Now onto my author review of the book!
Highlights:
🚂World War II historical fiction from a Christian perspective
🌷hope amid darkness
🚂focused on action, not romance
🌷inspired by true stories
🚂extensively researched for historical accuracy
🌷featuring five point of view characters, three boys and two girls
🚂heroes who are ordinary people, yet exhibit extraordinary courage, self-sacrifice, and faith
🌷strong family relationships
If you enjoy the stories of World War II heroes such as Corrie ten Boom, Hans Poley, Diet Eman, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, or if you like World War II historical fiction books such as Journey Through the Night by Anne DeVries, The Auschwitz Escape by Joel C. Rosenberg, or The Resistance by Douglas Bond, then you just might enjoy this book! 📖
Content description:
Obviously, this book is about World War II and the Holocaust, so it deals with some heavy topics–war, anti-semitism, concentration camps, executions, etc. While there are some very sad parts and characters face some serious moral dilemmas (such as: when is it justifiable to kill to save others?), I refrained from going into graphic detail and tried to keep it appropriate for readers as young as early teens. I was homeschooled and have many fond memories of my parents reading aloud to me and my siblings, and I still enjoy read-alouds with my family. My vision for this book includes teens and adults enjoying it on their own or with family and friends, and younger kids reading it with a parent. Overall, it’s a very clean read, but I know it won’t be for everyone! Here is a detailed content breakdown, so you can see for yourself if it would be a good fit for you/your family!
Spiritual Elements: This book is written from an unashamedly biblical Christian worldview perspective. While I’m non denominational, I made most of my characters be Dutch Reformed Christians, as the vast majority of Protestant Christians in the Netherlands at this time were members of the Dutch Reformed Church (which is very similar to the Presbyterian Church). Characters pray, read the Bible, talk freely about God, quote Scripture and the catechism, and wrestle with difficult spiritual and moral questions. I also do represent other belief systems in the book including Orthodox Judaism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Communism, and secular humanism.
Violence: Most of the violence is only implied or talked about, not actually shown “onscreen,” so to speak. Characters talk about how the Nazis are killing Jews and people with disabilities, including children, but it’s never shown, and no details are given. One character also tells another about the medical experiments the Nazis are doing on prisoners. What we actually “see onscreen” includes a couple of shootouts between Dutch Resistance fighters and Nazis, a few executions by shooting (not graphic), a few young men and boys are beaten up, and depictions of hunger and sickness in concentration camps.
Sexual and romantic content: Very little and nothing at all graphic or inappropriate. Two of the main characters are a young engaged couple, but while it’s obvious they love each other, the romance is not the main focus of the story, and a hug is the farthest any physical affection goes. A teenage girl pretends she had a child outside of marriage in order to protect the child which leads to a few awkward conversations, but again, there’s nothing graphic or inappropriate.
Language: No foul language. A few characters refer to a concentration camp as being “like hell.” Nazis make anti-semitic remarks and derogatory comments about people with disabilities. The Dutch have a few derogatory names for Nazis.
Drug and alcohol content: A few mentions of drinking alcohol and brief smoking of cigarettes (both portrayed negatively.)
Other noteworthy elements: A character very briefly, in a moment of despair, almost wishes to die, but quickly regains his will to live. Characters (often after quite a bit of wrestling over what the right thing to do is) lie, steal, and kill in order to save others.
The heart behind this book 🧡
There are several reasons I chose to write about this time period, but I will share here two of the main reasons I am so passionate about sharing the stories of World War II and the Holocaust and a bit of the heart behind this story.
I want to remind people that God is good and give them hope. 🌷
As I’ve read the stories of real heroes from World War II, one of the things that has stood out to me the most is how they kept hoping, kept believing in the goodness of God, in even the very darkest of circumstances. They found beauty and light in even the worst places and never stopped hoping. I personally have experienced the goodness of God and the incredible hope and joy and peace that comes from trusting Him, and I want to share that with my readers.
I want to remind people that life is valuable. 💐
Another of my biggest takeaways from my World War II heroes is that every life is precious.
During World War II, the Nazis sought to exterminate Jews, the disabled, and anyone else they deemed “unfit.” Two-thirds of the Jewish population as a whole in Europe were killed by the Nazis, and approximately 90% of Jewish children in Europe were murdered. Thousands of disabled children and adults, Russians, Romani people, and others were also systematically killed. This is a horrific tragedy that should not be forgotten.
While there were many Christians in Europe who did nothing in the face of such evil, there were also many Christians such as Corrie ten Boom, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Hans Poley, Diet Eman, and others who worked to rescue those persecuted by the Nazis and spread the truth that God values life.
While today, we thankfully don’t have concentration camps and gas chambers, there is a disturbing disregard for human life, evidenced in the wide acceptance of abortion, human euthanasia, and doctor-assisted suicide. And in the past few years, anti-semitism and crimes against Jews have risen alarmingly.
All of this convinces me that these stories must be told. We must remember and learn from our history. While the practicals will look different for us than they did for the Dutch Resistance during World War II, as we’re not living in an enemy-occupied country in wartime, we can still work to rescue the needy and vulnerable as they did. I desire to use my writing to be a voice for those who have no voice–the unborn, the sick, the elderly, the orphan, the persecuted, the enslaved, those with special needs. I want to share the truth that every life is created by God in His image, and therefore, has great value.
Lest you think this story is all seriousness, though, let me assure you that there is humor interspersed in it as well! I like to describe my writing as “infused with a hearty dose of hope, truth, and beauty, plus a dash of humor.” I love to laugh and think serious subjects should be lightened up with a bit of fun! 😀
July 21, 2025
I was unexpectedly asked to beta read Trains and Tulips; I didn't think I would be able to finish it by the deadline, due to life/work, but I agreed anyway. What I DIDN'T bargain on was finishing it in one day, and finding a new favorite author to boot. 😊
Oh, y'all, where to start? This is such a good book; so full of research, cool historical tidbits, lots of action, and solid spiritual messages. It totally gave A Bridge Too Far vibes (the part at the start of the movie with the Dutch Resistance family) - and yes, Market Garden does get a mention! I love that a few historical figures were mentioned in the story, as well as an actual cameo by Martin Niemoller. Many of the events were inspired by things that actually happened during the war, which is very cool! The quotes at the start of each chapter were so apropos, and the historical notes at the end were GOLD! I really love Savannah's heart in this book; she does honor to the heroes of the Resistance and pleads for the value of human life. Oh, and did I mention encouragement?? SO much light even in the worst places! 😭💕
There's a cast of five solid characters, but they're all distinct and never get confusing. I love their courage, self-sacrifice, and devotion; some lovely sibling dynamics, as well as an adorable engaged couple that never get too mushy even for me. 😊 I love how Savannah presents each character's different view on the situation, including a Jewish POV! (I don't know if I've read a book with a Jewish character before, but I feel like she handled everything very respectfully, and gave me a little insight into David's religious mindset.) Gerrit's character growth was really nice to see, and I loved how Marit supported him in his hard decisions and was willing to sacrifice to help him. I have MAJOR respect for Elsje - she's somewhat of a Mary figure, and it took a lot of bravery - of a different sort - to make the sacrifice she did (sorry, I'm trying to keep this spoiler-free, so I can't elaborate! 😆) And I love Pieter; the group's conscience, the steady voice of reason, a pastor-in-training who isn't afraid to live out the Word he preaches. (He rubs off on the others too! 😉)
I both grinned and teared up while reading. Multiple times.
I had to ask myself, how would I respond if I were in these characters' situation? What would I have done? And honestly, I don't know, because I've never faced anything like what they did. But I do know this; the same good God who guided them, gave them light in their darkness, and upheld them in distress, would be with me as well, because He never changes. 💕
Being war, there is violence; people get hurt, interrogated, shot, etc. But everything is kept appropriate and non-gory, which is a HUGE win! There are also scenes in concentration camps, but it never gets ugly, and it's written respectfully. So I would definitely recommend to a YA audience (probably PG-13 just due to the nature of war), though I think younger kids could also enjoy it alongside a parent. 🙂
One of my favorite lines comes from Pieter:
BEST. RESPONSE. EVER!!!!! ✊
Oh, y'all, where to start? This is such a good book; so full of research, cool historical tidbits, lots of action, and solid spiritual messages. It totally gave A Bridge Too Far vibes (the part at the start of the movie with the Dutch Resistance family) - and yes, Market Garden does get a mention! I love that a few historical figures were mentioned in the story, as well as an actual cameo by Martin Niemoller. Many of the events were inspired by things that actually happened during the war, which is very cool! The quotes at the start of each chapter were so apropos, and the historical notes at the end were GOLD! I really love Savannah's heart in this book; she does honor to the heroes of the Resistance and pleads for the value of human life. Oh, and did I mention encouragement?? SO much light even in the worst places! 😭💕
There's a cast of five solid characters, but they're all distinct and never get confusing. I love their courage, self-sacrifice, and devotion; some lovely sibling dynamics, as well as an adorable engaged couple that never get too mushy even for me. 😊 I love how Savannah presents each character's different view on the situation, including a Jewish POV! (I don't know if I've read a book with a Jewish character before, but I feel like she handled everything very respectfully, and gave me a little insight into David's religious mindset.) Gerrit's character growth was really nice to see, and I loved how Marit supported him in his hard decisions and was willing to sacrifice to help him. I have MAJOR respect for Elsje - she's somewhat of a Mary figure, and it took a lot of bravery - of a different sort - to make the sacrifice she did (sorry, I'm trying to keep this spoiler-free, so I can't elaborate! 😆) And I love Pieter; the group's conscience, the steady voice of reason, a pastor-in-training who isn't afraid to live out the Word he preaches. (He rubs off on the others too! 😉)
I both grinned and teared up while reading. Multiple times.
I had to ask myself, how would I respond if I were in these characters' situation? What would I have done? And honestly, I don't know, because I've never faced anything like what they did. But I do know this; the same good God who guided them, gave them light in their darkness, and upheld them in distress, would be with me as well, because He never changes. 💕
Being war, there is violence; people get hurt, interrogated, shot, etc. But everything is kept appropriate and non-gory, which is a HUGE win! There are also scenes in concentration camps, but it never gets ugly, and it's written respectfully. So I would definitely recommend to a YA audience (probably PG-13 just due to the nature of war), though I think younger kids could also enjoy it alongside a parent. 🙂
One of my favorite lines comes from Pieter:
BEST. RESPONSE. EVER!!!!! ✊
December 17, 2025
There were a lot of things about this book that I enjoyed, but my favorite of them all was simply the respect and love with which it was written.
I have read a fairly large number of Christian historical fiction books, and I have gotten very tired of casually written books that promote harsh and/or hurtful worldviews that disrespect the historical times and people they are written about. I’ve also read a large number of Christian books that show God as a sort of magical lottery ticket that turns horrible circumstances into sunshine and flowers.
And so it delights me to say that this book is none of the above. The care with which it was written was absolutely lovely, and I nearly cried in several occasions while reading it — a rarity for me. It was moving, as a good WWII story is, but never in a way that left me depressed and heavy as so many books do. I greatly appreciated the author’s gentleness and focus on light even in incredibly dark times.
There were no shortcuts or easy ways out for the characters, just like in real life, and yet they still found ways to focus on the goodness of God, even when their lives were torn apart. I loved that. I loved how honest and truthful it was, and I loved how it was also very encouraging. This book found me at just the right time.
Also, this a side note to say that while I don’t normally enjoy illustrations in a book, the illustrations in this book were absolutely lovely and complemented the story perfectly. :)
I have read a fairly large number of Christian historical fiction books, and I have gotten very tired of casually written books that promote harsh and/or hurtful worldviews that disrespect the historical times and people they are written about. I’ve also read a large number of Christian books that show God as a sort of magical lottery ticket that turns horrible circumstances into sunshine and flowers.
And so it delights me to say that this book is none of the above. The care with which it was written was absolutely lovely, and I nearly cried in several occasions while reading it — a rarity for me. It was moving, as a good WWII story is, but never in a way that left me depressed and heavy as so many books do. I greatly appreciated the author’s gentleness and focus on light even in incredibly dark times.
There were no shortcuts or easy ways out for the characters, just like in real life, and yet they still found ways to focus on the goodness of God, even when their lives were torn apart. I loved that. I loved how honest and truthful it was, and I loved how it was also very encouraging. This book found me at just the right time.
Also, this a side note to say that while I don’t normally enjoy illustrations in a book, the illustrations in this book were absolutely lovely and complemented the story perfectly. :)
January 10, 2026
(Note: while I was on the street team for Trains and Tulips, and was requested to write a review, this review is comprised entirely of my own opinion, and I tried hard to be as honest as possible in sharing my thoughts.)
I will admit, it took me quite a while to get into this book.
The head-hopping was a little disorienting, even with the character headings, and it was written in a very different style to what I'd been expecting. It took me two weeks to get through the first few chapters... but then it took me only two days to finish it.
And, as you may have noticed, I've marked it as a four-star read.
Yes, it was a rough start. But it was a rough start worth struggling through.
First up, content warnings. I've hidden these in the spoilers, so that you can choose whether or not you want to read them.
I personally think that these topics were managed very delicately. I appreciate that different points of view were shown, and that biblical viewpoints were provided.
Now for a quick summary:
Trains and Tulips is the story of five young men and women in the Netherlands during World War Two. Pieter, who is studying to be a minister; his sister Marit and her fiance Gerrit; David, a Jew and a friend of Gerrit and Pieter; and Elsje, a young girl put into a difficult situation when she is asked to claim a Jewish baby as her own.
This story tells of their struggles to do the right thing, no matter the cost.
Other than the expected war topics, this book was surprisingly clean. There was no explicit romance, and no foul language. It was very clearly written from a Christian viewpoint, to the extent that it might be labelled preachy, but it didn't bother me too much since it always felt relevant to he story.
The main things that bothered me were, as I've already said, the head-hopping... and the formatting. It may have been because I was reading an ebook, but the formatting took a while to get used to. I would have appreciated an extra line break between switching characters.
But beyond this, Trains and Tulips was a thought-provoking and beautiful read. It was wonderfully researched! I enjoyed the extensive explanations in the back of the book. And though the perspective-swapping was a little disorienting at first, it felt natural towards the end. I fell in love with the characters - some of them to the point that I wish they had more time in the story - and will admit there were a few scenes that had me almost in tears.
Now for some spoilers, because I want to talk about the actual characters and events!
I recommend Trains and Tulips to ages 13 and up, for history fans, and especially fans of books like The Hiding Place: The Triumphant True Story of Corrie Ten Boom and God's Smuggler.
Great work, Savannah Jane McCrary, on this book!
I look forward to seeing what comes next.
I will admit, it took me quite a while to get into this book.
The head-hopping was a little disorienting, even with the character headings, and it was written in a very different style to what I'd been expecting. It took me two weeks to get through the first few chapters... but then it took me only two days to finish it.
And, as you may have noticed, I've marked it as a four-star read.
Yes, it was a rough start. But it was a rough start worth struggling through.
First up, content warnings. I've hidden these in the spoilers, so that you can choose whether or not you want to read them.
I personally think that these topics were managed very delicately. I appreciate that different points of view were shown, and that biblical viewpoints were provided.
Now for a quick summary:
Trains and Tulips is the story of five young men and women in the Netherlands during World War Two. Pieter, who is studying to be a minister; his sister Marit and her fiance Gerrit; David, a Jew and a friend of Gerrit and Pieter; and Elsje, a young girl put into a difficult situation when she is asked to claim a Jewish baby as her own.
This story tells of their struggles to do the right thing, no matter the cost.
Other than the expected war topics, this book was surprisingly clean. There was no explicit romance, and no foul language. It was very clearly written from a Christian viewpoint, to the extent that it might be labelled preachy, but it didn't bother me too much since it always felt relevant to he story.
The main things that bothered me were, as I've already said, the head-hopping... and the formatting. It may have been because I was reading an ebook, but the formatting took a while to get used to. I would have appreciated an extra line break between switching characters.
But beyond this, Trains and Tulips was a thought-provoking and beautiful read. It was wonderfully researched! I enjoyed the extensive explanations in the back of the book. And though the perspective-swapping was a little disorienting at first, it felt natural towards the end. I fell in love with the characters - some of them to the point that I wish they had more time in the story - and will admit there were a few scenes that had me almost in tears.
Now for some spoilers, because I want to talk about the actual characters and events!
I recommend Trains and Tulips to ages 13 and up, for history fans, and especially fans of books like The Hiding Place: The Triumphant True Story of Corrie Ten Boom and God's Smuggler.
Great work, Savannah Jane McCrary, on this book!
I look forward to seeing what comes next.
November 26, 2025
This is an amazing book! I read it in nearly one day and loved all of it! I loved how the author used so many real-life events in her story, and I recognized a lot of them from the books The Hiding Place and Selected to Live, which was neat! I loved how it had so many different characters to show different perspectives and I connected with all them so much! I loved all the main characters so it's hard to pick a favorite, but if I had to it would be either David or Garrit.
It was a serious book, but I loved how there was humor interspersed in it and I loved the relationships between all the characters. One of my favorite humorous scenes is probably the part where David and Garrit are stitching the goat up. :)
Some of my favorite more serious scenes are where Pieter and Karl are talking before Karl's execution, as well as Garrit's courage in face of his execution. I love how throughout the whole book the author's main point is that the light still shines even in the darkest times.
I also loved all the drawings throughout the book. This is a book that will be on my list to get the hardcopy at some point! I'd recommend it to my friends and family, and I look forward to reading more books by the same author!
It was a serious book, but I loved how there was humor interspersed in it and I loved the relationships between all the characters. One of my favorite humorous scenes is probably the part where David and Garrit are stitching the goat up. :)
Some of my favorite more serious scenes are where Pieter and Karl are talking before Karl's execution, as well as Garrit's courage in face of his execution. I love how throughout the whole book the author's main point is that the light still shines even in the darkest times.
I also loved all the drawings throughout the book. This is a book that will be on my list to get the hardcopy at some point! I'd recommend it to my friends and family, and I look forward to reading more books by the same author!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2025
This was such an exciting read! Highly recommend, especially if you like WWII history. But even if you are not a history buff, you will find the well written characters witty and endearing. I didn't want to put it down. It was quite a rollercoaster. My heart soared, broke and was lifted again with the encouraging message of God's faithfulness and the enduring hope Truth brings to humanity, even in the darkest of days.
January 7, 2026
Trains and Tulips is a moving and powerful story of faith, courage, and sacrifice during WWII. With memorable characters and emotional depth, it shows the true cost of doing what’s right. A must-read for fans of meaningful historical fiction.
October 1, 2025
Trains and Tulips reads as a story that's not meant to just be a novel--instead, the historical depth combines with an epic, truth-filled story that reveals the account of WWII through the eyes of followers of Jesus. It will delight both history-lovers and those who want to enjoy an adventurous story of courage. The story portrays an example of true Christianity in which God's people take strangers into their home, adopt children, and risk their lives, love stories, and what they hold most dear to serve Jesus, and those believers show true love to their enemies, hold fast to truth, and extend the Gospel to people of varied cultures and religions, no matter the danger. It's a call for the Christian to stand up, declare truth, and love God and others radically. The novel displays that God is good, period, and invites readers to see His goodness in a deep, rich way, especially in the midst of darkness and trial, because in WWII and in today, we are invited to praise the Lord and be part of His work.
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