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The Librarian of Amsterdam: An Emotional WW2 Holocaust Novel Inspired by True Stories of Courage
Two forbidden loves. One deadly secret. Hundreds of lives in her hands.
Nazi boots thunder up the stairs. Sophie pulls Hannah close, covering the three-year-old's mouth. The child calls her "Mommy," but Sophie isn't her mother. She's the Jewish forger who gave her a new name. A chance to survive.
In occupied Amsterdam, Sophie has become invisible, a librarian who officially no longer exists. By candlelight, her artist's hands create the documents that smuggle children past the Gestapo. One slip of the pen means death.
But Sophie hides more than forged papers.
She's falling for Marika, her fierce Dutch resistance partner. But when Michael, a British intelligence agent from her past, returns with a dangerous mission, Sophie is caught between desire and betrayal.
As Colonel Zoller hunts "The Librarian" with obsessive precision, Sophie faces an unthinkable save the child she loves, or protect the network that saves hundreds.
Sixty years later, Sophie's daughter Anne discovers a hidden satchel, old stamps, ink, and a photograph of a child she doesn't recognize. The mother she buried becomes a stranger.
Inspired by true stories of the Dutch resistance. Perfect for fans of The Nightingale, The Alice Network, and All the Light We Cannot See.
Nazi boots thunder up the stairs. Sophie pulls Hannah close, covering the three-year-old's mouth. The child calls her "Mommy," but Sophie isn't her mother. She's the Jewish forger who gave her a new name. A chance to survive.
In occupied Amsterdam, Sophie has become invisible, a librarian who officially no longer exists. By candlelight, her artist's hands create the documents that smuggle children past the Gestapo. One slip of the pen means death.
But Sophie hides more than forged papers.
She's falling for Marika, her fierce Dutch resistance partner. But when Michael, a British intelligence agent from her past, returns with a dangerous mission, Sophie is caught between desire and betrayal.
As Colonel Zoller hunts "The Librarian" with obsessive precision, Sophie faces an unthinkable save the child she loves, or protect the network that saves hundreds.
Sixty years later, Sophie's daughter Anne discovers a hidden satchel, old stamps, ink, and a photograph of a child she doesn't recognize. The mother she buried becomes a stranger.
Inspired by true stories of the Dutch resistance. Perfect for fans of The Nightingale, The Alice Network, and All the Light We Cannot See.
- GenresHistorical FictionAmazon
289 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 3, 2026
About the author
Uri Dushy
6 books6 followersNo. 1 Amazon Bestselling Author. Uri Dushy writes sweeping World War II historical fiction about extraordinary women who risked everything. His Art of Resistance series, including The Girl in the Oil Painting, The Librarian of Amsterdam, and The Painter of Hidden Children, follows women who used art, forgery, and courage to save lives under Nazi occupation. Inspired by true stories of resistance, his novels are for readers who love Kristin Hannah, Pam Jenoff, and Kate Quinn.
An internationally exhibited artist for over 40 years, Uri brings a visual artist's eye to his storytelling, weaving art, identity, and survival into every page.
An internationally exhibited artist for over 40 years, Uri brings a visual artist's eye to his storytelling, weaving art, identity, and survival into every page.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
March 4, 2026
This book is first of all a thoughtful story about a few people’s lives before and during the WWO II. The story is located in Amsterdam.
The book is very well written and really touches the reader!
A must read if you like books in this genre!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The book is very well written and really touches the reader!
A must read if you like books in this genre!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 16, 2026
WWII historical fiction is my jam. I’ve read many novels centered on perilous escapes and military valor in battle, but The Librarian of Amsterdam is the first book I’ve read that focuses on the invaluable contributions of document forgers.
In 1939, Sophie, a young Jewish girl, leaves her family in Germany to attend art school in Amsterdam. While there, she becomes involved with an underground movement dedicated to helping Jewish families escape the looming Nazi invasion. Using her artistic talents, Sophie learns to create falsified documents, and through her work many families—especially orphaned children—are able to escape the city.
The Librarian of Amsterdam tells two interwoven stories. The first follows the perfection of Sophie’s forgery skills, her constant movement from one safe house to another, and the life-saving impact her documents have on Jewish children. The second explores how the horrors of war destroy relationships, futures, and entire communities.
The novel is well researched and loosely based on actual events, and I learned a great deal about an important but often overlooked aspect of World War II history. This story is both exciting and heartbreaking, and I would highly recommend it to fans of WWII historical fiction—especially those drawn to stories of resistance, sacrifice, and quiet heroism behind the scenes.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 9, 2026
if a book makes you cry it’s worth reading
A story that needs to be read in every generation to ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself. Sadly there are still places in the world where brutality rules with hate and fear.
A story that needs to be read in every generation to ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself. Sadly there are still places in the world where brutality rules with hate and fear.
January 20, 2026
Title: A pattern that should be remembered, so as to not be repeated.
This thoughtful book looks at the life of a few people living in The Netherlands before and during WW II. It does so by first setting the scene in the midst of the war, then going back to 1936 to see what life was like before the war. To tell part of the story, the author uses the modern day time frame to fill in details. Here is a brief look at how he does that:
Utrecht, The Netherlands – Summer 1943
> This is mid-story; Sophie Milstein, a forger of papers for Jews trying to escape German occupied lands that find themselves in The Netherlands. With her, a young child whose parents were taken by the Germans, but who was able to be saved by an underground rescue group working with Sophia. For a time, Sophie had the care of this child whom she began to think of as now belonging to her. Her close friend Marika, who worked in behalf of this group, had to flee to England, leaving Sophia and Hannah behind.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands – 2010
> Marika van der Weil, nearly ninety, meets Sophia’s own daughter, Anna Perlman, shortly after Sophia has died. Anna has come to learn about items she has found and for help understanding her mother’s standoffish attitude Anna’s entire life. So, Marika begins to relive the events of those long ago times.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands – March 1936
> We are taken back to 1936 when Sophia and Marika’s story begins as the Nazi threat takes form and function. Through her eyes and experiences, the exploitation, persecution, and relocation of the entire Jewish population of Europe is reflected in what we see of Sophia’s experience of the war. The devastation that the loss of so many families in the concentration camps, is seen by the loss of Sophia’s entire family and the life-long effects that loss had on her and her ability to openly love her own daughter in later years.
In contrast to this bleak aspect of the war, we get a behind-the-scenes-look at the extensive network of people working to rescue, hide, and re-document the refugees that took place, in order to save all they could, even at the expense of their own lives. Indeed, most of these noble people lost their lives trying to help these people, with only a rare survivor. Their heroic deeds to save even one life deserve to be remembered.
This book purports to be fiction, and the specific characters may be fictional. But the story they lived is based on the reality of that dark period of humankind. This story shows why it is so important to remember the lessons from that time. “Never again”—please, let it never happen again that a people is summarily and nearly completely destroyed.
I received a copy of this book from BookSirens. My review is voluntary and the thoughts reflect my own opinions.
This thoughtful book looks at the life of a few people living in The Netherlands before and during WW II. It does so by first setting the scene in the midst of the war, then going back to 1936 to see what life was like before the war. To tell part of the story, the author uses the modern day time frame to fill in details. Here is a brief look at how he does that:
Utrecht, The Netherlands – Summer 1943
> This is mid-story; Sophie Milstein, a forger of papers for Jews trying to escape German occupied lands that find themselves in The Netherlands. With her, a young child whose parents were taken by the Germans, but who was able to be saved by an underground rescue group working with Sophia. For a time, Sophie had the care of this child whom she began to think of as now belonging to her. Her close friend Marika, who worked in behalf of this group, had to flee to England, leaving Sophia and Hannah behind.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands – 2010
> Marika van der Weil, nearly ninety, meets Sophia’s own daughter, Anna Perlman, shortly after Sophia has died. Anna has come to learn about items she has found and for help understanding her mother’s standoffish attitude Anna’s entire life. So, Marika begins to relive the events of those long ago times.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands – March 1936
> We are taken back to 1936 when Sophia and Marika’s story begins as the Nazi threat takes form and function. Through her eyes and experiences, the exploitation, persecution, and relocation of the entire Jewish population of Europe is reflected in what we see of Sophia’s experience of the war. The devastation that the loss of so many families in the concentration camps, is seen by the loss of Sophia’s entire family and the life-long effects that loss had on her and her ability to openly love her own daughter in later years.
In contrast to this bleak aspect of the war, we get a behind-the-scenes-look at the extensive network of people working to rescue, hide, and re-document the refugees that took place, in order to save all they could, even at the expense of their own lives. Indeed, most of these noble people lost their lives trying to help these people, with only a rare survivor. Their heroic deeds to save even one life deserve to be remembered.
This book purports to be fiction, and the specific characters may be fictional. But the story they lived is based on the reality of that dark period of humankind. This story shows why it is so important to remember the lessons from that time. “Never again”—please, let it never happen again that a people is summarily and nearly completely destroyed.
I received a copy of this book from BookSirens. My review is voluntary and the thoughts reflect my own opinions.
May 19, 2026
I loved this tale of bold, undying resistance and friendships during such a dark part of our history during WWII. The novel introduces us to Sophie, a talented artist who uses her skills during the years in German occupied Holland as a premier forger. She is able to forge identity documents to save the lives of countless others facing Jewish persecution and deportation. As a jewish woman herself, she risks her safety and life to resist and help others survive the war. We meet her daughter, Anna, in later years who has struggled all her life trying to understand why her mother was distant, closed and secret. We learn from her hidden past she survived the worst of life's offerings including news of her entire family being murdered in Auschwitz. Friends and colleagues killed as well for resisting and fighting against fascism and hate. Its a sad tale as well since many good people, as in war, die unjustly. I wept at the end knowing and reading that friendship and love always prevail against unimaginable odds. I recommend this book to historical fiction fans as its a beautiful and quick read. Hard to put down.
February 7, 2026
“The Librarian of Amsterdam” is an extremely vivid story about civilians who fought against the Nazis during World War II. Sophie, a young Jewish woman, was one of these. She was a gifted artist. During wartime, she developed her gift into a very practical one: forging documents.
Reading this book was like watching a movie. It was so tragic, so scary– and yet “The Librarian of Amsterdam” was inspiring because Sophie’s friends were using their talents and abilities to save lives.
The writing was wonderful and the story was so compelling.
Thank you to Story Origin for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review.
Reading this book was like watching a movie. It was so tragic, so scary– and yet “The Librarian of Amsterdam” was inspiring because Sophie’s friends were using their talents and abilities to save lives.
The writing was wonderful and the story was so compelling.
Thank you to Story Origin for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review.
April 22, 2026
Tale of ordinary people doing extraordinary things against evil, that's how I will describe this book. With an impeccable prose and attention to detail this book will captivate you from beginning to end, and will make you live the dangers and real live vicissitudes of the main character, Sophie, and all of the people around her.
It will also give you a pretty good idea of the kind of live that the people of The Netherlands go thru during WWII, and particularly the life of a forger and the constant danger she was in, especially because she was Jewish, in order to saev as many children as possible during this dark period of time in history.
It will also give you a pretty good idea of the kind of live that the people of The Netherlands go thru during WWII, and particularly the life of a forger and the constant danger she was in, especially because she was Jewish, in order to saev as many children as possible during this dark period of time in history.
May 19, 2026
Step into Holland and meet the Librarian
The Librarian of Amsterdam paints a moving portrait of World War II. It is the story of the citizens, not the actual war.
It is a book about love and loss, about hunger and hate, about choices and consequences.
Uri Dushy’s book also reminded me of today’s refugees. It helped me understand my roots better.
A daughter learns why her mother protected her past, projected a coldness. Her mother was the Librarian, a graphic artist whose forgeries of documents saved many. To carry on, the Librarian had to learn to focus on saving one even as thousands more needed saving.
The Librarian of Amsterdam paints a moving portrait of World War II. It is the story of the citizens, not the actual war.
It is a book about love and loss, about hunger and hate, about choices and consequences.
Uri Dushy’s book also reminded me of today’s refugees. It helped me understand my roots better.
A daughter learns why her mother protected her past, projected a coldness. Her mother was the Librarian, a graphic artist whose forgeries of documents saved many. To carry on, the Librarian had to learn to focus on saving one even as thousands more needed saving.
February 7, 2026
This is an unusual story about a Jewish woman in Amsterdam during World War 2. Instead of fighting the Nazis like most resistance workers we read about, Sophie is a young woman with a talent for forging documents. With each stroke of her pen she can save a life or end it. Now that is real power.
It is a split timeline book fluctuating between 1936-1945 and 2010. At times it feels like two separate emotional stories but if you are patient and read to the end it all comes together. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It is a split timeline book fluctuating between 1936-1945 and 2010. At times it feels like two separate emotional stories but if you are patient and read to the end it all comes together. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 25, 2026
This book was given to me as an ARC here is my honest and voluntarily review.
This is my second book from this Author and it didn’t disappoint it was so well written the story, is like if ur there it makes you feel every single thing. This book follows Sophie, a former librarian turned resistance forger, risking everything to save Jewish children from deportation. She help so many children but the relationship she forms with the orphan she protects adds such a tender, emotional and raw feeling that made the stakes feel even more real. I will definitely completely recommend.
This is my second book from this Author and it didn’t disappoint it was so well written the story, is like if ur there it makes you feel every single thing. This book follows Sophie, a former librarian turned resistance forger, risking everything to save Jewish children from deportation. She help so many children but the relationship she forms with the orphan she protects adds such a tender, emotional and raw feeling that made the stakes feel even more real. I will definitely completely recommend.
April 6, 2026
4.5 stars. I was completely swept up in this book. I read a lot of World War 2 historical fiction, so I tend to be on the critical side. This book felt fresh. In particular the way the author dealt with the emotional development of the characters felt very honest, even when it wasn’t as poetic as many readers would prefer. The story was well paced with a good amount of action sprinkled in.
This is the second book I have read by this author and my favorite of the two. I did receive a copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is the second book I have read by this author and my favorite of the two. I did receive a copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 15, 2026
Make sure you have tissues
THIS WAS FANTASTIC…. SO CAPTURING IT HOLDS YOU TO KEEP CONTINUING… AND SO REAL AND SHOWING THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO REALLY DID ALL THESE THINGS.. THE EMOTIONS ARE SO REAL.. SO DEEP READING AND BRINGING OUT TRUE LIVES OF THOSE WHO DID THESE THINGS…. GREAT WORK, SAD BUT THAT WAS WHAT THE PEOPLE WHO DID THESE THINGS TO SAVE OTHERS…. GRAT WRITING.. ENJOY BUT KNOW THE TEARS WILL COME..
THIS WAS FANTASTIC…. SO CAPTURING IT HOLDS YOU TO KEEP CONTINUING… AND SO REAL AND SHOWING THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO REALLY DID ALL THESE THINGS.. THE EMOTIONS ARE SO REAL.. SO DEEP READING AND BRINGING OUT TRUE LIVES OF THOSE WHO DID THESE THINGS…. GREAT WORK, SAD BUT THAT WAS WHAT THE PEOPLE WHO DID THESE THINGS TO SAVE OTHERS…. GRAT WRITING.. ENJOY BUT KNOW THE TEARS WILL COME..
March 2, 2026
The inspiration and courage of what the Jewish people went through is well documented in a away that makes you feel as if you are a part of the journey, not just reading it. The courage shown in this book really made me stop and wonder! I cannot wait to pick up another book by the author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 3, 2026
Loved it. Great story and the writing was excellent. A new author for me to discover now and look forward to reading more. Sophie was an exceptional person in her life , she certainly gave her all for those under threat from the Nazi’s. It is also an emotional read with her daughter discovering why her. Mother struggled after the war. Would recommend
March 7, 2026
WWII from the view of the resistance
Sofie and Marika are two youg women in Holland supporting the resistance. Sofie was a librarian until she was fired for being Jewish. Now she forges documents so others can survive.
Sofie and Marika are two youg women in Holland supporting the resistance. Sofie was a librarian until she was fired for being Jewish. Now she forges documents so others can survive.
March 14, 2026
True inspiration of women courage
This was in inspirational story of courage and love. That toll place during WWII . Show how courage can come from anyone. Highly recommended this book
This was in inspirational story of courage and love. That toll place during WWII . Show how courage can come from anyone. Highly recommended this book
April 15, 2026
extraordinary courage
The story of extraordinary courage in a horrific time in history. A selfless woman giving new life to many. A story that captures your heart and soul as you travel through her journey.
The story of extraordinary courage in a horrific time in history. A selfless woman giving new life to many. A story that captures your heart and soul as you travel through her journey.
May 11, 2026
This was so real that I thought that it was a true story. Such meaningful characters that I grew to love! I have to admit that I cried at the end. It was that good. I don't give out a lot of 5 star ratings, but this is one of them.
May 29, 2026
Excellent
This is a wonderful book about WW2 in Holland during German occupation. It is well written and describes the suffering of the Dutch people. It is a story of courage, sacrifice, friendship, and love. I highly recommend.
This is a wonderful book about WW2 in Holland during German occupation. It is well written and describes the suffering of the Dutch people. It is a story of courage, sacrifice, friendship, and love. I highly recommend.
June 2, 2026
Great read. A heartfelt story about World War II. Forged documents. Hiding, trying to save people, families, children.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 24, 2026
Riveting
This story draws so much emotion on every page. Beauty and some happiness is found among the horrors of WW II.
This story draws so much emotion on every page. Beauty and some happiness is found among the horrors of WW II.
March 4, 2026
what a great book! what a story!
March 5, 2026
Loved this book. Very strong women worked during the war to save Jewish families and children. They deserve our gratitude
March 8, 2026
Brilliant amazing such a great book
March 14, 2026
Excellent story, well written, amazing courage
March 14, 2026
Eye opening
I had no idea,about the brave man and women who worked so hard to forge documents to save so many people,
I had no idea,about the brave man and women who worked so hard to forge documents to save so many people,
March 15, 2026
Wow. A powerful novel with characters that find their way into your heart. It’s a story I won’t soon forget.
March 28, 2026
An extrairdinary book
March 29, 2026
Heartbreaking Story of Courage and Love
I loved this book couldn't put it down! A testament to women all over the world, who fight for the right thing!
I loved this book couldn't put it down! A testament to women all over the world, who fight for the right thing!
April 4, 2026
riveting read
It was one of THE best WW2 stories ever! How the Dutch struggled but stood strong through the fight and cruelty of the Nazi regime!
It was one of THE best WW2 stories ever! How the Dutch struggled but stood strong through the fight and cruelty of the Nazi regime!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews