Squirrel Is Alive: Squirrel Is Alive: A Teenager in the Belgian Resistance and French Underground

by Mary Rostad, Susan T. Hessel

Squirrel is A Teenager in the Belgian Resistance and French Underground is the incredible story of Mary Rostad’s early life. Rostad was 16 years old when the Nazis conquered her home city of Brussels in 1940. She joined the resistance movement, serving in Belgium and later France, primarily as a courier of underground documents. At the end of World War II, Rostad met U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Allen Rostad.

Genres: World War II, Memoir

158 pages, Paperback

First published February 19, 2013

Reviews

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will admit that I am biased--this book is my mother's story. We are so grateful to have this written record of her courage as a teenager in Nazi-occupied Belgium. Her co-author Susan T. Hessel did a wonderful job researching the historical events of the era, and Mom's personal stories are woven into the events of WWII, the Underground, and the Resistance.

[Missy Bratland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary and I belonged to the same Quilt Guild years ago, and she was an absolute delight! I wish I would have known more of her story then. What a wonderful woman!

[La Crescent Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

For her first 30 years living in the United States, Mary Rostad never shared her story as a teenager working for the French Underground. She first shared parts of her story with her Girl Scouts, and once she started, as she states, "the dam burst." This book, Squirrel Is Alive, is the culmination of the story she has since shared with thousands of students all over the Coulee Region.

Mary shares her experience as a teenager in the Belgian Resistance and French Underground. She was 16 years old when the Nazis first invaded Belgium in 1940. At age 18, she left home without saying good-bye to her family, without identification papers, with no food, no extra clothes, and no plans for where to stay, and began her trek across Belgium and France, sharing information about the movements of the German Army. She walked from contact to contact, safe house to safe house, constantly dodging close calls with Nazis.

Her story begins with background information and history of Belgium and France, including the aftermath of WWI that led to WWII. She shares insight into her family, especially her mother's resourcefulness in wartime. Her story continues after the war, when she met her American husband and moved to Minnesota for the first time. Mary's story concludes with the eulogy her friend and colleague Darryle Clott shared at her funeral, months before the book itself was published. While the book focuses mostly on the war, the eulogy brings out many of Mary's human qualities, her life as a wife, mother, friend, colleague, nurse, Girl Scout leader, and hero.

What an incredible story of a brave teenager who did the right thing in spite of the dangers. She saw injustice, and even though she was not part of the targeted group, she did what she could to stand up for what was right.

~ Emily

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Rostad is horrified by what the Nazis are doing in her beloved Belgium. She begins with small acts of resistance, then commits to joining the larger resistance movement. As a teenager, she leaves her family without telling them and begins walking across western Europe. Along the way, she meets interesting people and delivers messages.

Mary tells her story in a clear voice that looks back on her life. The reader can almost see the shake of Mary’s head as she describes the risks she took as a young girl. She also reflects on the pain it must have caused her family to not know what happened to their daughter for two years during World War II.

“Squirrel is Alive” came about because of a community of people who encouraged Mary to tell her story. Susan Heissel helped Mary write the story and they got through a first draft before Mary passed away. Heissel finished the revisions on Mary’s behalf. Darryle Cloet, who worked closely with Mary for many years wrote an afterword about the impact Mary’s story had and continues to have on others.

This book would be great for teens who are interested in acts of resistance during the Holocaust.

Thanks to NetGalley and Independent Publishing Group for an advanced reader copy in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such important history. The story told to and written with Mary Rostad by the wonderful local writer and historian, Susan T. Hessel, brings home the point that heroes are among us, even in small towns in the Driftless Region. World history is local history. I was reminded of the horrors of Nazi occupation particularly in Belgium. It was also interesting history about the period after the war, Mary's role in it, as well as her story (and that of many others) of war brides. Special gratitude goes to Darryle Clott for her tireless work to make sure we never forget the holocaust and to the D>B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo for initial publication of this book. "...while we cannot prevent inhumanity in others, we can and must preserve our own (p.116)."

[Murray · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mary Rostad's autobiography of growing up in Belgium and leaving her family and spending her teenage years fighting with the resistence and aiding the allies during WWII. This autobiography was disappointing in the sense that Rostad did not go into any details about her resistance work which seemed to be the main purpose of the book. There are better first person narratives about their WWII experiences.

[Kateri Kramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

SQUIRREL IS ALIVE is a special book because it's written by a young woman who worked in the French and Belgian Resistance. It's inspiring and captivating to learn about a side of history not often told, from a perspective not often heard. This book is one I could see being used in social studies classrooms when teaching about the Holocaust.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Squirrel Is Alive provided a unique perspective and lots of inspiration. I enjoyed learning about how Mary would creatively cause trouble for the Nazis. She was an inspiring woman with a knack for bravery. I'd recommend this book to anyone looking to better understand what it was like for those working in the resistance during this time.

[Becky Hawkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is important for us to remember what things were like. There is so much we don't know and won't know if stories aren't shared. This memoir doesn't go into great detail, but it's more like sitting down and hearing the stories from a grandparent. And then you'll be amazed at what a person can do.

[AJ Foiret · Rating 3 out of 5]

An informative read about a remarkable individual but it’s very brief and lacks of lot of details. Perhaps because she died before her biography was finished.

Still, I deeply value being able to read about her and learn about her war time resistance work.

[Ellenh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heard her family speak at a book talk and read her memoir after. Hard to imagine being a teen in Brussels during the war and ending up working for the resistance as a courier. The book is well written and tells her story well.

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I only gave it 3 stars, I also feel this book is extremely important for everyone to read. The author died back in 2011, before all the current stuff of today is going on and in her book she just constantly urges people against repeating the past.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good young reader’s primer on the topic, but the afterword not written by the author is a bit strange and redundant if one actually reads the book itself.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! She is a local inspiration and I enjoyed reading about her bravery and compassion.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good YA true story of WWII resistance fighting. The heroine was from a nearby town, and the author and contributors are from my hometown

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book that gave me a new firsthand account of the Holocaust. It’s a quick, inspiring read that is appropriate for teens and adults alike. As more and more Holocaust survivors and witnesses pass away, I think it’s important to share their stories so we can prevent anything like this from ever happening again. Please check it out if you get the chance!

[Arianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Fulcrum Publishing for the review copy. I received this book completely free in exchange for an honest review.

When I was first messaged about this book, I was instantly intrigued. People who experienced WWII are starting to pass away, and it is important that we hear their stories. Mary’s story brings to light that exact reasoning, as she passed away during the writing process.

It is hard to write a review when the book is a memoir. Mary went through unimaginable events and had unwavering strength and bravery. All I can say is that I encourage everyone to read this book. It is short, but impactful.

[Emily Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

For her first 30 years living in the United States, Mary Rostad never shared her story as a teenager working for the French Underground. She first shared parts of her story with her Girl Scouts, and once she started, as she states, "the dam burst." This book, Squirrel Is Alive, is the culmination of the story she has since shared with thousands of students all over the Coulee Region.

Mary shares her experience as a teenager in the Belgian Resistance and French Underground. She was 16 years old when the Nazis first invaded Belgium in 1940. At age 18, she left home without saying good-bye to her family, without identification papers, with no food, no extra clothes, and no plans for where to stay, and began her trek across Belgium and France, sharing information about the movements of the German Army. She walked from contact to contact, safe house to safe house, constantly dodging close calls with Nazis. Occasionally she would be able to send coded messages back to her family through the illegal BBC radio, stating "Squirrel is still alive," Squirrel being her codename in the Resistance, based on a nickname she'd had as a child in Girl Scouts.

Her story begins with background information and history of Belgium and France, including the aftermath of WWI that led to WWII. She shares insight into her family, especially her mother's resourcefulness in wartime. Her story continues after the war, when she met her American husband and moved to Minnesota for the first time. Mary's story concludes with the eulogy her friend and colleague Darryle Clott shared at her funeral, months before the book itself was published. While the book focuses mostly on the war, the eulogy brings out many of Mary's human qualities, her life as a wife, mother, friend, colleague, nurse, Girl Scout leader, and hero.

What an incredible story of a brave teenager who did the right thing in spite of the dangers. She saw injustice, and even though she was not part of the targeted group, she did what she could to stand up for what was right.