Corrie Ten Boom: Keeper of the Angels' Den

Christian Heroes: Then & Now #5

by Janet Benge, Geoff Benge

Suddenly, Corrie's ordered life was lost in the insanity of war. With bravery and compassion, her family and countless other Dutch citizens risked everything to extend God's hand to those innocents marked for certain execution in a world gone mad.

Corrie ten Boom's life of determination, faith, and forgiveness in the face of unimaginable brutality and hardship is a stunning testimony of the sustaining power of God (1892-1983).

Genres: Biography, Christian, Nonfiction, History, Audiobook, Faith, Childrens

199 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1998

About the author

Janet and Geoff Benge are a husband and wife writing team with twenty years of writing experience. They are best known for the books in the two series Christian Heroes: Then & Now series and Heroes of History. Janet is a former elementary school teacher. Geoff holds a degree in history. Together they have a passion to make history come alive for a new generation. Originally from New Zealand, the Benges make their home in the Orlando, Florida, area.

Reviews

[Daniel Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 5 hour audiobook is a great introduction to this remarkable woman who had an amazing capacity to forgive. After the war, she encountered a cruel Nazi guard from the concentration camp that took the life of her father and sister. She was able to work through her hatred for the man and asked God to help her forgive him and it worked. She eventually wrote The Hiding Place, a first hand account of her arrest for harboring Jews, her imprisonment, and transfer to the camp. The book became a film and after that she traveled extensively to promote forgiveness.

[Esta Doutrich]

The audiobook version of this on Hoopla is a solid 4 stars from me for children too young for the The Hiding Place. We listened to the entire 5 books of All-Of-A-Kind family last year since I wanted my children’s first introduction to Jewish peoples and culture to be separate from WW2. So it felt like this was good timing now. This was a good introduction to the life of Corrie Ten Boom. It is still very intense/descriptive in parts—even though very condensed. So know your own children! But the writing and narration of the audiobook absolutely held my children’s attention and they begged for more chapters each time we turned it off.

[Sonnigirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite Christian heroes of all time. Her courage and message of forgiveness is timeless.

[Dana Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved The Hiding Place and I saw this book was available on Audible from the library. So, I checked it out and was so blessed. This biography told a few things I didn't remember from The Hiding Place and it also shared what happened to Corrie after the war. What a remarkable woman. She came from such a God fearing family. I can't even imagine going through what she did and still praising God and telling everyone about Jesus. She is definitely a hero of the Faith.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahh. Corrie's story gets me every time.

[Caleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read with my 5 and 6 year old, and there were a few topics that were hard to talk through, but good in the end. Be prepared to tackle tough themes.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book to my 6th and 7th grader as part of our WW 2 study and as part of required reading with the curriculum we use which is My Father’s World.

I’ve read Corrie’s own auto-biography, The Hiding Place, which obviously chronicles her story in her own words. In my opinion, there is nothing more powerful than that. So even though this book is still incredibly good, because it is told as a third party perspective, it isn’t quite as compelling. So that is the only reason I gave this four stars instead of five (however that may be unfair).

This is a story I would strongly encourage you as parents to read to your children! I try to read biographies to my children of men and women who have strong faith and character, who I want my kids to look up to and emulate. Corrie Ten Boom is all of those things and more! Not only does she show courage when it comes to risking her life for innocent Jews, but I think the most powerful part of her story and influence comes at the end of the war when she speaks of love and forgiveness. She speaks openly about how she herself struggled to forgive a guard she later came into contact with who had been cruel to her but was able to do so with the help of God.

This is a life changing book that is well written and one you or your children will not soon forget! Also, Corrie Ten Boom is the famous one, but her sister Betsie is also a hero that you will hear about in this book as well. Betsie inspired and encouraged Corrie by saying : “there is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still.”

[holly ✮˙⋆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was so amazing!!! I loved the story of Corrie ten Boom! I’m not really sure how to rate this…because I don’t want it to seem like I’m rating her life, but I thought it was really informative but also well written. I probably won’t reread it, so it’s 4 stars.

[Melissa Keller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read with kids and they loved it. Much of the same info as The Hiding Place but has additional details and more broad picture of time and events vs. just Corrie’s life. Very good!

[Elizabeth Pace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mean, y’all could probably guess… yes, read it with Momma P. and we had a great time. Although the story itself is very upsetting, but shows the depth of God’s love even in tragedy.

[Kelly Lindstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook with my 5 and 7 year old. Great version of Corrie Ten Boom’s story, especially for younger kiddos. I was greatly encouraged by God’s faithfulness in her circumstances.

[Andy Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never read anything about Corrie Ten Boom before. Loved it. Geared for younger readers but a great intro to her life and Christian Heroes.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was super great! Corrie was so brave!

[Natalie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a good book. I finished reading it to my kids just after getting wrecked by the flu and was thankful for the comfort of knowing that at least I don’t have the flu while getting beat up by the Gestapo and sent to a concentration camp. This book was a huge eye opener to my kids. The generation of kids we are turning out really hasn’t had to suffer much hardship. They instead are consumed with entertainment and recreation and not so much concerned with hard work or with how quickly a socialistic regime can change your life overnight. I am thankful for the faith corrie and bestie had in the midst of suffering and the forgiveness corrie pursued towards the Nazis when she could have chose hatred. Read it to your kids. I also liked the culture of the people in Holland. Family was such an important aspect in their life which they seemed to value so much. Here in many American societies family is for when it’s convenient or a text message away etc. Not these people, their families were as thick as thieves.

[Rebecca L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think any book since Where The Red Fern grows has made me cry as much as Corrie Ten Boom; Keeper of the Angels' Den did.
I love reading stories of the holocaust and World War II, it reminds me how much I am blessed and all I have to be thankful for, but this book was especially beautiful because it was about a Christian woman who, although she endured much hardship and loss, did not give up her faith.
A wonderful story of a Godly woman who did not let her hardships drag her down but chose to use them to tell others of God's love for all of the world.
Just beautiful; God Bless Corrie Ten Boom.

[Melissa B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love, love, love this book. Corrie ten Boom is a middle aged, religious woman working in her father's watch shop when the Nazis invade Holland. She has no intention of becoming a hero, but soon, she, her father, and her sister are harboring Jews in their family home. When there is a raid, Corrie and her family are taken to jail and eventually join the work force at one of the many Jewish concentration camps. Through all the hardships they endure, Corrie and her sister's faith only grow stronger.

This is such an inspirational, though sometimes emotionally hard to read, book. Highly recommended.

[Ático Místico · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fue increíble ver la misericordia de Dios en un campo de concentración.

Corrie Ten Boom fue una holandesa cristiana castigada por esconder judíos, pero a pesar de todo lo que vivió y aunque vivió en un campo de concentración, su fe no se desvaneció y siempre mantuvo su mirada firme en Dios.

100% recomendable ❤️

[Ana Rodríguez Miralles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book has been a huge blessing in my life, Corrie was SO brave and her testimony during the WWII left me speechless. As she said "In darkness, God's truth shines most clear". Apart from learning about her life, you will learn so much about concentration camps and what happened there. Highly recommended!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an amazing, inspiring series!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"there is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper."

[Jenelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible, heartbreaking, terrible story... and such a beautiful story of forgiveness and redemption. "There is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still."

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very grounding read during quarantine!

[Claire Kizziah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing biography that showed the faith of Corrie ten Boom, a woman arrested and put in a concentration camp during WWII. It is really encouraging and shows miracles that God did for Corrie while in jail. It is truly amazing!

[Jeremy Peyton · Rating 4 out of 5]

“There is no pit so deep which God’s love is not deeper”

[Annette Bowdrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Corrie Ten Boom books. They're hard to read sometimes but I always feel encouraged and challenged when I read her story.

[Abigail Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

"We must tell them, Corrie. We must tell them there is no pit so deep that God's love cannot reach it."

[Logan Krueger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book, learning about Miss Ten Boom’s extraordinary life. She gave her all in many ways and the impact for the Kingdom is significant! I cannot believe some of the things that the Nazis did to their captives. Horrible doesn’t begin to describe it. Corrie’s living example of forgiveness and optimism is to be emulated.

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about Corrie Ten Boom, of course. She lives in Holand with, by the time it's taken over by the Nazis, her father and sister Betsie. The madman Adolf Hitler, ruler of Germany, begins to take away the rights of the Jews. He also gives many rules for the others as well. Life for the Ten Booms changes drastically. Corrie's brother has a rest home, most of the people who come are Jews, but then a time came where the Ten Booms home also stars taking people in. For a time, they are not discovered. A man comes and builds a secret room in for an emergency refuge, in case the house is raided. Then it does happen. Corrie, who is sick, Betsie, and their father are all taken captive. They are soon in prison, where there old father meets his death. They are moved to other places and finally, in a German concentration camp. The Nazis treat them as not even animals should EVER be treated. There, Betsie dies. But things are better for Corrie. She gets let out and finally, makes it back to home. Sometime, she starts sharing her experience and speaking to people. Corrie learns the lesion of forgiveness and speaks of it to others. I probably wouldn't have picked this book up and read it. It was for reading, school subject. Corrie Ten Boom was a great Christian woman. This was a good book and it taught you about the horribly wicked blindedness of some people, and the forgiveness people can get from God.

[Shantelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've only ever read one other book about Corrie Ten Boom. It was called Jesus is Victor, and is actually written by Corrie herself. While it told amazing true stories about Corrie's life, I never really got the whole story. Corrie Ten Boom: Keeper of the Angel's Den, gave that to me. I did not actually realize how Corrie and her sister Betsie came to be in the prisons and horrible concentration camps with the Jews until I read this book.

Corrie Ten Boom: Keeper of the Angel's Den takes us on a terrifying, yet amazing journey, starting from before Holland (Corrie's homeland) came to be involved in the war. My eyes were opened once again to how incredible awful the Holocaust was... even though this book didn't go into too much detail.

I think everyone should open up this story about Corrie Ten Boom. For one, to remember that horrific time, to guard against history repeating itself. Another important reason, is to see that God was still there! He carried Corrie through, and gave her AMAZING ministry opportunities through her oppressive years with the persecuted Jews. Jesus IS victor. How incredibly sweet that Corrie could still see that, even after the horrors she had suffered.

I read this book for school... but found myself excited to read it each day. Well written, historical, interesting, thought-provoking. Corrie's story told.

[Destiny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this book as part of our WWII study. The book mentions Corrie's time being imprisoned in concentration camps, having to strip down to shower and be searched and having to sit in her own (and others) feces while traveling by boxcar and the deaths of family members. I felt that each of these was carefully and tactfully handled. For example, while it did mention that the Gestapo hit her multiple times the night they arrested her and it makes mention of her injuries, it does not go into great detail to describe them. The same is true with such matters in the rest of the book. The facts are there, but the authors did not glorify the horrific. I think this was due in large part to the fact that the focus of this biography was not to dwell on the tragedies she experienced, but to portray how her faith influenced her decisions both during and after the war. In fact, one of the things I especially loved was how they incorporated and discussed the impact her faith had on her experiences and the importance it played.

I would feel comfortable having my eight year old son read this, provided we discussed it along the way. If a child was reading it alone, depending on their sensitivity level, I would put this at fourth or fifth grade at the earliest age; however, I felt it was a good book for my junior high and high school aged children to read as well.