Brave Deeds: How One Family Saved Many People from the Nazis

by Ann Alma

When Holland was under Nazi rule, the Dutch lived extremely harsh lives. Thousands were in hiding, especially Jews who had managed to escape transport to the death camps. Frans Braal and his wife Mies took in anyone in need of help — Jews, children whose parents could no longer look after them, resistance fighters, and people who were starving — providing them with a temporary home. Twice their place was searched by the Nazis, and on both occasions they managed to hide everyone in time. Told through the eyes of a child, this is the story of the Braals, two people who willingly put themselves in great danger in order to save the lives of those less fortunate. Throughout, sidebars provide further information about Dutch resistance workers and traitors, Dutch Jews, bombing missions, false identity cards, the war, and more. The book also gives a flavor of wartime Dutch culture — treats, children’s games, favorite books, and a visit from Sinterklaas are all relished by the young protagonist. A glossary is also included.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II

96 pages, Hardcover

First published April 28, 2008

About the author

While teaching intermediate grades in Armstrong, B.C., Ann wrote her first novel in the early morning hours and on weekends. With the backing of her enthusiastic students, Ann sent the manuscript off to publishers and this became her widely acclaimed best-selling novel Skateway to Freedom. Ann quit teaching in 1992. She bought a house in the West Kootenay mountains and became a fulltime writer.

She is a member of CANSCAIP, CWILL BC, TWUC, and CCBC

Ann's favorite hobbies are still the activities she started as a child. She loves writing and walking in the mountains with her dog, Shira, and playing with her cat, Miepke. She gardens from spring to fall while she travels and camps when she can pull herself away from writing her next book.

Reviews

[Terri Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the life of me I cannot understand why so many reviewers complain because this nonfiction book is narrated by a fictional 11-year-old child of unknown gender who represents the children in hiding in the Netherlands during World War 2. The story itself is true but since it is a children's/YA book, the author cleverly used the voice of a fictional child to tell about the events in the home of Dutch Resistance members Frans and Mies Braal so moved out to the country so to hide an injured Canadian airman shot from the sky, a number of Jews, and quite a number of children along with their own family.

Frans and Mies are gentle, loving, and compassionate conscientious objectors who said they would not lift a hand to kill but would gladly help those in need. At one point there were 26 hidden at the house. They took in some children who were nearly starved to death, a little boy with lice, and adults who needed to be hidden. It was amazing how resourceful they were in keeping the house warm when it was freezing cold, keeping everyone fed, tending to the sick, and even managing to get phony identity cards and food ration cards for people not staying with them. When Nazis showed up from time to time, there was even an underground hideout.

I loved the voice of the fictional child. We know the child is 11 and like the kids who stayed there. We don't know if the child is a boy or girl so do not project any prejudices upon the child. It is just an observant child hiding while resistance parents are hidden elsewhere, a child who hides in a linen cupboard when the bombers fly over at night, and a child who can find simple things to take joy in thanks to Frans and Mies who can make fun for those they shelter even during the hardest times. These are the kind of people I love, admire and respect. I am so glad to have read this book.

[Caroline Mcphail-Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent look into the Dutch resistance workers during WWII. Complete with black and white photos this is a readable account of how life was for children in Holland. The historical notes at the end explain why this story had to be told. As an avid reader of the accounts of WWII, I learned from this little story. For instance I didn’t know about the severe shortage of firewood and that, “People burn their own furniture, cupboards, even every step of their wooden stairs. They sneak into houses that stand empty to look for doors, window frames, stairs, anything made of wood.” (Pg74) I believe this is an important text for all midday school years students to read and understand the horrors of war.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was just what I'd been looking for: a book that would gently introduce the horrors of WWII by emphasizing the courageous ways so many people responded to it.

My daughter is fascinated by nonfiction and history, so I think she'll really like this one. I'll update this review after she reads it.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading how people like the Braal family were not afraid to stand up and help other even if it meant them losing their lives.

[Nicole Tabatabai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was great, but I am biased. Louisa (Weise) is my grandmother and Frans/Mies were my Opa and Oma.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gr 4-7-Straddling the divide between fiction and nonfiction, Brave Deeds tells the true story of two Dutch resistance fighters through the eyes of a fictitious 11-year-old. In the fall of 1944, the anonymous narrator's parents must flee the Nazis, and she is taken in the middle of the night from their Rotterdam home to spend several months with the Braals. Frans Braal, a conscientious objector before Germany invaded Holland in 1940, is credited with leading the Dutch Resistance Movement on the island of Voorne. Together, he and his wife transformed their remote house, Het Buitenhuis, into a safe haven for all manner of refugees, risking their own lives and the lives of their young children in the process. At times, there are almost 30 adults and children living together. The day-to-day life at Het Buitenhuis is well described, but details about how Braal pulled off his various resistance exploits are absent. The author is a friend of the family about whom she writes, and her information comes directly from the survivors, with no other sources given. Alma's tribute to an ordinary family who took extraordinary risks is commendable, and the numerous photographs from the family's archives are very helpful. However, her decision to use the unnamed narrator to "stand for all children who go through war" weakens the offering and leaves readers feeling disconnected.-Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

[Lady Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

While definitely a good book with a child's perspective on WWII, I didn't feel it was as good as many of the others I've read. I did, however, love the use of real photos mixed into the narrative. I also love the idea of taking a real family, their lives and the real things they did and throwing a fictional character into the mix so as to see their world through the eyes of one of the children they helped. I thought making the narrator/protagonist nameless was also a brillant stroke.

So while the ideas and story were great, where the story fails is in execution. Children will probably still love it, however.

[Phoebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read, describing the heroic Braal family who were key operators in the brave Dutch resistance effort against the Nazis. Told through the words of a fictional, gender-unspecific child whose parents flee after entrusting him/her to Frans Braal, but sprinkled with actual photographs and plenty of facts. The Braals took in anyone needing help, and hid them in their big country house, rather amazingly. For kids who aren't quite ready for Anne Frank, or who enjoyed Number the Stars; this book is a worthy addition to the 940 shelves. 4th grade and up.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usually, I only read weird, crazy, fantasy books. Or funny ones with spies, elves, witches and snarky main characters. So, it surprised me to feel so touched by a book about something that really did happen. I read Brave Deeds a few years ago but I still remember it perfectly and know that I could read it again today and be affected the same way. It is a beautiful story, and can be read to most ages. This book is filled with heart warming, and spine chilling pictures. If you havn't read it, I suggest you do, because Ann Alma has told this true story incredibly well.

[Edie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While at times life in hiding with the Braals sounds almost idyllic from the point of view of the young fictious narrator, this story, based on a true couple and their heroic deeds, gives a good introduction to efforts by some to save those whom the Nazis were hunting down and exterminating. And photographs of the people, documents, etc add to the knowledge that the book imparts in an easy to read format.

[Marilyn Slagel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the author's realistic descriptions of the resistance movement through the eyes of a child. This book was recommended to me by a friend whose grandparents were part of the WW II resistance movement in Holland.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book would be good for elementary school students, I think, but the made-up narrator is annoying.

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

short simple read it in about a day. fast pace gives you and idea of what the family did to help people

[Mgeis01 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend: elementary age reading. The unnamed narrator cheapens the writing IMO, however it didn't bother my 7yo who is most interested in WWII.

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

A children's book and well written and not too scary for children's introductions to WWII. I liked that it was from Holland. A very personal story.