Johanna and Henriette Kuyper: Daring to Change Their World

Chosen Daughters

by Abigail van der

At the turn of the 1800s, two women challenge society in the Netherlands. Johanna is a traditional wife eager to both support and challenge her strong-willed husband, the political leader Abraham Kuyper. Henriette is an international traveler, champion of women's suffrage, and wartime correspondentamong much else! Both mother and daughter risk reproach and defy customchanging their world for good and for God's sake.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

272 pages, Paperback

Published June 30, 2017

Reviews

[Karen R · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiring story of two women whose legacy of faith influenced many for generations.

Mainly focusing on Johanna and her husband Abraham "Bram" Kuyper, I found this an interesting read, not knowing anything about the Dutch reformers, or history of the Netherlands in the 1800's. Johanna's life legacy passed down to her children, especially daughter Henriette "Harry", was encouraging to read, as she taught them that the Lord gave them all unique personalities, to guard their hearts and live authentic lives that honor Him. She heeded her own father's advice not to "lose herself" in serving and supporting her husband, but to use her gifts to help others, with grace and faith, teaching others to read and love them in Christ. "Reading...is one of the most helpful skills a person can have."
Abraham and Johanna's love story was a unique one, and fun to read. Their daughter "Harry" was an interesting person, helping others as her mother had, but also respectfully working towards and achieving social reforms. The last third of the book follows her public life and influence abroad.

I enjoyed reading the author's notes at the end too, with photos and the history of the real people in the book, noting how their lives "encourage us to honor God and stay true to the person He created each of us to be." It would have been helpful to have more dates in the story for reference.

Recommend for teens and up who enjoy reading Christian biographical fiction.

(An e-book was provided by NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.)

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Johanna and Henriette Kuyper

Daring to Change Their World
by Abigail van der Velde

P & R Publishing
Christian

Pub Date 30 Jun 2017

I am reviewing a copy of Daring to Change Their World through P&R Publishing and Netgalley:

This book transports us to nineteenth century Netherlands. Johanna Kuyper is a traditional wife, and her husband Abraham Kuyper a prominent leader in the church.

Jo and Bram had seven children. Johanna serves her family through joys and sorrows including the death of her ten year old son. Late in the nineteenth century Johanna contracts Typus.

Johanna's daughter Henrietta is more progressive than her Mother. Henriette Kuyper traveled the world, she was a champion of Woman's suffarage as well as a wartime News Correspondent.

I give Daring to Change Their World five out of five stars.

Happy Reading!

[Rhonda · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main character, Jo, was too flat of a character; I bet she was really fun to chat with but the author seemed to really struggle to draw Jo out. I will have no idea of what Jo’s personality was really like. As well the book seemed to jump years in pages or by the next chapter with no indication. It was really hard to track.

[Koalababy5267]

Wonderful story of how a mother and a daughter strive to change their world for the better, a perfect model for us today.

[Christie Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this book missed the first two editing stages. It needed a good developmental edit to give it an actual plot, and it needed a line edit because my major impression of the book is the overly flowery descriptions of tableclothes and sewing bags. This book read like a series of unrelated (and overly descriptive) vignettes rather than a novel, which was disappointing. I was hoping to discover the character and life of these women, but I mostly got them lecturing each other about being ‘good’ women and wives. Also…I couldn’t keep track of all the characters. I kept thinking this person or that was important, then they’d never show up again. So much potential, and I hope the author keeps writing. I would just hope she ends up with a much better edit the next time around.

[Hannah Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a fun idea; I was really intrigued to learn more about the Kuyper family. I loved Jo and Abraham's love story, but then it got slow after they got married. And, as much as I love babies, I had a hard time keeping track of their ?? kids with another one showing up every couple pages. Really, though, I just think it was overly ambitious. For her first novel, Van Der Velde covered probably 75 years worth of material in 200 pages, so, especially by the end, material skipped from one scene to the next. It was too much.

Also, what happened to Jo's asthma?! That was a huge deal the first chapter and... then... it... disappeared...

[Leila Bowers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being introduced to these women and their lives and all the lines of history they touched gets five stars, but the actual writing of the book gets three from me. It is very episodic - there are multiple breaks between scenes in each chapter when there could have been more connection and flow between events and discussions. This made it particularly hard to read out-loud to my daughter, though we both really enjoyed the characters.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about Abraham Kuypur's daughter and wife! It starts when Joanna is a kid. This tell of Abraham Kuypur and his personal life? What inspired him!