What do you think?
Rate this book
Selected to Live
Johanna Ruth Dobschiner's memoir is truly remarkable and inspiring. As a teenage Orthodox Jew in German occupied Holland during World War II, she found herself alone, navigating life and death decisions. Her escapes from deportation were extraordinary and a testament to her wit. After several close calls and feeling hopeless she decided to trust a stranger who offered a way to disappear in the underground. While in hiding she made the most important discovery of all in the pages of a children’s Bible.
190 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1971
3 people are currently reading
264 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 28, 2020
I wanted to give this at least three stars, but the last few pages really turned me off.
June 13, 2017
It was an interesting look at the life of a young Jewish girl who was the only surviving member of her family after the German occupation of Holland. Simply written and easy to read, it is an autobiography of the writer's life during WWII and of her conversion to Christianity. Well worth reading to get the perspective of someone who lived through a horrible time in fear and hiding much of the time. Her bold proclaiming of Christ as savior is refreshing and inspiring.
October 16, 2020
I actually quite enjoyed this book. At first, I thought it was a historical fiction about World War II (I found that true stories of these events from someone's perspective were simply depressing). Quickly realizing that this was one of those books, I gave it a chance. Wasn't what I expected. At all.
The beginning was incredibly fascinating and then it just kinda...went off with faith. Nothing wrong with it, just not necessarily my cup of tea.
The beginning was incredibly fascinating and then it just kinda...went off with faith. Nothing wrong with it, just not necessarily my cup of tea.
May 9, 2022
A little awkward in the writing, but it was the author telling her life story. She was a Jew who went underground during WW2. I really liked how she explained how Jesus called her to Himself while she was reading a Children’s Bible that she stumbled upon while in the house of some Dutch Christians who were hiding her.
June 13, 2018
Interesting and heartfelt (as all Holocaust stories are) but towards the end it got very preachy. I commend this woman for being able to stay optimistic and keep hold of her faith after all that she went through, but when the words ‘God is good’ are on every few pages I tend to lose interest.
July 3, 2020
Life changing book, based on a real story.
July 25, 2021
Amazing story of survival and redemption.
April 26, 2022
A very interesting book about a young Jewish woman rescued in order to find real Life in Christ
August 19, 2023
Amazing Story! The Holocaust was a terrible and terrific part of history. It changed lives then and continues to change lives today. I highly recommend this book.
October 27, 2023
Not for me
May 16, 2024
Amazing book on the holocaust.
December 19, 2024
The writing wasn't exceptional, but the story of how the author escaped arrest multiple times and then came to know the Lord as her Messiah was very captivating.
October 19, 2025
A most profound book. A very moving, inspirational and thought provoking read.
January 10, 2019
Selected to Live is about the life of Johanna Ruth Dobschiner between the ages of 7-19 (1933-1945).
The Dobschiners were orthodox Jews living in Germany but of Dutch origin, so their Dutch nationality kept them safe a little longer than those of German origin. Once the threat of arrest came close to their door they left for Holland, Amsterdam in particular, but were not safe there when the Germans began their occupation in 1940, despite the Netherlands being neutral.
Johanna, Hansie to her friends, had several close calls of arrest and eventually would go underground, bouncing from house to house staying for only a night in many and a few months in a couple.
The people who helped her had a profound influence on her but not nearly as much as the influence of reading a bible she found, from cover to cover, during mandatory quiet times while living in an attic or hidden area of a house.
This is a story of the profound orthodox faith of a jewish girl and how God came into her life anew breathing life and hope into her during a time when hope had very little life to cling to.
The Dobschiners were orthodox Jews living in Germany but of Dutch origin, so their Dutch nationality kept them safe a little longer than those of German origin. Once the threat of arrest came close to their door they left for Holland, Amsterdam in particular, but were not safe there when the Germans began their occupation in 1940, despite the Netherlands being neutral.
Johanna, Hansie to her friends, had several close calls of arrest and eventually would go underground, bouncing from house to house staying for only a night in many and a few months in a couple.
The people who helped her had a profound influence on her but not nearly as much as the influence of reading a bible she found, from cover to cover, during mandatory quiet times while living in an attic or hidden area of a house.
This is a story of the profound orthodox faith of a jewish girl and how God came into her life anew breathing life and hope into her during a time when hope had very little life to cling to.
July 24, 2013
Selected to Live was a great book. It is ultimately the story of God's amazing work in people's lives, and so it was very heartwarming and encouraging. But even if you're not a Christian, I would still recommend it; it is also the story of one girl's exciting escape from the Nazi regime. I think it would be fair to say that Dobschiner was less a writer and more an extraordinary person with a story to tell - it is a little stilted, but then you must remember that English is actually her third language. And anyway - it has a charming, relatable style even so. Overall I would say it's a very worthwhile read! :)
April 2, 2018
Book Club
Johanna Ruth Dobschiner's memoir is truly remarkable and inspiring. As a teenage Orthodox Jew in German occupied Holland during World War II, she found herself alone, navigating life and death decisions. Her escapes from deportation were extraordinary and a testament to her wit. After several close calls and feeling hopeless she decided to trust a stranger who offered a way to disappear in the underground. While in hiding she made the most important discovery of all in the pages of a children’s Bible.
Although the story is remarkable, I am giving this book 3 stars because I found myself struggling to read through her writing style.
Johanna Ruth Dobschiner's memoir is truly remarkable and inspiring. As a teenage Orthodox Jew in German occupied Holland during World War II, she found herself alone, navigating life and death decisions. Her escapes from deportation were extraordinary and a testament to her wit. After several close calls and feeling hopeless she decided to trust a stranger who offered a way to disappear in the underground. While in hiding she made the most important discovery of all in the pages of a children’s Bible.
Although the story is remarkable, I am giving this book 3 stars because I found myself struggling to read through her writing style.
July 10, 2016
This is a moving and powerful biography by a Jewish woman who lived through WW2 in occupied Holland. It's incredible the situations she had to deal with and beautiful how God guided her life. Definitely worth a read. However, I couldn't give it more than 3 stars as the writing style was aggravating. An overabundance of exclamation marks, superlatives, open questions, awkward sentence structures and simply unclear passages. Ignoring these shortcomings though, it's still good to read this first-hand account of survival and her discovery of Jesus Christ!
February 1, 2008
Started out a great and interesting story then it just kinda trailed off.
June 16, 2009
I picked this up because my devotional book quoted it. Interesting story of a young Jewish girl's trials and conversion during WW2.
October 2, 2014
Read this many years ago
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews