What do you think?
Rate this book
The Girl Across the Wire Fence
1944, Amersfoort Concentration Camp, Holland. Based on a true story, the unforgettable tale of two young lovers who risked everything to keep hope alive in the very depths of hell.
On a cold, dark day in a tiny Dutch village, Saskia and her boyfriend Frans watch as Nazi soldiers force thousands of prisoners towards Amersfoort Concentration Camp. Their hearts break as they see the desperate faces of innocent men and women and realise that the war is closer to them than it’s ever been before…
Saskia’s father’s draper’s shop is raided when the guards suspect that he is Jewish, and Frans is soon forced to enter the concentration camp every day to collect scraps of food as it’s the only way to feed the animals on his family’s farm. But despite the growing fear the couple feel, when a prisoner begs Frans to send a letter to his beloved reassuring her he is alive, they know they must risk everything to help him. Right under the noses of the Nazi occupiers they smuggle his letter. And eventually they ferry hundreds of messages for prisoners, bringing them hope in the darkest moments of their lives.
But every letter Frans gets out of the camp puts him in even more danger.
And every reply Saskia manages to collect is a risk.
And then Saskia is led into Kamp Amersfoort and is forced to wear a yellow star.
Inside, she cannot ignore the pain of the other prisoners, and Frans knows she will be putting herself in more danger to help them – attracting the attention of the guards. The couple know they must act. Everyone says it’s impossible to escape the camp, but it’s the only option they have left. Their love has kept them together but is it enough to help them survive?
On a cold, dark day in a tiny Dutch village, Saskia and her boyfriend Frans watch as Nazi soldiers force thousands of prisoners towards Amersfoort Concentration Camp. Their hearts break as they see the desperate faces of innocent men and women and realise that the war is closer to them than it’s ever been before…
Saskia’s father’s draper’s shop is raided when the guards suspect that he is Jewish, and Frans is soon forced to enter the concentration camp every day to collect scraps of food as it’s the only way to feed the animals on his family’s farm. But despite the growing fear the couple feel, when a prisoner begs Frans to send a letter to his beloved reassuring her he is alive, they know they must risk everything to help him. Right under the noses of the Nazi occupiers they smuggle his letter. And eventually they ferry hundreds of messages for prisoners, bringing them hope in the darkest moments of their lives.
But every letter Frans gets out of the camp puts him in even more danger.
And every reply Saskia manages to collect is a risk.
And then Saskia is led into Kamp Amersfoort and is forced to wear a yellow star.
Inside, she cannot ignore the pain of the other prisoners, and Frans knows she will be putting herself in more danger to help them – attracting the attention of the guards. The couple know they must act. Everyone says it’s impossible to escape the camp, but it’s the only option they have left. Their love has kept them together but is it enough to help them survive?
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2021
1168 people are currently reading
1134 people want to read
About the author
Imogen Matthews
18 books90 followersImogen Matthews lives in Oxford, England, and is the author of two romantic fiction novels. The Hidden Village is her first foray into historical fiction and YA.
She was born in Holland to a Dutch mother and English father and moved to England when she was still a baby.
Imogen has always enjoyed holidays in Holland and since 1990, has gone regularly with her husband and two children to Nunspeet on the edge of the Veluwe woods.
It was here she discovered the story of the hidden village and, together with her mother's vivid stories of life in WW2 Holland, she was inspired to write her historical fiction novels about bravery, courage, resilience and love.
She was born in Holland to a Dutch mother and English father and moved to England when she was still a baby.
Imogen has always enjoyed holidays in Holland and since 1990, has gone regularly with her husband and two children to Nunspeet on the edge of the Veluwe woods.
It was here she discovered the story of the hidden village and, together with her mother's vivid stories of life in WW2 Holland, she was inspired to write her historical fiction novels about bravery, courage, resilience and love.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
September 15, 2021
Frans was sixteen years old and worked on their farm with his father while his younger siblings continued going to school. It was 1944 and the Amersfoort Concentration Camp in Holland was in full swing with the Nazis at their brutal best! Frans’ sweetheart Saskia had just told him of her father’s devastation of having to close his drapery shop, at least until after the war. It had knocked Saskia’s parents around and although they weren’t Jews – their paperwork proved it – the Nazis were trying to find anything they could use to throw them into camp.
Every morning Evert – Frans’ father – would travel to the camp with his horse and cart for the potato peelings for their cattle. He’d been doing it for years from when the camp had been a prison and now, he needed Frans and Cas, his ten-year-old son, to take over the job. Terrified at the sights and sounds, the two boys were soon through the worst and on their way back to the farm. But after meeting a fellow Dutch boy who was a prisoner, named Theo, Frans came up with a plan. It wasn’t long before mail – in the form of paper fragments – was leaving the camp and Frans and Cas were smuggling the replies back in. But it was nerve wracking and dangerous. Saskia was collecting the outside replies and Frans was constantly worrying about things going wrong. And they did…
The Girl Across the Wire Fence by Imogen Matthews is based on a true story of people risking their own lives to smuggle mail to the prisoners of Amersfoort Concentration Camp, which was the largest in Holland in WWII. I hadn’t heard of this camp before now, but the brutality of the Nazis was the same as in every other concentration camp. It was liberated by Canadian soldiers and the Red Cross at the end of the war. Frans was an exceptional young man, as was Theo. Both brave, courageous and determined to help their fellow man as best they could, all the while worrying about what would happen if they were caught. And Saskia was the same – youth and fearlessness seem to go together! Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Every morning Evert – Frans’ father – would travel to the camp with his horse and cart for the potato peelings for their cattle. He’d been doing it for years from when the camp had been a prison and now, he needed Frans and Cas, his ten-year-old son, to take over the job. Terrified at the sights and sounds, the two boys were soon through the worst and on their way back to the farm. But after meeting a fellow Dutch boy who was a prisoner, named Theo, Frans came up with a plan. It wasn’t long before mail – in the form of paper fragments – was leaving the camp and Frans and Cas were smuggling the replies back in. But it was nerve wracking and dangerous. Saskia was collecting the outside replies and Frans was constantly worrying about things going wrong. And they did…
The Girl Across the Wire Fence by Imogen Matthews is based on a true story of people risking their own lives to smuggle mail to the prisoners of Amersfoort Concentration Camp, which was the largest in Holland in WWII. I hadn’t heard of this camp before now, but the brutality of the Nazis was the same as in every other concentration camp. It was liberated by Canadian soldiers and the Red Cross at the end of the war. Frans was an exceptional young man, as was Theo. Both brave, courageous and determined to help their fellow man as best they could, all the while worrying about what would happen if they were caught. And Saskia was the same – youth and fearlessness seem to go together! Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
August 20, 2021
This is NOT just another novel about a concentration camp.
The Girl Across the Wire Fence is a five-star historical fiction novel based on a true story of those who risked their lives to smuggle prisoners’ letters in and out of one of the largest, yet little known, concentration camps in Holland during World War Two. Kamp Amersfoort was a German concentration camp in Holland where 37,000 prisoners were kept between 1941 and 1945 when it was liberated by the Red Cross and the Canadian soldiers.
This unique look at young people who took their survival into their own hands focuses on a farmer’s son, Frans, who heads to Amersfoort every day to collect scraps of food to feed the animals on his family’s farm. When a prisoner begs Frans to send a letter to his girlfriend, a smuggling operation is put into action right under the noses of the Nazi guards. Transporting hundreds of messages for prisoners helps Frans feel like he’s doing something to help and it gives the prisoners hope in their darkest moments. When Saskia, Frans’s girlfriend and a non-Jew, is captured and taken to Amersfoort, Frans knows what he must do.
My first Imogen Matthews book absolutely captivated me from the first to the last page! With so many wartime books on the market featuring life in concentration camps, a historical fiction author needs to find either a unique presentation or research to find material for a unique look at a life of survival behind barbed wire. Matthews has accomplished both. She has found a true account of ordinary people’s courage and self-sacrifice to help the prisoners and masterfully transported her readers to the scene of the action, enabling them to watch from the sidelines. Her vivid depictions of survival life in Dutch villages during wartime are heartbreaking. I was genuinely invested in her layered characters and cared about their survival. Her villains were equally well-developed and repugnant. You will read about friendships strained because of living on different sides of the wire, young people who fought to keep love alive, and others who were willing to risk everything to help their fellow man. The tension and fear radiate from each page, not only for those in the camp but for those on the outside.
This five-star read needs to top your list - especially if you are a lover of historical fiction!
Publishes September 15, 2021.
I was gifted this advance copy by Imogen Matthews, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
The Girl Across the Wire Fence is a five-star historical fiction novel based on a true story of those who risked their lives to smuggle prisoners’ letters in and out of one of the largest, yet little known, concentration camps in Holland during World War Two. Kamp Amersfoort was a German concentration camp in Holland where 37,000 prisoners were kept between 1941 and 1945 when it was liberated by the Red Cross and the Canadian soldiers.
This unique look at young people who took their survival into their own hands focuses on a farmer’s son, Frans, who heads to Amersfoort every day to collect scraps of food to feed the animals on his family’s farm. When a prisoner begs Frans to send a letter to his girlfriend, a smuggling operation is put into action right under the noses of the Nazi guards. Transporting hundreds of messages for prisoners helps Frans feel like he’s doing something to help and it gives the prisoners hope in their darkest moments. When Saskia, Frans’s girlfriend and a non-Jew, is captured and taken to Amersfoort, Frans knows what he must do.
My first Imogen Matthews book absolutely captivated me from the first to the last page! With so many wartime books on the market featuring life in concentration camps, a historical fiction author needs to find either a unique presentation or research to find material for a unique look at a life of survival behind barbed wire. Matthews has accomplished both. She has found a true account of ordinary people’s courage and self-sacrifice to help the prisoners and masterfully transported her readers to the scene of the action, enabling them to watch from the sidelines. Her vivid depictions of survival life in Dutch villages during wartime are heartbreaking. I was genuinely invested in her layered characters and cared about their survival. Her villains were equally well-developed and repugnant. You will read about friendships strained because of living on different sides of the wire, young people who fought to keep love alive, and others who were willing to risk everything to help their fellow man. The tension and fear radiate from each page, not only for those in the camp but for those on the outside.
This five-star read needs to top your list - especially if you are a lover of historical fiction!
Publishes September 15, 2021.
I was gifted this advance copy by Imogen Matthews, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
August 30, 2021
I am Dutch myself so the premise of the book grapped my attention at once. While I knew we had camps in the Netherlands I didn’t know much about this one. The camp in Westerbork is usually more featured in history lessons.
The story was very interesting and I loved learning more about the camp and life in The Netherlands during the war. The main characters are young but so brave by bringing hope to the camp prisoners and their loved ones. The focus is more on them then the actual life in the camp.
It is a story of of courage and hope in dark times.
Merged review:
I am Dutch myself so the premise of the book grapped my attention at once. While I knew we had camps in the Netherlands I didn’t know much about this one. The camp in Westerbork is usually more featured in history lessons.
The story was very interesting and I loved learning more about the camp and life in The Netherlands during the war. The main characters are young but so brave by bringing hope to the camp prisoners and their loved ones. The focus is more on them then the actual life in the camp.
It is a story of of courage and hope in dark times.
The story was very interesting and I loved learning more about the camp and life in The Netherlands during the war. The main characters are young but so brave by bringing hope to the camp prisoners and their loved ones. The focus is more on them then the actual life in the camp.
It is a story of of courage and hope in dark times.
Merged review:
I am Dutch myself so the premise of the book grapped my attention at once. While I knew we had camps in the Netherlands I didn’t know much about this one. The camp in Westerbork is usually more featured in history lessons.
The story was very interesting and I loved learning more about the camp and life in The Netherlands during the war. The main characters are young but so brave by bringing hope to the camp prisoners and their loved ones. The focus is more on them then the actual life in the camp.
It is a story of of courage and hope in dark times.
October 2, 2022
4,0 ⭐️
Recensie volgt nog...
Recensie volgt nog...
September 19, 2021
The Girl Across the Wire Fence by Imogen Matthews is based around true events which provide plenty of realism to this story set in Holland during the later years of World War Two. This was an interesting read as I hadn’t previously read a book set in Holland during the war and had never known that the infamous camps were also located there. You read so many WW2 books set in Germany, France, Russia or Poland so it was refreshing to read of a different setting which provided an alternative aspect to the horrors of the war which we are all unfortunately too familiar with. It’s a quick read at just over 240 pages but the author does manage to pack a significant amount in, even though at times I felt a little more description and exploration was needed. Given the length of the book, I felt there was plenty of scope for more and the story could have been extended as the ending felt slightly rushed and abrupt in places.
Amersfoot is a village in Holland where the Germans have infiltrated every aspect of the residents lives and things are only getting worse. There are shortages of food, clothing and household goods and many shops are closing. Frans lives on a farm with his parents and younger siblings and given the horrific situation his country finds itself in, his family fair ever so slightly better than others in that they can provide food for the table and work on their farm. That’s not to say life is easy for them. How could it be when the country you have lived in for so long has been infiltrated by those hell bent on eradicating an entire section of the human race simply because of their religion? Frans is the stand out character of the book and this comes across right from the beginning. He takes over the task from his father of the daily visits to Kamp Amersfoot where Jews and ‘criminals’ have been imprisoned. Each day on his cart he enters the camp to collect potato peelings which are used as feed for his cattle. Frans can see the injustice in this. On one hand without this feed his cattle would die and where would that leave his family? But on the other hand the prisoners are starving and receive the merest of rations and he feels wrong to be taking what could save them. The cruel behaviour he witnesses in the camp is clearly not justified and he wishes he could do something that would help alleviate some of the pain the prisoners are suffering.
I loved the chapters that focused on Frans and was always eager to return to read of his viewpoint. He may only have been 16 but he came across as being wise beyond his years. He was so clued in to the bigger picture and was constantly thinking of plans in order to make life better for those that had reached rock bottom through unlawful persecution and terror. I loved Frans as a character, it’s cliched to use the terms brave, courageous and determined but that is what he was. He was also clever and forward thinking and used every available resource to his advantage, I thought he always put his life on the line despite being well aware of the consequences if caught but still he persisted and kept going forward with simple yet effective and ingenuitive ideas which would hopefully offer a ray of light to those experiencing the darkest of times. Frans could have easily turned a blind eye and just did the job he was sent to do at the camp but through his actions he showed he had a heart and was kind and compassionate.
Some of the more secondary characters were Cas, the younger brother of Frans, who accompanies him on the daily visits to the camp and who in turn played such a pivotal role in the entire secret operation that unfolds. Saskia is the girlfriend of Frans and they truly have a deep connection and love for each other. She aids Frans in his plan to smuggle letters in and out of the camp to those that need to hear words of comfort and solace. A network of sorts is created to establish links between those that await news on the outside of their loved ones and those on the inside tormented by what they are experiencing. Frans and Saskia are the links that bring this sense of unity about but it’s not without its perils. The fear of discovery lurks around every corner and the author did a wonderful job of portraying a real sense of danger, menace and threat.
As mentioned in the blurb fortunes change for Saskia and to be honest I found myself waiting for this event to occur for the majority of the novel and it only transpired towards the end. We didn’t hear from Saskia’s perspective as to her experience and I feel the story as a whole suffered because of this. Several chapters from her viewpoint when the worst befalls her would have brought it home even more just what Frans was doing putting his life on the lie on a daily basis. It wasn’t glossed over. Yes, it does say it happened and we see what the fall out is but still I wanted to know how Saskia felt now she was on the other side. At certain points I felt the story jumped forward a little bit and things weren’t explained in enough detail. It was like something was mentioned briefly and I would have loved to have read more detail but instead there we were moving on to the next event. There was just a little too much of skimming the surface when more in-depth analysis or detail was required.
Theo was the other major character to feature and although his story was horrific it was still Frans that really captured my interest and heart throughout. Theo finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time leading to his imprisonment and when the Germans strike he is taken to the camp leaving all connections to his beloved Annelies severed. That is until Frans comes up with his clever yet dangerous plan. The scene featuring Theo and the rose garden was truly shocking and jaw dropping and left me feeling cold and with a sick feeling to my stomach. It showed how the Nazi’s stopped at nothing in their desire to crush and annihilate the human spirit and took such pleasure from doing this.
Overall The Girl Across the Wire Fence was a good story and shows that Imogen Matthews has lots of potential writing in this genre. If the few issues I found could be ironed out in future books I know I would be fully captured from beginning to end. This book is worth a read for the different perspective of a another countries experiences during the war and how when such evil is all around you that compassion, strength, helpfulness, kindness and love can be found.
Amersfoot is a village in Holland where the Germans have infiltrated every aspect of the residents lives and things are only getting worse. There are shortages of food, clothing and household goods and many shops are closing. Frans lives on a farm with his parents and younger siblings and given the horrific situation his country finds itself in, his family fair ever so slightly better than others in that they can provide food for the table and work on their farm. That’s not to say life is easy for them. How could it be when the country you have lived in for so long has been infiltrated by those hell bent on eradicating an entire section of the human race simply because of their religion? Frans is the stand out character of the book and this comes across right from the beginning. He takes over the task from his father of the daily visits to Kamp Amersfoot where Jews and ‘criminals’ have been imprisoned. Each day on his cart he enters the camp to collect potato peelings which are used as feed for his cattle. Frans can see the injustice in this. On one hand without this feed his cattle would die and where would that leave his family? But on the other hand the prisoners are starving and receive the merest of rations and he feels wrong to be taking what could save them. The cruel behaviour he witnesses in the camp is clearly not justified and he wishes he could do something that would help alleviate some of the pain the prisoners are suffering.
I loved the chapters that focused on Frans and was always eager to return to read of his viewpoint. He may only have been 16 but he came across as being wise beyond his years. He was so clued in to the bigger picture and was constantly thinking of plans in order to make life better for those that had reached rock bottom through unlawful persecution and terror. I loved Frans as a character, it’s cliched to use the terms brave, courageous and determined but that is what he was. He was also clever and forward thinking and used every available resource to his advantage, I thought he always put his life on the line despite being well aware of the consequences if caught but still he persisted and kept going forward with simple yet effective and ingenuitive ideas which would hopefully offer a ray of light to those experiencing the darkest of times. Frans could have easily turned a blind eye and just did the job he was sent to do at the camp but through his actions he showed he had a heart and was kind and compassionate.
Some of the more secondary characters were Cas, the younger brother of Frans, who accompanies him on the daily visits to the camp and who in turn played such a pivotal role in the entire secret operation that unfolds. Saskia is the girlfriend of Frans and they truly have a deep connection and love for each other. She aids Frans in his plan to smuggle letters in and out of the camp to those that need to hear words of comfort and solace. A network of sorts is created to establish links between those that await news on the outside of their loved ones and those on the inside tormented by what they are experiencing. Frans and Saskia are the links that bring this sense of unity about but it’s not without its perils. The fear of discovery lurks around every corner and the author did a wonderful job of portraying a real sense of danger, menace and threat.
As mentioned in the blurb fortunes change for Saskia and to be honest I found myself waiting for this event to occur for the majority of the novel and it only transpired towards the end. We didn’t hear from Saskia’s perspective as to her experience and I feel the story as a whole suffered because of this. Several chapters from her viewpoint when the worst befalls her would have brought it home even more just what Frans was doing putting his life on the lie on a daily basis. It wasn’t glossed over. Yes, it does say it happened and we see what the fall out is but still I wanted to know how Saskia felt now she was on the other side. At certain points I felt the story jumped forward a little bit and things weren’t explained in enough detail. It was like something was mentioned briefly and I would have loved to have read more detail but instead there we were moving on to the next event. There was just a little too much of skimming the surface when more in-depth analysis or detail was required.
Theo was the other major character to feature and although his story was horrific it was still Frans that really captured my interest and heart throughout. Theo finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time leading to his imprisonment and when the Germans strike he is taken to the camp leaving all connections to his beloved Annelies severed. That is until Frans comes up with his clever yet dangerous plan. The scene featuring Theo and the rose garden was truly shocking and jaw dropping and left me feeling cold and with a sick feeling to my stomach. It showed how the Nazi’s stopped at nothing in their desire to crush and annihilate the human spirit and took such pleasure from doing this.
Overall The Girl Across the Wire Fence was a good story and shows that Imogen Matthews has lots of potential writing in this genre. If the few issues I found could be ironed out in future books I know I would be fully captured from beginning to end. This book is worth a read for the different perspective of a another countries experiences during the war and how when such evil is all around you that compassion, strength, helpfulness, kindness and love can be found.
October 21, 2022
Dat ik van dit soort boeken hou, weet iedereen. (het klinkt gek om dat te zeggen natuurlijk want het is zo een heftig onderwerp) Toch blijven ze mij verbazen want in elk boek is er wel weer iets nieuws te ontdekken zodat die onverklaarbare puzzel van gruwel én wat er allemaal gebeurd is, toch wat meer vorm krijgt.
Wat ‘nieuw’ is aan deze, op waargebeurde feiten gebaseerde, roman is dat de auteur ook de focus legt op de personages buiten het kamp. Op de mensen die in de buurt van concentratiekampen woonden, op de mensen die kost wat kost iets hebben willen doen om anderen te helpen. Ten koste van hun eigen veiligheid, die geen oogkleppen ophadden en begrepen wat er gebeurde in deze kampen.
Het is enorm vlot geschreven en naarmate het verhaal verder gaat, krijgen de personages meer en meer een duidelijk karakter. De auteur brengt dankzij haar schrijfstijl deze personages tot leven. Imogen Matthews slaagt erin om een plaats, een kamp, dat niet zo bekend was weer een bestaan te geven zodat ook dat deel, zodat ook al die mensen, een gezicht krijgen en niet vergeten worden. Ik zeg het ook deze keer weer, elk boek ivm WOll is belangrijk en schreeuwt om gelezen te worden.
Wat ‘nieuw’ is aan deze, op waargebeurde feiten gebaseerde, roman is dat de auteur ook de focus legt op de personages buiten het kamp. Op de mensen die in de buurt van concentratiekampen woonden, op de mensen die kost wat kost iets hebben willen doen om anderen te helpen. Ten koste van hun eigen veiligheid, die geen oogkleppen ophadden en begrepen wat er gebeurde in deze kampen.
Het is enorm vlot geschreven en naarmate het verhaal verder gaat, krijgen de personages meer en meer een duidelijk karakter. De auteur brengt dankzij haar schrijfstijl deze personages tot leven. Imogen Matthews slaagt erin om een plaats, een kamp, dat niet zo bekend was weer een bestaan te geven zodat ook dat deel, zodat ook al die mensen, een gezicht krijgen en niet vergeten worden. Ik zeg het ook deze keer weer, elk boek ivm WOll is belangrijk en schreeuwt om gelezen te worden.
August 21, 2021
WWII historical fiction continues to be a red hot genre. I seem to not be able to satiate an ever increasing appetite to read it. Matthews pens a compelling novel based on three viewpoints. Frans, Theo, and Saskia take incredible risks to ferry messages and packages to incarcerated people in a Nazi Dutch camp. By switching between the three, the author provides a multi faceted story. The book proves that even during the darkest days hope and goodness prevailed. It’s a powerful message that still resonates today. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the early copy.
October 13, 2021
I can’t believe that anybody knows more about – or can write more authoritatively on– the occupation of the Netherlands and the Dutch resistance during the second world war than Imogen Matthews. Her brilliant books about that period and the suffering, bravery and perseverance of the local population and the Dutch resistance get progressively more gripping. These are important stories about a time and place that no more deserve to be forgotten than any other examples of Nazi atrocity in occupied Europe. Ostensibly these are books – the Girl Across the Wire Fence is Imogen’s third – written for young adult readership but I would recommend them to anyone. This tale of Frans and Saskia, Theo and Annelies, set in and around Kamp Amersfoort never flags and is full of emotion, action, tension and heroism.
September 10, 2021
Many Holocaust books are based on true stories and this book is one of those stories--based in a Dutch concentration camp during the Nazi rule in Netherlands. This is a story between two lovers--whose life changed when the Nazis marched into Netherlands.
What makes this story truly a gem to read?
--This story is indeed a truly heartbreaking and emotional read. There were some tear jerking moments in the book and not only that--the love story between Saskia and Frans is so emotional and cute.
--The writing was intense and the author did a good job making the reader glued to the story and making the reader feel like they are a part of this ordeal.
--The fact that this book is based on the true story makes this book more precious and as usual, you wouldn't believe that such brutality existed during that time--particularly the treatment towards the Jews.
--The story is told from the perspectives of Franz, Saskia and Theo. Franz visits the the concentration camp with the intention of feeding the cattle at the camp and gets involved in passing the letters between Theo and another girl named Anneliese.
--This is really a touching story--beware some parts will make you cry!
Overall, this is an emotional read, page turner and unputdownable that will make you cry till the end!
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
What makes this story truly a gem to read?
--This story is indeed a truly heartbreaking and emotional read. There were some tear jerking moments in the book and not only that--the love story between Saskia and Frans is so emotional and cute.
--The writing was intense and the author did a good job making the reader glued to the story and making the reader feel like they are a part of this ordeal.
--The fact that this book is based on the true story makes this book more precious and as usual, you wouldn't believe that such brutality existed during that time--particularly the treatment towards the Jews.
--The story is told from the perspectives of Franz, Saskia and Theo. Franz visits the the concentration camp with the intention of feeding the cattle at the camp and gets involved in passing the letters between Theo and another girl named Anneliese.
--This is really a touching story--beware some parts will make you cry!
Overall, this is an emotional read, page turner and unputdownable that will make you cry till the end!
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
September 30, 2021
A heart-wrenching, yet brilliant read.
A suspenseful, heart-wrenching and insightful look at the atrocities of World War II in around the Amersfoort concentration camp in Holland.
The author's research, her brilliant storytelling and the inclusion of fact, make this a must-read for lovers of this genre. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
A suspenseful, heart-wrenching and insightful look at the atrocities of World War II in around the Amersfoort concentration camp in Holland.
The author's research, her brilliant storytelling and the inclusion of fact, make this a must-read for lovers of this genre. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
November 4, 2021
Oh wow. This is a beautiful, beautiful tear jerker of a book. Stunning writing. Thought provoking. Wonderfully descriptive. I felt like I was there, experiencing it all with the characters.
September 17, 2021
In 1944 Holland, Saskia would carry messages from captives, in Amersfoort Concentration Camp, to their families living outside the camp. Everyday she passes Nazi guards on the street as she rides her bike from the camp to families with her pockets full of notes, while hoping she doesn’t get caught. Saskia and her boyfriend Frans know that the need to keep going out weighs the risk. And one day when Saskia gets caught, her life completely changes. She is forced to wear a yellow star and is so saddened that she can’t help the prisoners and their families anymore. Saskia knows that to escape over the wire fence is almost impossible but she has hope and faith, to concur and overcome the darkest time of her life. This story was an amazing and wonderful story is an absolute must read. This rapid page turner will have you flying through story, and the only thing that will slow you down is the need of tissues so make sure you have plenty nearby.
Thank you Imogen Matthews for such a heartbreaking and emotional story. The fact that this was a true story had me glued to the pages. The hope that was portrayed throughout the storyline was amazing and inspirational. This wonderful story is a must read and I highly recommend this book.
Thank you Imogen Matthews for such a heartbreaking and emotional story. The fact that this was a true story had me glued to the pages. The hope that was portrayed throughout the storyline was amazing and inspirational. This wonderful story is a must read and I highly recommend this book.
October 14, 2021
WoW.....and breathe! The Girl Across the Wire Fence by Imogen Matthews was a beautifully written book that just took my breath away, especially as Imogen is a new author to me as well. The Girl Across the Wire Fence is a
historical fiction novel based on a true story of those who risked their lives to smuggle letters out of a concentration camp in World War 2. This prison camp was one of the largest concentration camp in Holland, However little is known about it This was a German concentration camp was called Kamp Amersfoort. Over 37,000 people where prisoners there and they were kept between 1941 and 1945. It was liberated by the Red Cross with the Canadian soldiers. I was hooked within the very first few pages, then again I am so interested in reading books about WWII this should be an area of our history that should never be forgotten.
I highly recommend this latest book and I will be reading more books by Imogen in the future.
Big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
historical fiction novel based on a true story of those who risked their lives to smuggle letters out of a concentration camp in World War 2. This prison camp was one of the largest concentration camp in Holland, However little is known about it This was a German concentration camp was called Kamp Amersfoort. Over 37,000 people where prisoners there and they were kept between 1941 and 1945. It was liberated by the Red Cross with the Canadian soldiers. I was hooked within the very first few pages, then again I am so interested in reading books about WWII this should be an area of our history that should never be forgotten.
I highly recommend this latest book and I will be reading more books by Imogen in the future.
Big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2021
This book is a true story and is set in 1944 in Amersfoort Concentration Camp. It is a sad and emotional story about two young people in love who risk everything. Even just looking at the cover gave me a sense of dread of what these poor people had to go through. It literally gave me shivers reading about what happened in those Concentration camps is absolutely heartbreaking and devastating what they were put through. I found this book interesting and gripping and I have read a couple of books set in Concentration Camps but this one really got to me, I was in tears most of the way through. Imogen has a way when she writes that you feel as though you are there and want to help them, it is an story that is powerful and inspiring and one that will stay with me for a very long time, but one I would recommend.
April 30, 2023
Popravdě? Kniha by byla 5*.... skvěle napsaná, velmi dobře se čte, všechno odsýpalo...kdyby..
Já nevím... ta kniha je překlopením skutečnosti do fikce
Autorka četla knihu, která ji nadchla a která byla opomenuta... nebo byla známá jen v Holandsku a tak se rozhodla, že si to vezmeten příběh a vsadí to na jiné hrdiny a basta... udělá to komerčně...
Přijde vám to košér? Já vám nevím, celkem s tím v poslední době bojuji.
Takže proto za 3*... věřím, že vám to třeba vadit nebude. Já ale nevím....
Já nevím... ta kniha je překlopením skutečnosti do fikce
Autorka četla knihu, která ji nadchla a která byla opomenuta... nebo byla známá jen v Holandsku a tak se rozhodla, že si to vezmeten příběh a vsadí to na jiné hrdiny a basta... udělá to komerčně...
Přijde vám to košér? Já vám nevím, celkem s tím v poslední době bojuji.
Takže proto za 3*... věřím, že vám to třeba vadit nebude. Já ale nevím....
January 6, 2024
A decent novel about a part of the Second World War in Holland I wasn’t familiar with. Whilst reading it, I researched kamp Amersfoort and gained some knowledge.
I liked the characters, they were interesting, as was the setting and the era.
There were a few things which made it a bit unbelievable for me.
Frans and his family most certainly weren’t the only farmers in the area needing potato peelings for their life stock, so why could they collect under the premises of keeping their stock alive, and no other farms did.
Secondly, Theo, he caused trouble in the camp, he wasn’t a model prisoner. But suddenly he issued singled out for a superior position. That suited the story line but would obviously never have happened.
Apart from that I enjoyed the read.
I liked the characters, they were interesting, as was the setting and the era.
There were a few things which made it a bit unbelievable for me.
Frans and his family most certainly weren’t the only farmers in the area needing potato peelings for their life stock, so why could they collect under the premises of keeping their stock alive, and no other farms did.
Secondly, Theo, he caused trouble in the camp, he wasn’t a model prisoner. But suddenly he issued singled out for a superior position. That suited the story line but would obviously never have happened.
Apart from that I enjoyed the read.
November 13, 2023
Vanaf het begin werd ik al helemaal in het verhaal gezogen. Een bijzonder boek over kamp Amersfoort waar ik tot op heden niet zoveel vanaf wist. Dit boek vertelt wat voor afgrijselijke dingen daar gebeurt zijn. Maar ook hoe mooi en belangrijk een vriendschap in die tijd kan zijn. Dit is 1 van mijn favofiete romans over de oorlog!
October 13, 2021
This book was a change on most concentration camp stories in a good way . I had no idea Holland was so affected and the way Imogen told the story through the 3 young people was excellent. The bravery of the characters under occupation and the risks they had to take for the smallest of rewards was eye opening… I loved the way it was written and all the characters had me wondering about them when I had to put the book down.
January 20, 2023
Heel indrukwekkend en heftig verhaal. Maakte extra indruk omdat ik zelf opgegroeid ben in Amersfoort en zo weinig wist van kamp Amersfoort voordat ik dit boek las.
Moest aan het begin wel een beetje inkomen door de weinig beeldende schrijfstijl en de drie verschillende perspectieven.
Moest aan het begin wel een beetje inkomen door de weinig beeldende schrijfstijl en de drie verschillende perspectieven.
April 13, 2023
Heel mooi geschreven. Ik kon me als lezer goed inleven in de personages . Ook de verschillende ervaringen van de personages werden goed beschreven. Goed te volgen en spannend verhaal . Ik kon het boek moelijk wegleggen . Fijne schrijfstijl.
April 17, 2024
Dit boek heeft indruk gemaakt omdat je weet dat deze vreselijke dingen daadwerkelijk met onschuldige mensen zijn gebeurd. Het feit dat er in zulke tijden nog steeds moedige mensen zijn die hun eigen leven riskeren om mensen in wanhopige nood te helpen, toont aan dat het goede altijd zal zegevieren over het kwade.
October 15, 2021
Great Historical Fiction
The courage and strength shown of these lovely caring characters is very heartwarming and I am very pleased with the ending.
The courage and strength shown of these lovely caring characters is very heartwarming and I am very pleased with the ending.
October 25, 2021
A wonderful book…
I really enjoyed this book. I’ve read the author’s other two books and knew this one had to be good too. It’s extra special, (as the other two), because it’s based on true events. The main characters are lovable, kind, hardworking, full of integrity and extremely brave, selfless people. They sacrificed their well-being performing acts of kindness to encourage the prisoners of the camp and their loved ones outside the camp. Great risks were taken. As in other concentration camps the suffering was great. Lack of food, bad conditions, overworked and badly treated were all the prisoners. The evil Nazis were cruel and harsh.
The love stories were sweet and made me smile at the tenderness shown to one another.
A great story that any WWII fan will enjoy!!
pamarella
PRCS
I really enjoyed this book. I’ve read the author’s other two books and knew this one had to be good too. It’s extra special, (as the other two), because it’s based on true events. The main characters are lovable, kind, hardworking, full of integrity and extremely brave, selfless people. They sacrificed their well-being performing acts of kindness to encourage the prisoners of the camp and their loved ones outside the camp. Great risks were taken. As in other concentration camps the suffering was great. Lack of food, bad conditions, overworked and badly treated were all the prisoners. The evil Nazis were cruel and harsh.
The love stories were sweet and made me smile at the tenderness shown to one another.
A great story that any WWII fan will enjoy!!
pamarella
PRCS
Read
March 28, 2025Great WW2 Story. Takes place in Holland.
September 27, 2021
a must read heart warming and heart breaking
Wow this book packed a punch as you know these awful things actually happened to innocent people.
Heart warming and heart breaking the courage and inner strength of the people involved the fact they put there own lives on the line to help people in desperate need goes to show good will always override the evil.
A must read ❤️
Wow this book packed a punch as you know these awful things actually happened to innocent people.
Heart warming and heart breaking the courage and inner strength of the people involved the fact they put there own lives on the line to help people in desperate need goes to show good will always override the evil.
A must read ❤️
November 23, 2021
Living In Hope
Such an enlightening story. Life must have been so hard in the war. People fighting silently for the right to be who they were and the right to be free. Even though it’s fiction, there must have been people living like this and those people in the camps, living in hope of seeing another day and one where they could walk free. Really well written. Totally engrossed in it.
Such an enlightening story. Life must have been so hard in the war. People fighting silently for the right to be who they were and the right to be free. Even though it’s fiction, there must have been people living like this and those people in the camps, living in hope of seeing another day and one where they could walk free. Really well written. Totally engrossed in it.
July 3, 2024
3,5*
Een oorlogsboek met happy end gebeurt niet vaak. Niet erg origineel, verder wel prima leesbaar😊
Een oorlogsboek met happy end gebeurt niet vaak. Niet erg origineel, verder wel prima leesbaar😊
March 16, 2025
Ik moest even inkomen door de vele namen, maar wat een aangrijpend boek. Snel uitgelezen
January 12, 2022
Gripping!
The girl across the wire fence was a wonderful story. It is the story of mini ho bravely opposed the Nazi cruelty.
I
The girl across the wire fence was a wonderful story. It is the story of mini ho bravely opposed the Nazi cruelty.
I
January 2, 2022
Excellent book! I was unaware of the wwii prison camp this book is about. Based partly on true stories & some fictional characters it is a heartwarming story of love, courage & surviving.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews