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The Hidden Room
Could you survive in a cave...for a whole year?
That's the challenge facing fourteen-year-old Jacob. Set in Ukraine during the final months of World War II, THE HIDDEN ROOM is based on the true story of a Jewish family who escapes from the Nazis by taking refuge in a remote cave. Jacob adjusts to the hardships of living underground and the dangers of night-time adventures outside the cave. Food is scarce. Darkness, bone-chilling cold, and the fear of being captured are constant. But a surprising discovery gives his family reason to hope.
Bringing young readers back to this time of terror, THE HIDDEN ROOM reveals little-known but vivid historical details of Ukraine, including Stalin's brutal pre-war campaign of forced starvation, known as the Holodomor. You will celebrate the courage of a family who stays positive, even in the face of adversity that threatens their survival.
William Durbin, winner of the Great Lakes Book Award and two Minnesota Book Awards, is the author of fourteen historical novels, including THE BROKEN BLADE; WINTERING; BLACKWATER BEN; DEADMAN'S RAPIDS, co-authored with his wife, Barbara; THE DARKEST EVENING; and three books in Scholastic's My Name is America Series.
That's the challenge facing fourteen-year-old Jacob. Set in Ukraine during the final months of World War II, THE HIDDEN ROOM is based on the true story of a Jewish family who escapes from the Nazis by taking refuge in a remote cave. Jacob adjusts to the hardships of living underground and the dangers of night-time adventures outside the cave. Food is scarce. Darkness, bone-chilling cold, and the fear of being captured are constant. But a surprising discovery gives his family reason to hope.
Bringing young readers back to this time of terror, THE HIDDEN ROOM reveals little-known but vivid historical details of Ukraine, including Stalin's brutal pre-war campaign of forced starvation, known as the Holodomor. You will celebrate the courage of a family who stays positive, even in the face of adversity that threatens their survival.
William Durbin, winner of the Great Lakes Book Award and two Minnesota Book Awards, is the author of fourteen historical novels, including THE BROKEN BLADE; WINTERING; BLACKWATER BEN; DEADMAN'S RAPIDS, co-authored with his wife, Barbara; THE DARKEST EVENING; and three books in Scholastic's My Name is America Series.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
254 pages, Paperback
Published May 10, 2022
17 people are currently reading
2279 people want to read
About the author
William Durbin
59 books56 followersWilliam Durbin lives on Lake Vermilion at the edge of Minnesota's Boundary Waters Wilderness. A winner of the Great Lakes Book Award and a two-time winner of the Minnesota Book award, he has published short stories, essays, and poetry, as well as fourteen novels for young readers, including The Broken Blade, Wintering, Blackwater Ben, The Darkest Evening, The Journal of Otto Peltonen, and El Lector, which has been optioned for film by Jane Starz Productions. His latest novel, co-authored with his wife, Barbara is The Hidden Room. For more information visit his website at williamdurbin.com.
Durbin's honors include a Junior Library Guild Selection, Bank Street College Children’s Book of Year list, the ALA’s Amelia Bloomer list, New York Library Books for the Teen Age list, Maud Hart Lovelace nomination, Jefferson Cup Series of Note Award, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award, America’s Award commended title, Book Sense Summer Pick, Boy’s Life magazine serialization, St. Petersburg Times serialization, nominations for numerous state awards lists, and starred reviews in the major journals.
“William Durbin’s attention to detail—both historical and fictional—make him one of today’s masters of historical YA fiction.” -- David Gill of the NCTE
Durbin's honors include a Junior Library Guild Selection, Bank Street College Children’s Book of Year list, the ALA’s Amelia Bloomer list, New York Library Books for the Teen Age list, Maud Hart Lovelace nomination, Jefferson Cup Series of Note Award, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award, America’s Award commended title, Book Sense Summer Pick, Boy’s Life magazine serialization, St. Petersburg Times serialization, nominations for numerous state awards lists, and starred reviews in the major journals.
“William Durbin’s attention to detail—both historical and fictional—make him one of today’s masters of historical YA fiction.” -- David Gill of the NCTE
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 9, 2023
A different kind of novel about survival during WW2.
It’s the final months of WW2 in Ukraine. 14-year-old Jacob and his family have hidden in several different places, but the Nazis just get closer and closer to discovering them. The family is finally forced to live underground in a cave. For an entire year, they endure cold, damp, dark quarters, with little food and the constant fear of being discovered. Amazingly, Jacob’s family is able to remain positive and hopeful about life, even in the face of overwhelming obstacles, due to their deep love for each other.
This book should be in every classroom. It is based on the true experiences of a Jewish family who had to escape Nazi terror by taking refuge for many months in a hidden cave. The author’s notes at the end explain what was fact, and what was fictional.
Opening paragraph:
“I stare at Mama’s hand, which trembles below my brother’s chin. No one has said anything, but we all know why her hand is there. If Eli makes a sound, she’s ready to silence him before he can give us away. But Eli stays calm; I think he understands more than most four-year olds.”
It’s the final months of WW2 in Ukraine. 14-year-old Jacob and his family have hidden in several different places, but the Nazis just get closer and closer to discovering them. The family is finally forced to live underground in a cave. For an entire year, they endure cold, damp, dark quarters, with little food and the constant fear of being discovered. Amazingly, Jacob’s family is able to remain positive and hopeful about life, even in the face of overwhelming obstacles, due to their deep love for each other.
This book should be in every classroom. It is based on the true experiences of a Jewish family who had to escape Nazi terror by taking refuge for many months in a hidden cave. The author’s notes at the end explain what was fact, and what was fictional.
Opening paragraph:
“I stare at Mama’s hand, which trembles below my brother’s chin. No one has said anything, but we all know why her hand is there. If Eli makes a sound, she’s ready to silence him before he can give us away. But Eli stays calm; I think he understands more than most four-year olds.”
November 23, 2024
Very different than my typical books, enjoyed the story though
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January 29, 2023Reading this now with what is happening in Ukraine really gives the feel that history is repeating itself. Though not specifically targeting a subset of people, the idea that people are trying to survive while their country is being attacked is heartbreaking. And reading this makes you reflect on what Jewish families went through then to survive, what Ukrainian families do now to survive, and how terrifying it must be.
When reading books about the holocaust and how people hid to survive, you never get the same story. And it’s important that people read about it, in fiction and non fiction, because it happened. And if we don’t remember that it happened, it’s bound to repeat itself.
Though this is supposed to be a review of the book, I would say it should be read like many stories about that time so it’s not forgotten. And reading in on important days like Holocaust Remembrance Day to really show why we celebrate days like that. This book is a something everyone should read. It’s written well, it gives a real feel of danger they faced, feel of the suffering they faced, and showed the battle of keeping the young innocent for as long as you can.
When reading books about the holocaust and how people hid to survive, you never get the same story. And it’s important that people read about it, in fiction and non fiction, because it happened. And if we don’t remember that it happened, it’s bound to repeat itself.
Though this is supposed to be a review of the book, I would say it should be read like many stories about that time so it’s not forgotten. And reading in on important days like Holocaust Remembrance Day to really show why we celebrate days like that. This book is a something everyone should read. It’s written well, it gives a real feel of danger they faced, feel of the suffering they faced, and showed the battle of keeping the young innocent for as long as you can.
June 12, 2022
Thank you to the author for the book. I enjoyed this book (as much as one can enjoy a book on this subject) a great deal. Until the invasion of Ukraine earlier this year, I had not known about the atrocities committed by both Russians and Nazis in Ukraine during World War II. After first hearing about Babi Yar and the Holodomor, I was shocked to have not heard about them earlier.
This historical fiction is about a Jewish family that hides out in a cave for over a year to attempt to stay safe from the Nazis that have taken over the area. The tragic part of this story is, that even if the Nazis are defeated, Jacob's family isn't much safer with the Russians. The writing is well done. I would recommend this book to be used in school to teach about the horrid persecution that Jews faced in Ukraine.
** A side note, the name of the Jewish youth is Jacob. Stepan is another character in the book. This was an error in the synopsis on the back cover and here on Goodreads.
This historical fiction is about a Jewish family that hides out in a cave for over a year to attempt to stay safe from the Nazis that have taken over the area. The tragic part of this story is, that even if the Nazis are defeated, Jacob's family isn't much safer with the Russians. The writing is well done. I would recommend this book to be used in school to teach about the horrid persecution that Jews faced in Ukraine.
** A side note, the name of the Jewish youth is Jacob. Stepan is another character in the book. This was an error in the synopsis on the back cover and here on Goodreads.
June 17, 2022
It's been a long while since I haven't wanted to lay a book down. The Hidden Room grabbed my attention from the first words to the last. I applaud William and Barbara Durbin for telling a story, though fictional, so accurate about what the Jews and those who dared to help them endured during WW II. This story should never be forgotten. Unfortunately this type of atrocity has happened since for other cultures and is still happening today. What is wrong with mankind that we would treat each other in this manner; with so little regard and empathy?
June 15, 2022
This was an amazing book. It was an easy read that flowed very smoothly. I understand that this book is about a fictional family, but about real events that people went through to survive. This book is very enlightening, meaning it can spread awareness and interest. So that the events these people went through are never forgotten, so hopefully they are never repeated.
September 12, 2022
A nail-biting and engaging beginning gives way to vivid detail that draws on all the senses. Readers will feel very much a part of the action. The story is also especially timely given the current conflict in Ukraine. I loved it, and look forward to sharing it with my 12-year old daughter.
February 4, 2023
Great book
I've read many holocaust books but this one is totally different from the others. It was very descriptive and I could see the cave in my mind. I couldn't stop reading!
I've read many holocaust books but this one is totally different from the others. It was very descriptive and I could see the cave in my mind. I couldn't stop reading!
June 11, 2023
Interesting to hear about how the war and Nazi's affected people in Ukraine.
July 9, 2023
Not a fan
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews