Hetty: A True Story

by Hetty E. Verolme

An extraordinary story of the struggle and survival of a group of children in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II, this autobiographical tale details the motherly role adopted by the adolescent author during her time in the camp. Adapted from her original autobiography written for adults, this moving memoir—edited and pared back for a younger audience—reveals how Hetty and her siblings survived after they were taken from their parents and encamped at the Children’s House in Belsen, Germany. A remarkable and largely untold account of the Holocaust, this work is an inspirational story of the enduring spirit of children.

Genres: Holocaust, War, Nonfiction, Biography, World War II, Drama, History

288 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2010

About the author

Hetty Esther Verolme was born in Belgium in 1930. In 1931 her family moved to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. In 1943 she and her family were sent to the Nazi concentration camps.

After surviving the war and working for a time in the fashion industry, she emigrated to Australia in 1954. She worked in many jobs, from waitress to bus conductress, from door-to-door retailing to selling real estate. She eventually established herself as a successful shopping centre developer.

In 1972, Hetty Verolme was presented with "Most Successful Migrant" award. In 1977 she was appointed to the Australian Ethnics Affairs Council, and for many years she has been actively involved in a wide range of community and charity organizations.

Reviews

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prachtig verhaal en prachtig geschreven. Aangrijpend hoe het leven in kamp Bergen-Belsen was, maar ook mooi om te lezen hoe ze er alles aan doen om te overleven. De angst is soms voelbaar, maar ook de blijdschap af en toe. Onder de indruk.

[Saray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro es el testimonio de una de las supervivientes de uno de esos campos, en concreto el de Bergen-Belsen y todo lo que vivieron allí tanto ella como su familia.
No os voy a engañar, es un libro duro que puede que no atraiga a mucha gente por eso mismo, pero que recomiendo muchísimo para poder entender cómo fue todo aquello y por todo lo que tuvieron que pasar.
Al ser la autora la propia superviviente tiene un lenguaje muy sencillo y, sobretodo, muy sincero y franco, en el que cuenta los hechos tal y como sucedieron, sin adornarlos ni suavizarlos.

Algo que la diferencia de otros libros de este género, es que nos encontramos con una protagonista que cuenta con sólamente 12 años, con lo que su experiencia es bastante más diferente a la que vivieron los adultos.
Además, no sólo sabremos todo lo que vivió dentro de ese campo de concentración junto con sus hermanos y otros niños, si no también cómo fueron los meses antes de la deportación de su familia y, algo de lo que no he leído mucho, los días posteriores a la liberación del campo de Bergen-Belsen.

Reseña completa: http://beingsaray.blogspot.com.es/201...

[fiorella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy buen libro

Me gustó este libro porque a diferencia de otros libros sobre los campos de concentración este no es tan fuerte pero aún así explica todas las atrocidades que pasaban de una forma que no perturba al lector. Yo recomiendo este libro porque está escrito de una forma en la que tu puedes darte cuenta de la vida de los niños y de todas las penurias por las que pasaron de una forma relajada pero al mismo tiempo fuerte.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hetty: A True Story is by Hetty Verolme. This is the true story of a Holocaust survivor. Hetty was a child survivor from Bergen-Belsen. This book is an abridged version of The Children’s House of Belsen but this book deals primarily with Hetty herself.
Hetty was born in Belgium in 1930. Her family moved to Amsterdam in 1931 where her Father worked in the textile industry. When the Nazis overtook Holland, her Father got together enough money to purchase work deportation exemptions for his family which now consisted of an additional two younger brothers. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to get the exemption for her maternal grandmother and they were able to hear her yell “Goodbye” to them when she was deported in 1942. Her paternal grandparents went into hiding in 1943. Unfortunately, their luck ran out in September, 1943 when they were taken to Westerbork. She was thirteen years old. The book tells of her family’s journey through Westerbork and then Bergen-Belsen where she lost track of her parents and was left in charge of her two younger brothers. The children were taken to The Children’s barrack or House in Belsen where they were helped by Sister Luba and managed to survive until liberation.
The book is well-written and definitely tells the story of survival in a masterful way. The book isn’t as graphic as it could have been; but you definitely get the feel of the suffering they underwent in the camps. Hetty and her brothers survived due to several lucky coincidences made possible by the skill and optimism of her Father. It is well worth reading.

[Carolyn Scarcella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my 14th holocaust book; this book could be young adult or adult. I borrow this book from the local library because the cover page looks interesting. She is a holocaust survivor and wrote this book which the book is extraordinary and a hell of survival in a masterful way. This book isn’t as graphic as it could have been. The story unfolds, Hetty was born in Belgium, 1930. Her family moved to Amsterdam in 1931 where her father work in a textile industry. When the Nazis arrived, her father saved enough money to buy work deportation exemptions for his family but couldn’t get the exemption for his mother. She was deported in 1942 and never came back. Hetty’s other grandparents went in hiding with the family until 1943 and deported to Westerbork when Hetty was only 13 years old, then went to Bergen-Belsen to the children’s barrack where she got the help by Siter Luba. Hetty looked after 15 children including her two younger brothers in a locked house until liberation. She was a very lucky girl because she learns to survive keeping a sugar jar to feed for all the children with her. It is because the skills and optimism of her father have saved his children to survive as a result.

[Josie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book, it was such a lovely, heart-warming story and I learned a lot from it as well as enjoying a tale. I think all of the children from the 'Children's House' were extremely brave, and yes I did cry! To be honest I don't think anyone can read books about such sad things like WWII and not cry!
All in all a wonderful story that I would suggest anyone to read.

[Sifra Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I’ve read this book at least 7 times, and every single time it hits me just as hard. It’s powerful, emotional, and so inspiring. What Hetty went through as a child in the camp is heartbreaking, but the way she tells her story shows so much strength. I can never put it down, it feels like the first time every time I read it.

[Hillary R. Minaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

En la página 18 ya estaba llorando. 🥹
No tengo palabras para expresar todo lo que sentí con este libro, la injusticia, el desasosiego, la incertidumbre...

Definitivamente vale la pena leerlo y conocer un poquito más sobre la historia. ❤️‍🩹

[Puramente Grecia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro trasmite mucha valentía y inspiración

[Myriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una historia llena de tristeza!!

Es un libro muy interesante que nos hace ver de lo que es capas el ser humano ! Se los recomiendo.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. A unique viewpoint. Not your average WWII story.

[Sherlock Scott-Dellow]

I enjoyed it. talks about the horrific scenes in the concentration camps during WW2.

[Anna ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a little bit boring at the start but eventually it got a lot more exciting.

When Hetty was in the children’s home it was cool to hear about her experiences

This book is based on a true story and is in Victorian times!

Read It!

[María Greene F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hace un tiempo ya que he bajado el consumo de libros de la segunda guerra mundial, porque me parece que le quitan protagonismo a otras guerras de las que se escribe pocazo, y que son (los nuevo) un poco reiterativos, pero este NO TIENE DESPERDICIO. Es honesto, interesante, descriptivo, sencillo, chocante (obvio) y, sorpresivamente (spoiler), tiene un final feliz. Además, es un caso real, que por algún motivo se me había pasado.

Me lo zampé en menos de un día, ahora que estoy de vacaciones, y lo recomiendo fehacientemente.

[Cudeyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Con un lenguaje sencillo, un estilo ágil y directo, casi como si nos lo estuviera contando en persona, Hetty narra su vida y la de su familia en el campo de concentración Bergen-Belsen.

Un relato corto, sencillo pero directo. Impresiona la fuerza que tienen los niños, la maldad de algunas personas y cómo incluso en sitios tan horribles hay lugar para la amistad, el valor y la buena voluntad.

Narrado en primera persona, te hace partícipe desde el primer momento de su historia.

[Akatsunara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing story of survival written by Hetty Verolme of her 12 - 14 year old self during the time period of WW11.
It is powerfully and wonderfully written - almost eclipsing the likes of The Diary of Anne Frank in story and concept.
Read this if you want to be transported to the harsh periods of those time for another short - yet lasting visit.

[lila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found at the start, it moved to fast and I didn’t like it at all. But, as it got further I started liking it more. Some of it seemed like it wasn’t true; her whole family being reunited and many other things. The postscript was very sad with its raw truth showing the trauma of war. Also, there are some grammatical errors but I can excuse that because of the story.

[Noemi Lca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mira mi reseña:

http://www.librosconalma.net/2014/01/...

¡Saludos!

[Janesa]

its very sad,

[Ulrike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zeer vlot leesbaar geschreven, ook moeilijk om weg te leggen!