Title: The Story of Corrie Ten Boom: The Watchmaker Who Forgave Her Enemies
Author: Jennifer T. Kelley
Series: Lives of Faith and Grace
Major Themes: Corrie Ten Boom, Missionaries, World War II
Synopsis: All her life, God shaped Corrie Ten Boom into the person He wanted her to become.
I have always liked to read biographies, although I will admit that often they lose their appeal toward the end. Somehow, a biography often starts out very interesting, and then, as the subject of the book ages, the author loses steam, or something. I love to read new series, though, continually searching for well-written stories of people’s lives. When I noticed the Lives of Faith and Grace series, I decided to have a look at The Story of Corrie Ten Boom to see what it was like. I have read enough books about her life that I can gauge the accuracy of the author’s research, and I wanted to know if this series will be interesting enough to catch the attention of children.
Publisher’s description:
Corrie ten Boom was a watchmaker, prisoner, and World War II hero who helped hundreds of Jews escape persecution amid the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Despite her bravery, the risks she was willing to take ultimately led to her capture and imprisonment. After her release, Corrie was again met face-to-face with the prison guard who caused so much pain. Her life story raises the question, Is it possible to forgive the unforgivable?
This short and lively biography takes middle-grade readers on an exciting journey through ten Boom’s life, highlighting her upbringing, her family’s covert operations, and her most remarkable achievement of all―forgiving those who persecuted her. Ten Boom’s story acts as a witness to the world, demonstrating the power of mercy and the value of spreading the message of God’s love, regardless of one’s present situation. Featuring illustrations, maps, timelines, bonus sidebars, and study questions, this addition to the Lives of Faith and Grace series engages kids ages 8–13 in the drama of history, showing how God worked in the past through ordinary people like them.
My thoughts:
Corrie Ten Boom’s life is an amazing picture of what God can do with a person’s life when they yield to Him. It is always amazing to see how God prepares a person through their experiences as they grow up; Corrie was past 50 when she began the work God had been shaping her for all her life! I am always inspired to read of how she became the person God wanted her to be, through some extremely hard experiences.
The Story of Corrie Ten Boom is historically accurate. I enjoyed the side notes and illustrations, and the interest they added to the story. I also enjoyed the story itself. This is indeed a lively biography! It never lagged, and I never lost interest. I would like to read this book to my children and see what they think of it, but I haven’t had time yet. This is a biography series I would love to have on the shelf!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.
No warnings! (Rare in a book about Corrie Ten Boom)
Age levels:
Listening Level—Ages 5 – 8, 8 – 12, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 8 – 12
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Audible Audiobook (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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