Publisher and Publication Date: Purple House Press. E-book edition 2016. First published in 1975. Genre: Historical fiction. Young adult fiction. Children’s fiction. Coming of age story. Format: E-book. Pages: 191. Source: Self-purchase.
Rating: Good to very good.
The Borrowed House is for ages 11 and up.
Link for the book @ Amazon.
Link for the book at Purple House Press.
To read a biography, and see photos of Hilda van Stockum, and read several reviews of her books: Plumfield and Paideia.
The National Gallery of Ireland: Hilda van Stockum.
Summary:
The time period is World War II.
Janna is a German girl living in the Black Forest area of Germany. She is 12.
Janna’s parents are German citizens and actors, and they are living in Amsterdam, Netherlands. They live in a borrowed house taken from people who were “removed.”
Janna understands that at some point she will join her parents in Amsterdam. She has recently gotten the part in a play. She will portray Brunhilde. Before she can take part in the play, she is told that she will be joining her parents.
On the train from Germany to Amsterdam, Netherlands, Janna sees a freight train that has padlocked cars with people inside, and there are guards. Janna notices but is told to hush.
Janna is a German citizen and believes in the ideology of Nazism and Hitler.
After living in the beautiful, borrowed house in Amsterdam, Janna’s insight and perspective changes.
My Thoughts:
The Borrowed House is a heavy story in regard to serious themes, plot, the mood of the story, and the war that is taking place.
There is a scene in the story that can create uncomfortableness in the reader. An adult man takes advantage of Janna in wanting a kiss from her. He is flirting and taking advantage of her innocence.
When the story begins Janna idolizes the Nazi policy and agenda. She is a proud German. It is easy to make her a villain and hate the entire book. It is a challenge to read a story when the characters do not believe as the reader. When the reader knows the full story of Nazi atrocities. The Borrowed House is about fictional people who lived in the past, and who during the story either were ignorant of or ignored what was going on with the Nazi’s and the Holocaust. Not to mention to horrors of what they did to other people groups.
What I enjoyed the most in reading this book is Janna is not the typical character in this type of story. She is not someone I’d want to be friends with. She is not someone who is nice. She is not someone who will be considered likable. However, she gave me a different viewpoint. It helps that she has a transformation in her character. Later, I can compare who she was before to who she is towards the end of the story.
Janna’s parents are secondary characters. To me they remind me of props in a play. They are necessary for the story, but they are at times a little hazy for me to see, especially her father. It is possible that because I dislike them, I want them to go away.
Themes in the story: war, abuse, trust, coming of age, suffering, honesty, good and evil, innocence, guilt, conformity, tolerance, dreams, resistance, injustice, survival, honor, sacrifice, and family.
The story has both inner and outward conflicts.
The mood of the entire story is somber, and at many points troubling and sad.
If a young person reads The Borrowed House, it is a good idea for them and the parent or teacher to have a conversation. There may need to be some clarification, or the young person may need to talk about how they feel about the story.
February 9, 2024
[Review] The Borrowed House by Hilda van Stockum | Impressions In Ink
maximios Review
Publisher and Publication Date: Purple House Press. E-book edition 2016. First published in 1975. Genre: Historical fiction. Young adult fiction. Children’s fiction. Coming of age story. Format: E-book. Pages: 191. Source: Self-purchase.
Rating: Good to very good.
The Borrowed House is for ages 11 and up.
Link for the book @ Amazon.
Link for the book at Purple House Press.
To read a biography, and see photos of Hilda van Stockum, and read several reviews of her books: Plumfield and Paideia.
The National Gallery of Ireland: Hilda van Stockum.
Summary:
The time period is World War II.
Janna is a German girl living in the Black Forest area of Germany. She is 12.
Janna’s parents are German citizens and actors, and they are living in Amsterdam, Netherlands. They live in a borrowed house taken from people who were “removed.”
Janna understands that at some point she will join her parents in Amsterdam. She has recently gotten the part in a play. She will portray Brunhilde. Before she can take part in the play, she is told that she will be joining her parents.
On the train from Germany to Amsterdam, Netherlands, Janna sees a freight train that has padlocked cars with people inside, and there are guards. Janna notices but is told to hush.
Janna is a German citizen and believes in the ideology of Nazism and Hitler.
After living in the beautiful, borrowed house in Amsterdam, Janna’s insight and perspective changes.
My Thoughts:
The Borrowed House is a heavy story in regard to serious themes, plot, the mood of the story, and the war that is taking place.
There is a scene in the story that can create uncomfortableness in the reader. An adult man takes advantage of Janna in wanting a kiss from her. He is flirting and taking advantage of her innocence.
When the story begins Janna idolizes the Nazi policy and agenda. She is a proud German. It is easy to make her a villain and hate the entire book. It is a challenge to read a story when the characters do not believe as the reader. When the reader knows the full story of Nazi atrocities. The Borrowed House is about fictional people who lived in the past, and who during the story either were ignorant of or ignored what was going on with the Nazi’s and the Holocaust. Not to mention to horrors of what they did to other people groups.
What I enjoyed the most in reading this book is Janna is not the typical character in this type of story. She is not someone I’d want to be friends with. She is not someone who is nice. She is not someone who will be considered likable. However, she gave me a different viewpoint. It helps that she has a transformation in her character. Later, I can compare who she was before to who she is towards the end of the story.
Janna’s parents are secondary characters. To me they remind me of props in a play. They are necessary for the story, but they are at times a little hazy for me to see, especially her father. It is possible that because I dislike them, I want them to go away.
Themes in the story: war, abuse, trust, coming of age, suffering, honesty, good and evil, innocence, guilt, conformity, tolerance, dreams, resistance, injustice, survival, honor, sacrifice, and family.
The story has both inner and outward conflicts.
The mood of the entire story is somber, and at many points troubling and sad.
If a young person reads The Borrowed House, it is a good idea for them and the parent or teacher to have a conversation. There may need to be some clarification, or the young person may need to talk about how they feel about the story.