Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

Thank you NetGalley and Paulette Manhurin for allowing me to read this riveting story, Set in Amsterdam during WWII the year was 1943 and the Germans were rounding about all the Jews. Hilter was keeping track of how many were sent to the staging post and he was not happy with the numbers. At the staging post was Walter who was Jewish but was allowed to help the Germans with keeping track of and sending the Jews to work camps. Walter was part of a group that was saving the children from being deported. Walter would get permission from the parents of the children and then would take the children across the street to the nursery that was run by a Jewish nurse. Behind the nursery was a "hedge" that the children would then be sent over to the college next door. At the college the children would be sedated and put in anything that could be found to be transported out and sent to Dutch families that agreed to help the Jewish children. I was hooked on the story and did not want to put the book down. I am appalled with what happened at that time and can only compare it to what is happening now with Russia invading. I recommend this book as it was an eye opener to happenings during WWII

Over the Hedge by Paulette Mahurin
This is a WWII novel. It tells the story of a group of people who helped to save hundreds of Jewish babies that were surely going to die after their families were rounded up by the Nazis. Mothers were quietly asked if they wished to save their small child by allowing Walter to take them to the daycare. Walter doctored the books so no child appeared missing. Once at the daycare, Henriette and her crew made sure they were taken care of and made ready to smuggle to a non-Jewish family who was willing to take the child and raise it as their own. Henriette would quietly pass a child over the hedge of the daycare in the dead of night to Johan who somehow managed to get hundreds of children past the Nazis and to safety. Hundreds of children escaped certain death by the courageous acts of their parents and these heroes. These heroes risked their own lives so that others might live.
This is their story. One of courage, faith and resilience. It is a touching story that will make you cry and have a renewed faith in humanity. God bless these people and the children who escaped to live a life.

I thought Over the Hedge by Paulette Mahurin was an interesting read. I am giving it four and a half stars.

I had high hopes for this one, but for me it wasn't the wow read I expected.
It has very high reviews, but I didn't get the same vibes as a lot of the other readers.
It was a harrowing and gritty read, but to me nothing really stood out in the story to set it apart from other books about the Holocaust, and it took a while for me to finish it. I couldn't read it for long periods, but I also didn't really connect with the characters like I thought I would.

I was so drawn into the story it was fascinating and well researched and also so respectful.

In the beginning I didn't think I was going to continue but then I feel in with the writing and it flowed for me.

A few tears came whilst reading.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

Well written and powerful, this book brings to life the characters and experiences of people finding themselves challenged to weigh up personal safety against what they believe to be right. The author strikes a great balance in their prose, avoiding overly dramatic language to instead quietly and respectfully represent a harsh reality of our times.

The Holocaust was one of the darkest times in all of human history when a small minority dispersed throughout a continent suddenly had no protections and were rounded up and slaughtered. Out of fear, cowardice, and cruelty, few even long-time neighbors or in-laws lifted a finger to help the Jews when the Nazis invaded the Netherlands. Yet, if you ever have a chance to visit Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Israel, you will find that among all the darkness, there were some pinpoints of light, rays of hope for the future, commemorated in the Righteous Among the Nations, those who risked all, like Oskar Schindler, to do what is right. It is just these pinpoints of light in a world gone mad that offers some hope for our future.

In this fictionalized account of a true story, we learn about a few pinpoints of light in Amsterdam where a few people risked their lives on a daily basis to rescue Jewish children from being sent to the death camps. The main three people involved in the rescue were Walter, a German Jew living in the Netherlands, Henriëtte, a Sephardic Jew, and Johan, the principal of a Christian college, but there were others involved, both Jews and non-Jews. It is called “Over the Hedge” because the children were passed over the back hedge separating the day care center where the children were taken from the Christian College. Records were altered and the children, who no longer officially existed, were carried away often, drugged to keep them quiet and still, in small baskets on bicycles. They were then placed in the countryside with Dutch families, often never reuniting with their families, who were taken away in the cattle cars to the death camps.

What works so well in this book is that the fictionalized account offers us a day by day view of the terror that these people felt and how even families were torn apart by the fear with brothers turning brothers out into the streets with no protection. It illustrates how thin the veneer of civilization is and how easily it can be ripped apart by terror.

I read as many stories about the horrendous time in Germany and how badly the Jews, among others were treated. They are all heartbreaking, this is one of the better ones. Maybe if more people were to read the history of the holocaust there would be less wars today. Maybe that is wishful thinking.

I found this book to be very interesting and thought provoking. An entire system of people (both Jewish and non) work together with a hidden system to keep Jewish babies safe and sends them off to an appropriate home. The reader is treated to stories on how these people worked as a team, how some were found out, and in the end how the entire system was blown apart. This was a new and interesting topic on the historical fiction genre and one that many will enjoy.

During the massive extermination of Jews, this group, the resistance found a way to smuggle children to safety using a hedge. These men and women put their lives on the line were so selfless. What an emotional read and yes, this was a very dark time in history. This book was well written and detailed the horror, pain, and suffering men, women, and children were subject to as well as the hero’s that put all on the line to rescue as many children as possible from certain death.

As it is widely known, WWII was a period of time where humanity went through darkness and evil, however, there was light to fend off the darkness at a certain extent, from the hands of those who refused to witness evil without doing something to help.

As I mentioned on another review, I applaud sincerely the intent of bringing this kind of stories into public awareness, especially during these trying times when we are still going through a pandemic, when there are a lot of social causes we might need to do something to help others. Works like this one are a good source of inspiration on how when there is a will, there might be a way, and we can be resourceful in times of need.

Over the Hedge is the story 0f members of the Dutch Resistance who helped saving hundreds of Jewish children from a terrible fate. I truly enjoyed reading from their perspective, from the point of view of real characters who were helpful and in times of sacrifice, they made their contribution.

I loved how the author presented a perspective for each of the characters who at the end of the day were humans, who were facing the new reality they were dealt with, and how their personality is shown and the portrayal of each of them was nuanced, showing their humanity and the normal type of questioning, doubts they might have faced. I commend this book for telling the story of two Jews literally working for the Nazis, which could have been a sign of treachery during their time but it was powerful to see their own reckoning about having to endure so much pain and evil in order to help as much as they can. Also the story of Johan, a non-Jew coordinating the safe transport of little Jewish children smuggled to be saved from the Nazi is truly commendable. A Righteous Among The Nations, someone who risked his life saving others. Mr. van Hulst is a true inspiration for how one person can make a difference, even in the darkest of times.

Something I enjoyed too was the portrayal of some of the German military members who interacted with our main characters. I liked how Mahurin explored their backgrounds and it is interesting to think the motivations that caused a lot of people to support Hitler's genocidal quest. The way the author present that information is in no way to justify their actions or look for sympathy; I can see the usefulness behind, to understand how economic downturn and geopolitical mishaps can be used for some people for their own agenda's gain - and how, unfortunately, history can repeat itself if we as a society are not careful.

As a postnote, the author adds this quote by Simon Wiesenthal: "For evil to flourish, it only requires good men to do nothing." And I insist, stories like this can be inspirational to assess our own reality and see what can we do to help others, not to fall into inaction. Totally recommend reading this inspiring story of courage under evil, of kindness under loss.

A heartbreaking tale based on a true story of an unlikely trio of heroes who risked everything to save the lives of hundreds of Jewish children in the Netherlands from their Nazi captors.

Johan, Walter and Henriette secretly worked together right under the Nazis noses and passed hundreds of children over a hedge and into homes of decent people who just wanted to help. This quiet resistance operation was not without losses, as some of their transporters were caught at the wrong place and the wrong time but despite the loss, they knew there were more lives to save. This book is a fabulous example of how ordinary people did extraordinary things to save the lives of the innocent.

While this story is riveting, inspiring as well as heartbreaking…it was just okay for me. I felt it when round and round in circles…which I totally understand because that’s what really happened. I would have liked to have a bit more of an epilogue featuring the children rescued because they were the lives saved.

Thank you to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and Paulette Mahurin for access to this story and reminding us that hope can outsmart evil if you just try.

This was an extremely powerful reach and absolutely gut wrenching. Our history is far too big for one piece of information to guide you for the rest of your life, so when you do get something even more valuable to learn, it really hits you with the sudden realisation that there is truly so much in our history you aren’t aware of. This was heart wrenching and it really hit me in ways I was unaware of at first. This was really interesting and I will 100% be checking out the authors other works and any future works from now on. 5 out of 5 stars!

Excellent book about the brave people who risked their lives to save Jewish children during WW2. The title was very appropriately chosen; many of these little ones were rescued by being smuggled through secret passageways hidden in tall, overgrown shrubbery. The children were then concealed in packing boxes or laundry bags and taken away to foster families. Truly amazing that so many men and women were able to successfully outwit the evils of Hitler’s “Final Solution”, at least in part, by putting their own lives in great jeopardy.
**Thank you, Netgalley, for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.**

It took me a little while to get into this book because early on it felt more like I was reading a text book rather than a historical fiction that was based on true events. But as I got to know the characters and feel their passion and determination to save the Jewish children, I couldn’t help but love the story. Walter, Henriette, Johan and so many others may not have fought on the front lines, but they fought a battle of their own while risking their lives to save others. I hope through Paulette Mahurin’s book that their heroic actions are never forgotten.

Definitely recommending this book!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4199476046

Over the Hedge, by Paulette Mahurin, focuses on one of the worst times in world history. I didn't realize that the book is based on real people until the end of the book. That made it so much more meaningful for me. That also explains some of the parts that seemed slow because they went into so much detail.
It's the height of German occupation in Holland and the Dutch resistance has started to rescue Jewish children from the deportation theater in Amsterdam. Walter Süskind, a German Jew, Henriëtte Pimentel a Sephardic Jew, and Johan van Hulst, principal of the local college head the rescue program. While the Nazis round up Jewish families, they quickly move the children from the deportation building, to the childcare center and over the backyard hedge, to the college behind them. Once they make it to the college, they're taken to the Dutch families who have volunteered to take care of them.
In the meantime Hitler is frantic to rid the Netherlands of all Jewish people and the iNazi hostilities are ramping up towards the Resistance, As the three, literally, work around the clock to overcome all the barriers. plans are developed. They come up with ingenious methods to sneak the smallest one's out of the college, past all the guards outside the theater.

An incredibly powerful and heartbreaking book, made all the more remarkable by it being based on real people, who saved hundreds of Jewish children from the Nazis. I highly recommend this riveting story.