When Hitler Stole Link Rabbit

by Judith Kerr
Available from Amazon
**
Anna did not really think of herself as Jewish as she lived in Berlin. She was just a German girl. That is, until the Nazis came into power, and her father’s writing was no longer acceptable, merely because he was Jewish. So her family left Germany for Switzerland, and began a life which Anna discovered was called that of a “refugee”. We see the way her life changed from what she had always known in first in Switzerland, then France, and finally in England. Her experiences, based on the author’s own girlhood, are enlightening and entertaining as the reader reflects on the events of the time. There is nothing otherwise spectacular that occurs, and the drama unfolds like a “Little House” book.

One incident that rather bothered me was when Anna’s father was having nightmares. As she went to bed one night, she said something to the effect of, “Please, can I have them instead.” The book stated that Anna did not really believe in God, but she thought there might be someone who could arrange things. When her father’s nightmares ended, Anna secretly congratulated herself. I realize that all Jews do not believe in God, but I do, and would discuss this and a few other attitudes with any younger readers.

The River of Grace

by Joyce McPherson
Available from Amazon
*****

I was delighted with this sensitive biography of John Calvin. McPherson writes simply to children, not down to children. She begins in John’s childhood, and touches on the events and issues of his life. She shows his thoughts with frequent quotes him from his letters and other writings. This book is a great introduction to the life and heart of a great reformer, and an excellent work.

The Refugees: A Tale of Two Continents

by Arthur Conan Doyle
Available from Inheritance Publications and Amazon
*****
The first half of the book takes place in France, mostly having to do with the royal court and the service of the king. It has the excitement, drama, and intrigue of Dumas’ The Three Musketeers, only the young man we are watching is a Christian. Eventually he must choose between his faith, and his position. He is engaged to his cousin, also a Huguenot. When it becomes illegal to hold to their faith, they make a narrow escape across the ocean, with the help of two Americans. The Puritan sea captain conforms to the modern stereotype of the Puritans, with a disapproving glance at pleasure in God’s creation (considering that we are not meant to enjoy life) and a habit of soberly calling down Biblical curses on those who are not of his way of thinking. My main disappointment in the book was this portrayal of New England Puritans. The other American is a backwoodsman, whose ideas tend to be much more liberal than his Puritan friend. Adele’s father, being weak in health, asks that the two young people marry before his death, which occurs on the voyage. They also suffer shipwreck.

When they arrive in Canada, the Huguenots are discovered to be escaping persecution in France, and a Jesuit persistently follows them, to return them to “justice” and the Catholic religion. Their American friends help them to escape their prison ship which was to return them to France. They meet new companions, and see them scalped by the hostile Indians. As they flee on, they are eventually captured by the Indians, with the Jesuit still behind them. Once again, they are rescued just in time, and finally reach safe territory, where they are free to believe the truth of God’s Word without interference.

The story is encouraging to see what others have been willing to suffer for their faith in Christ, and to see the history of so many who fled persecution. It is also a complex story, with many pieces which are eventually pulled together, and an unexpected complication to the plot around every corner. There is never a boring chapter, and though Christ shines through it, it is never preachy. I so appreciate riveting storylines that also hold up the Lord, and those who place their trust in Him. This book definitely falls into that category.

The Secret Mission: A Huguenot's Dangerous Adventures in the Land of Persecution

The Secret Mission: A Huguenot's Dangerous Adventures in the Land of Persecution (Huguenot Inheritance Series , No 2) by A. Van Der Jagt
http://www.telusplanet.net/public/inhpubl/webip/prod03.htm
****
John, the hero from The Escape, is the secretary of one of the most influential merchants in Amsterdam. He is on a mission in France for the Dutch government, and a personal quest to find his father. His father was sent to the galleys upon his refusal to convert back to Catholicism, and no one has heard from him since. John encounters much danger, including being recognized by his uncle, the priest that sent his father to the galleys. He meets several figures of whom we have historical accounts, and, of course, like a true storybook hero, is successful in his missions. This book is definitely a worthwile read. The only problem/disappointment I had with it, is that it is obvious from the writing style that it is not an old book. There is nothing wrong with the language, it is just more contemporary than that of most of the other books in the Huguenot Inheritance series.

Driven into Exile: A Story of the Huguenots

Driven into Exile: A Story of the Huguenots (Huguenot Inheritance Series, #5) by A. L. O. E.
http://www.telusplanet.net/public/inhpubl/webip/prod03.htm
*****
In "Driven into Exile," the Edict of Nantes is revoked, and a nobleman is given a choice between exile in 21 days, or converting back to the Roman Catholic church. He chooses exile to England. The daughter, Adele, resents the change, as well as her English stepmother. She obeys, but rebelliously, especially when they discover that her dear brother will not be allowed to join them. As the heir of the estate, he is being re-educated as a Catholic to serve the king. The story chronicles his non-compliance, as well as the hardships his family encounter in their new life in England. Adele writes her cousin in France, who has converted back to Catholicism to find a match among the French nobility. Adele's rebellious spirit is seen, although she does love her stepmother. When the news that her brother Louis is arrested after aiding the escape of a Huguenot pastor, she runs off into a snowstorm. The story has a happy ending for all the faithful characters, although the worldling cousin pays the ultimate price for her own way. There are hard decisions to be made, and this book is an encouragment to stand fast in the Lord, no matter the consequences.