I cannot devour these types of books fast enough lately. I didn’t use to be a historical fan, but all books dealing with WW2 and the deplorable treatment of innocent men, women, and children strike at my heart. I will always be grateful for the true stories that these people find it in their hearts to tell. The past will live on but only by educating those who learn from it.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

A compelling story of two young men named Jacob and Ethan during WWII. The book starts off with Jacob and his parents along with Ethan and his family escaping Berlin in 1938 after the events of Kristallnacht. They end up in an immigrant camp in the Netherlands called Westerbork. When the Germans invaded the Netherlands, Westerbork became a transit camp, which is where the majority of the book takes place.

I thought it was a very interesting take on events of WWII. Not often do you read about lesser known German camps. The book differed from others in this genre by describing life in the transit camp even though in the end, it does take you to Auschwitz. Having had been to Poland before, I was truly able to visualise the story and the events that Jacob and Ethan went through throughout the book. I thought it was really well written. It kept me intrigued and by the end I finished it in one sitting. It is definitely a book I will be recommending.

Thank you to Netgalley and Michael Reit for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Beyond the Tracks by Michael Reit is based on true events in the Dutch refugee camp that later became a transit camp in Westerbork and the resistance effort. I have read many books about Holocaust, but never any about this refugee camp. Reit educates in a thought-provoking manner and take you on an emotional rollercoaster.
This is an important read of one a camp that people don’t really know about – we need to read and educate ourselves so We Can Tell

Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The story "Beyond the Tracks" tells is compelling, but unfortunately the storytelling isn't. The characters are flat and interchangeable, and they never seem really affected by all that experience. The sorrow, loss, fear, desperation, hunger, pain—none of that is palpable. Half the time I wasn't even aware of what season it was, and given how shabby and sparse I assume the prisoners' clothing was, I'd imagine they would have really felt the cold and wind of winter, for instance, and appreciated the warmth of spring. All of which is a shame, as the book does seem to be well researched, and I'd love to read a good novel about the Polish resistance group featured in the third section of this book.

Thank you, NetGalley and Michael Reit, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Outstanding novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Holocaust / WWII stories.
I felt myself really connecting with the characters that the author creates, and really enjoyed following the main character, Jacob, through his experiences. This author does a great job of evoking emotions from readers, and although so instances felt rushed, the story itself progressed nicely.

This novel is an ARC provided to me from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review!

The events of the Second World War are harrowing and something I think should continually be learnt about and discussed. I try to read fiction based on the events to try and learn more about the time period, and Beyond The Tracks was really educational. Based on true events, as discussed in the author's note at the end of the novel, and yet, I had never heard of the Dutch camp or the resistance effort. Just goes to show how much we have to learn, I think.

Beyond The Tracks tells the story of Jacob, a German-Jewish young man, who escapes Berlin in November 1938 with his parents. Also escaping are Jacob's best friend Ethan and his parents. Jacob and Ethan promise each other that no matter what, they will survive whatever they face and they will do so together. Cue a nail-biting scene at the train station that literally had me on the edge of my seat. Those sorts of moments happened regularly throughout the novel - what an emotional rollercoaster.

The book jumps to different times in Jacob's life, including his time at Camp Westerbork (which I had never heard of). Life at the camp started off somewhat comfortably, but soon deteriorates as the Nazis take greater control. Soon the camp becomes a transit camp, with the prisoners passing through Westerbork on their way to the other, more notorious concentration camps. Due to their role in camp, Jacob and Ethan manage to avoid being placed on the transportation lists for much longer than some. Eventually, however, the young men find themselves on the train to Auschwitz, but in separate train cars. With the two men separated, how can they ensure that they survive together, especially when one manages to escape and has to leave the other behind. Then enter Zofia and Marian, members of the resistance who make it their mission to help some of the imprisoned Jews escape from their fates at Auschwitz. I had no idea that the resistance was a thing, or that anyone would ever have been able to escape from the concentration camp, so this really engaged me. Could the resistance fighters be the answer to reuniting the two friends?

This novel was an emotional rollercoaster, rich in historical events and places. I was so invested in the fates of the characters, and often couldn't put the book down, all while learning things about this period of history. As the novel jumps to different times throughout WWII, I did occasionally find myself slightly confused about what had happened in the unwritten times, at the beginning of the new part. I soon filled in the blanks myself and it didn't affect how absorbed in the story I was.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and would recommend picking it up. I guarantee you'll learn something!

Friends for Life

This is a story of the Jewish in the Netherlands during WWII. It is about a camp named Westerbork and two Jewish young men, Jacob and Ethan. It is about their families, friends and all the people that passed through Westerbork to other camps such as Auschwitz, Sobibor, and Dachau.

The book starts with the escape from Berlin. Running to catch the last train to leave amidst gunshots from the SS shooting the unfortunate Jewish that did not get on the train. They made it to the Netherlands where they were put into a camp for immigrants called Westerbork. They stayed there in peace until the German's invaded the Netherlands. After that the camp became a pass through camp for those going to other camps. Jacob and Ethan were some of the last to be transported because they had been there a long time and had useful jobs running the camp.

One day they were sent on the transport train to Auschwitz. They were put in different cars. Jacob escaped out the window of the train in Poland before they got to the camp. Ethan did not escape. Jacob joined up with the resistance Marion and Zofia were two of the leaders. They came up with a plan to help Ethan escape from Auschwitz.

This book kept me reading way into the early hours of the morning as I could not put it down. I have read much about the German occupation in Germany and France, but not so much about the Netherland and had never heard about the camp named Westerbrok.

Even though some of the characters are fiction and this is a work of fiction many of the characters are either based on real people or they are actually about real people that existed during this time. The events mentioned really happened as well as the Escapes. Westerbrok existed as did the Dutch resistance group.

This was an emotional book rich in historical places and events. It was realistic as were the characters. It was sad and tragic at times and the ending was bittersweet, not all could be saved. So many brave Jewish people perished in these camps that never should have been under the hands of the evil SS German's in charge.

I would recommend this book.

Thanks to MIchael Reit, NetGalley Connect, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

It was really nice reading a book about a lesser known Dutch camp instead of the more famous ones in Eastern Europe, such as Sobibor and Auschwitz, even though a part of the book is at the latter. The book may seem a bit rushed at times and it has occasionally some stiff dialogue, but overall it's an interesting read about a dark chapter in European history.

Based on true events and real people, Michael Reit has written a compelling account of life as a German Jew from 1938 to 1950. Beyond the Tracks is a well written book, which i highly recommend.

This book follows the life of a young man with his parents and best friends. This particular book follows a different path than many in this genre. Instead of focusing on the more well known death camps, this book takes a look at what like was like for people as they tried to move into a different country and what happened when that country did not take them in. The story revolves around 1 young man and his quest for freedom and to find his best friend.

Thank you to Netgalley Connect for the arc of Beyond The Tracks by Michael Reit.

Well well well what can I say about this book, this was a roller coaster of a ride of emotions, i loved this book so much, i loved how well written it was and how it made me feel i was actually there... it even caused me to have dreams and nightmares about what happened there all them years ago. Jacob whom is a young child who fled his country ended up in a dutch refugee camp and he has to try to avoid getting transported at all costs to concentration camps in the East.... This was an gripping book i read this so fast it is so good! well done Michael Reit for writing this book.

definitely recommend
5 stars!

As someone who hasn’t read very much in previous years the fact that I completed this book in 2 days probably says it all. This ARC was provided to me in return for an honest review from NetGalley #netgalley #review #arc

Historical fiction is something that I’m quickly finding to be a favourite of mine. In places this book I was unable to put it down. Wanting to find out about Jacob, his family and his unbreakable bond with his best friend was gripping. When their lives change forever during the Nazi takeover of Germany and eventually, the Netherlands and Poland too, this story follows Jacobs journey from Berlin and Kristallnacht to escaping to a transient camp out in the Netherlands and his eventual escape from a death train heading towards Auschwitz-birkenau. I do agree with some previous reviewers the book does seem rushed at certain points. But the fact this is based on true facts just highlights the need for us to remember these events and to ensure that we are responsible for ongoing events today and to ensure that we do not allow similar events to continue to take place. Finally a gripping, enthralling book that also highlights some of the horrors and events in our recent history.

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #BeyondtheTracks #NetGalley.
Historical Fiction is my favourite genre and I'm happy to say this book did not disappoint. I found this perspective rather interesting, it's not often I come across books that accounts for the time spent at a transient camp. Certain scenes had me desperate to know what was going to happen next, I felt myself constantly wanting to read more of this novel. Although some of the dialogue felt a tad stiff to me, overall this book was enjoyable and the writing was thought-provoking and emotional. I'd be happy to read more from this author in the future!

I have read hundreds of this genre and it never gets old to me and I always learn something different and new. The characters In this weren’t very emotional but It didn’t take away from the story and kept me reading and finishing in a short time. I would definitely recommend this book.

A very interesting perspective, seeing the camps through the eyes of a prisoner forced into a position of authority. However, there was not really any character development which made it harder to emotionally invest in the story.