I love historical novels that are based on true life stories and that is what Matthews has delivered.
Trudi risks her life again and again to first save two little girls who had been given sanctuary in her home in the Netherlands. Soon she is daringly ferrying children to safety to escape the clutches of the Nazis.
Readers can feel the desperation and resignation of the parents in the story as well as the determination of the resistance to save every child.
It’s a stirring story and one that will have you thinking about it long after the last page has been read.

This is such an unbelievable story although it is true. It brought tears to my eyes many times. Imogen Matthews is new to me and I will be looking for more of her books.

Girl from the Resistance by Imogen Matthews

Wow, what a page-turner! Set in Holland, 1941, Girl from the Resistance, is based on a true story. The Germans have invaded Holland and are hunting down Jews. Trudi has convinced her family to hide the Jewish Friedman family in their attic. Louisa and Rosy are their two young daughters.

Trudi is well informed about the German invasion and the resistance groups that are forming throughout Holland. She has attended political rallies and even fallen in love with a young fisherman, Sem, who was one of the local resistance leaders.

One day horror strikes. The Germans storm the house and arrest Mr. and Mrs. Friedman. Not only has Trudi hidden their daughters from the raid, she also has promised to safeguard them indefinitely. With no further support from her parents, Trudi must find a safe place for herself and the girls.

She turns to a Frans, the leader of a resistance group. Frans confronts Trudi. “You want to take these children with you? Trudi, you need to make up your mind, - either it’s your family you save or the lives of these two children.”” Trudi was not about break her promise to the girls’ parents. She must protect the girls.

The ensuing harrowing journey which Trudi tells the three- and seven-year-old girls is “an adventure,” is a hair-raising nightmare. Not only the Germans hunting down Jews, but also some Hollanders because they will be rewarded with money. Trudi and the children are on the run. After escaping to the country home of an aunt, Frans finds a family who is willing to temporarily shelter the girls.

Trudi returns to Haarlem actively help Frans’ resistance group. Eventually, she is given the extremely dangerous task to escort Jewish children to safety in the countryside.

Matthews has masterfully developed the heroine, Trudi. We can feel her determination as well as her thumping heart as she courageously puts the lives of others ahead of her own. “Trudi was riddled with nerves at the prospect of handling a gun and would probably back out it hadn’t been for Frida by her side.” (108)

We also see and feel the settings throughout the story. “It was a hot cloudless afternoon and the sea sparkled in the brilliant sunlight. Trudi and Frida were cycling side by side engrossed in conversation and enjoy the wind at their backs.” (Pg.98) “Carrying two large bags containing all her possessions, Trudi gloomily eyed the three flight of stairs that she needed to climb to read her new lodgings. It was a depressing prospect moving into a small attic room at the top of a rundown house of bedsits in the centre of town.” (Pg.143)

This amazing story is filled with unexpected turns and twists just as it must have been for refugees and their helpers in the 1940’s. The book is well written and a fine contribution to historical fiction about Holland in WWII.

This is my first book by this author Imogen Matthews and I was blown away by her well written novel The Girl From The Resistance the first in the series The Dutch Girls. An inspiring, unputdownable WW2 historical novel. The bravery, courage and gripping events that took place shown by Trudi to save Jewish children is such a moving story based on true events. I can’t wait to read the next in this series.
I would like to thank Bookouture, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this complimentary copy for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

**Warning- Do not begin this book while cooking food or doing laundry; the clothes will stay dirty and your food will burn, because it is unputdownable!!**
An incredible, heart-rending, page-turner of a novel, about the actions of the Dutch Resistance during WW2. This is the first in a series, according to the author’s notes, specifically about three women and their selfless efforts to save Jews during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but it will certainly not be my last!
Release Date: October 10, 2023
* I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

08.09.23 – 14.09.23 My 5* review

The Girl from the Resistance by Imogen Matthews

Heart-wrenching and suspenseful

It is World War Two, Holland is occupied by the Nazis, and Trudi’s family are hiding a Jewish couple and their two daughters Rosy and Louisa in their attic. When the Nazis break in and take the parents away, Trudi knows she must do all she can to protect the two young girls.
This heart-wrenching and suspenseful story follows Trudi’s journey; from joining the local resistance and her determination in doing everything in her power to save the girls, to learning to use weapons and how to trust.
It is a well-researched story, it is heart-braking at times, has excellent characters, vivid descriptions and a nail-biting plot.
I have not hesitation in recommending this book to fans of this genre.

I received my copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Not my cup of tea, so I tried my mum with it, and she loved it. Not my cup of tea, so I tried my mum with it, and she loved it.

THE GIRL FROM THE RESISTANCE is the first novel in The Dutch Girls series by IMOGEN MATTHEWS. It is a well written book with unforgettable characters and tells the story of an eighteen year old Durch girl, Trudi Oversteegen, who risks her life to save Louisa and Rosy Friedman, the little Jewish girls who were living in their attic, from the Nazis, and then goes on to become a member of the resistance and courier of messages to the British and of Jewish children to safety.
The story is not only exciting but also inspirational as we see the lengths to which people will go to help those in desperate need, as opposed to the pure wickednees of the Nazi regime.
When plans go wrong and disaster strikes it is obvious that someone with insider information has betrayed them…….
I highly recommend this excellent novel to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

This is the first book in a new series. Though fictional, these stories are based on real people and events. It's about a Dutch girl who joins the resistance. It starts off when her family hides a Jewish family in their attic. When the Germans raid their home, Trudy is able to hide with the girls, as the Nazis take their parents away. Afterwards, she needs to find a safe place for them for her to stay which connects her with the Dutch resistance. She's soon involved in helping them and supporting their efforts to help Jewish children escape from the horrors that could await them. The ending sets up the next book in the series, which I'm looking forward to reading.

Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture, and Imogen Matthews for allowing me the opportunity to have early access to this story in exchange for an honest review.

It will be published October 10, 2023

What a great read, real eye opener about the things people did during the war to assist those in need. The strength and resilience they had to carry out their missions. Definitely recommend this book

I’ve read many books on the Resistance efforts during WW2, but they have all been based in France. So for me this book that is set in Holland was something new and I must say it took a little bit of getting used to. Words that I assume mean ‘monsieur/madame’ in Dutch kept catching me. I liked that the main character Trudi wasn’t perfect. I felt like she was very naïve and too trusting and this caused her to make some mistakes. But that was good because life isn’t perfect and we aren’t perfect and so I thought it made the story feel more realistic. This is the first book in a series and the next book is well set up in the end. I hope the next book also gives some more information about some of the smaller characters from this book so that we know they were ok.

The Girl from the Resistance by Imogen Matthews was a heart-stopping read for me. The novel takes place in the Netherlands and begins in Haarlem. This novel is based on true stories of the women of the Dutch resistance, which makes it all the more breathtaking.

Trudi’s family has been hiding a Jewish family in their attic, mother, father, and two little girls. Because the attic space was small and the girls fretful, Trudi decides to take them out for a little while even though her mother is worried that someone will see the girls and turn the family in to the Nazis.

The worst happens and someone has seen the little girls and turns in the family. The attic has a secret hiding place that Trudi and the two girls hide at the request of the girls’ mother and father, who decide to turn themselves in. Trudi must find help in spiriting the girls to a safe place.

This begins Trudi’s work with the Dutch resistance in trying to move Jewish children away to safety. She is also asked to do sabotage work against the German army. The bravery of this woman who had to lie to her family and friends about her activities and learn to fire a gun for her safety is indescribable.

Trudi has to grow up fast and learn to do things that she never thought she would be able to do. Her desire to save these two little girls from the Nazis had her do dangerous activities and work with people that she wasn’t sure she could trust. The admiration that I felt for all those working in the resistance in the Netherlands was overwhelming.

This book is a really good historical fiction novel centered around ww2. It follows a Dutch girl Trudi who joins the resistance. It’s challenging, emotional, and captivating. The characters are loveable. I really enjoyed getting to know them. I only wish character development was a little stronger. You get to know many characters but none of them have real depth to them and you don’t learn much about their backgrounds.

Thank you to @netgalley and @bookouture for letting me read The Girl From The Resistance early in exchange for a review.
This is apparently based on a true story, I can’t speak to how closely or loosely based it is.
Trudi has watched the Nazis stake over Holland. As the freedoms of her Jewish friends and neighbours slowly begin to get restricted she decides to do what she can to help. As a member of the resistance her missions become more and more dangerous.
In reading the authors notes I got to learn a bit more about the actual women who inspired this book, and which parts of it were true. The Dutch occupation is an area of the war I have not read much about so I got to learn some new things.
#bookstagram #thegirlfromtheresistance #dutchhistory #dutchauthor #readforjoy #bookworm #booklover #netgalley #bookreview #bookreader #bookaddict #historicalfiction #read #readersofinstagram #readersofig #bookblogger

A really good read. New author to me , but hope to read more. A gripping WW2 historical fiction .The story evolves around a young woman, Trudi, who embarks on dangerous missions trying to save Jewish children. A heartbreaking, emotional and nerve wracking read.

This book was SO GOOD. Wow. The author really makes you FEEL the emotions each character is having. I found myself scared, tensing up when the MC was. I found myself feeling shivering cold and scared when the side character was. The writing is so great. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

I loved learning about the actual work in the resistance. I haven’t read a WWII book yet with this much resistance information. Absolutely loved this novel.

Fictionalized, but based on a true story. In this book we follow trudi, and her fight to save jewish children from the germans.
It always amazes me how far people are willing to go , sacrifice , to save other people. And it makes my heart lighter , knowing there are people out there like this. At the same time it scares me, to know how far people are willing to go for money , and power i guess.
I really liked trudi, she was strong, but at the same time naive in some ways, she felt like a real person. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

Thus is why i love reading histical fiction
, even though their fictional, these stories are always inspiring, as well as based on true events that happen, and if done right the author brings that time , that event as well as the characters themselves to life . Which makes the story very heartbreaking and emotional at the same time, because you literally see and feel every thing from the characters fear, to their love , as well as see how strong they are even in the face of danger.

Though fictional, these stories are always inspiring, based as they are on true events.

Nazi occupied Holland, with soldiers on patrol everywhere. This wasn’t an easy place to live, especially if you were a Jew. Increasingly, Jewish families were being taken from their homes and sent to The Westerbork transit camp, which served as a temporary collection point for Jews in the Netherlands, from whence most were deported to killing centers at Auschwitz-Birkenau and Sobibor where they were murdered.

Trudi and her family have been giving refuge to a Jewish family of four, but when the Nazis arrived at her home, Trudi hides in a secret compartment in the attic with the two children, their parents begging her to keep them safe.

This is just the start for Trudi as she volunteers to help in a local resistance movement, helping Jewish children escape the horrors that would otherwise await them.

This was an inspiring story about the bravery of those willing to put their own lives on the line, in order to help others escape the Nazis. Although I found Trudi to be likeable, I did find her a a little naive after she took neighbours into her confidence, revealing her efforts to help Jewish children escape the Nazis - very dangerous indeed - my motto would be - Trust No One! As Trudi’s missions became ever more dangerous, the tension ramped up considerably leading to some heart stopping moments, especially for the children involved.

It’s difficult to write a review that honours the people for whom this scenario was a real and terrifying experience, but it never fails to move me thinking how mankind at its most desperate, is often at its very best.

This new series is based on three heroines of the Dutch Resistance. In this first book set in Haarlem in 1941, we meet Trudi, whose family is hiding a Jewish family in their attic. Their arrest spurs her on to join the resistance movement with a particular interest in saving children.

I was struck by two things in particular. The first was that this particular Resistance cell seemed unstructured and unorganized which is so dangerous when dealing with the Nazis. It made me quite nervous. Many of the missions that Trudi was sent on were poorly planned by their leader, even though the lives of children were at stake. Trudi was often too trusting of strangers but perhaps she hardens up as the war progresses. The other thing that struck me was that there were so few women in the Resistance in The Netherlands, at least in the time period covered in this book.

This is a quick read and very informative about the Nazi Occupation in The Netherlands. Trudi's passion for saving Jewish children led her to perform incredible acts of bravery under extraordinary circumstances. Knowing that this is based on a real person makes it even more rewarding to read. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital ARC. All opinions & the review are my own.