The Girls of the Glimmer Factory
by Jennifer Coburn
Pub Date: Jan. 28, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
From the author of Cradles of the Reich comes a poignant and inspiring tale of resistance, friendship, and the dangers of propaganda, based on the real story of Theresienstadt, for fans of The Forest of Vanishing Stars and The German Wife.
Hannah is a Jewish prisoner who longs to reunite with her family; Hilde is a Nazi filmmaker who has clawed her way onto the crew for the sham documentary, “Hitler Gives a City to the Jews.” When the former friends face off, they change the course of one another’s lives.
I absolutely love historical fiction, and this one is well researched and well written.
This gripping historical fiction, with an absolutely PERFECT title, that explores both sides of the Nazi oppression is not to be missed.

Jennifer Coburn’s The Girls of the Glimmer Factory took me straight into the haunting world of Theresienstadt, the so-called “model ghetto” during WWII. Imagine being forced into a fake production to convince the world you're just fine—when you're anything but.

The story follows two childhood friends—Hannah, a fighter for truth, and Hilde, a Nazi propagandist desperately climbing the ranks. I loved how the book kept the focus on the raw, human side of things. Hannah’s bravery, the strength and courage of people around her and Hilde’s internal struggles were a stark reminder of how easily people can be shaped by the world around them. And to always question what you’re told, truth matters more than ever!

The chilling reminder of the power of propaganda, and resistance are beautifully researched and written, it sheds light on history many of us never learned in school.

The book left me so curious that I looked into Theresienstadt’s history. Turns out, the town of Terezin (its modern name) still stands, though many of the buildings that held thousands of Jewish prisoners during the war are now crumbling. It’s haunting to think about the talented lives lived and lost there.

If you’re into WWII fiction or gripping stories of humanity and resilience, this one’s a must-read!

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and author for the advanced reading copy. I’m thrilled to share my honest thoughts! ✨

This was an amazing work of historical fiction. It takes place during WWII at Theresienstadt work camp that was located in then Czechoslovakia, now the Czech Republic. It centers on Hannah, a young Jewish girl who was kept there and Hilde, a filmmaker for the Third Reich.

The book starts with Hannah's mother, father, brother, and grandmother escaping Prague and going to Palestine for safety. Hannah was struck down with smallpox and her always-optimistic grandfather stayed back with her to nurse her back to health, both unaware of what was going on not so far from them.

Her grandfather thought they were going to cozy cottage on a lake when they were herded into a train car. It's what he'd asked for. They were both rudely awakened when they got there, yet Oskar kept a positive attitude and that helped Hannah, even though they were split up and put in separate barracks. They still managed to look after each other.

Hilde and Hannah were best friends when Hannah lived in Munich and was surprised to see her at the camp when she and her film crew showed up to make a Nazi propaganda film. She hadn't seen Hannah since Hannah had moved to Prague with her family. That's all I'm going to say about that. I don't want to ruin this stellar novel for anyone else.

This book is rich with history, even the parts that some people wish to bury or ignore. It was an ugly time for the world as a whole and the author did a fantastic job of keeping it all relevant while telling this poignant story of family, friendship, greed, love, and betrayal. There were times when I wept as I watched (and felt) these characters struggle to survive. They were abused, starved, lied to, and enslaved. It was always a question as to who was or was not going to make it.

It's imperative that you read the epilogue. It's also worthwhile to read the Author's Notes. The author did an incredible amount of research to write this book and it showed.

Personal Note

As I read this, I was reminded of our own political climate right here in the United States. I don't want to make this a platform for political rhetoric, but the next time someone calls another person a Nazi, I hope they realize just what they're saying. It appalls me that there are groups of people chasing down Jews like they're dogs in the street right here in America. It can't wrap my mind around having that much hate in your heart. I hope they realize that the Nazis were aiming for a master race that did not include the mentally or physically disabled, calling them "useless eaters." These people were exterminated. Then if a Nazi found a Jew worth saving, they were considered "pet Jews." Really? They were people with feelings and souls. They still are. They are not animals and certainly not vermin.

Think about these things when you start hating on the Jews and calling people Nazis. Read books like this, learn the history, and not repeat that awful time in the world.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Girls of the Glimmer Factory by Jennifer Coburn

Jennifer Coburn has offered up another historical fiction story of something I had never heard of. I was unaware of the Lebensborn Society and now Theresienstadt, the “model ghetto” of Jews in the now Czech Republic.

This manufactured town was a transition camp where Jews did hard labor for minimal food until they were shipped to Auschwitz or other extermination camps. As per Nazi propaganda, the Jews were allowed to act, play music, draw and paint and listen to lectures from their peers, while in reality, life was brutal.

Hannah and Hilde, young girls who were once friends in Prague, find themselves together again in Theresienstadt on opposite sides of the war: Jew and Nazi. Once again, Coburn has created strong characters and an interesting story. I highly recommend this title for historical fiction aficionados and rate it a strong four stars.

For me this book was a book about the horrific things the nazis did under ww2, how far they were willing to go to erase what they called the untermenschen. But the book was also about strength , broken Dreams, new Dreams and glimmer of hope. It made me think, and be angry. But some parts felt a little bit rushed. I still recommend this book. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

I absolutely loved this book! It was such a fun read and I was very lucky to get an advanced copy!

Powerful story of two friends on opposite sides of the war. Definitely a must read!!

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Net Galley and Sourcebooks Publishing for an early copy of The Girls of the Glimmer Factory by Jennifer Coburn

Two female students in Prague experience the horrors of the Third Reich as each of their lives moves in directions they never could have imagined. Hilde, a gentile and Hannah, a Jew, are friends in Prague until the pressures of the Hitler regime end their friendship.

Hannah's immediate family has obtained exit papers to move to Palestine where they will await the arrival of Hannah's grandparents should papers become available for them. When Hannah develops smallpox just before the family's departure, her grandfather decides to remain with her and send his wife instead. It will not take long for Hannah and her grandfather to be transported to the "model camp" Teresienstadt designed by the Nazis to falsely show the world their humane treatment of the Jews. Nothing could be further from the truth.. While the unimaginable brutality of death camps further East is absent, the residents of Teresienstadt are still under the relentless ill treatment of the Nazis, lack food and basic necessities, work long hours and suffer human indignities.

Hilde has dreams of becoming a filmmaker and finds her way on to a team which will create the propaganda film featuring Teresienstadt as a glorious haven for Jews. Of particular importance is the work done by women in the glimmer factory where they perform the dangerous work of shaving pieces of mica from the rock using very sharp knives. No one in Teresienstadt is privy to what the mica shavings are used for by the Reich.
Those living at the camp cannot believe the false picture the Nazis are painting of life here.

Hilde is blinded to the sins of the regime and believes that work camps are just that and nothing more. When Hilde and Hannah meet at Teresienstadt, this sets up a series of events that will show the true natures of both women.

Author Jennifer Coburn has created very strong characters beyond Hilde and Hannah and woven an intricate and moving drama that does not back down. The author's lengthy notes at the conclusion of the novel provide additional outlooks on this particular time and place in history.

Another really good WWII book. This one covers the Theresienstadt, a model ghetto slated to be used as a propaganda film for convincing the world of the luxury living the Jewish people were experiencing. I have read many WWII books, and I have to admit this one depicts the real lives, sacrifices, diligence, bravery and selflessness of the characters very well about a topic that I had not read previously. The research is stellar and the highlight of the Author’s notes at the end were so much appreciated.

My only con on the book was it took a while to get invested in the story but once it all started to fit together it was mesmerizing. I had previously read Cradles of the Reich and just as this one, thoroughly enjoyed. Ms. Coburn is a fine author with wonderful writing skills. I thank you for another great read.

Coincidentally I had just finished a book covering the use of women to build and assemble ammunition for their soldiers during WWII, those women turned yellow, and another book on the paint containing harmful cancer causing agents to the women that painted them on the clock dials, then to read about Hitler using these prisoners to handle the glimmer. I can only hope we learn from those mistakes, sadly the prisoners had no choice but the other two situations the women were voluntarily wanting to help the war effort and not told the hazards.

I thank Sourcebooks Landmark along with NetGalley for providing this Galley edition for no requirement other than my offer to provide an unbiased review. High 5 stars.

Based on the real story of Theresienstadt, this fictional work tells the story of a propaganda film intended to make an internment camp look like a desirable gift, courtesy of Herr Hitler. The residents know what life in this camp and its sister camps are like, and plan to disrupt the filming so they can tell the real story of the death camps.

The Girls of the Glimmer Factory is a brave tale of resistance, friendship and the dangers of propaganda. It is based on the real story of Theresienstadt where the Nazi’s filmed movies about the “proper” treatment of the Jewish population. The story follows Hannah, a young Jewish woman, who is a prisoner at Theresienstadt an who will help resistance members derail their plans of filming propaganda films and the deportation of prisoners. The story also follows Hilde who is a support of the Nazi regime and dreams to work as a filmmaker to help the Reich with their propaganda films.

This story is inspiring and to see two sides of it was amazing. I have never learned of the Theresienstadt ghetto in Czechoslovakia and I think it is important to understand that it was what prevented the Red Cross from investigating Auschwitz. Hannah is a beckon of hope and Hilde is blinded by faith in a government who she believes is the true cause.

Though set in the past, this story is relevant today and is important to read.

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read this novel for an honest review, and thank you to NetGalley for providing the ebook.

Thank you NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Jennifer Coburn for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Girls of the Glimmer Factory.
This is a very emotional and heart wrenching story taking place during World War II describing a situation I knew little about-quite the education I got through reading this!
The main setting is Theresienstadt which portrayed the Jewish ghetto located here as a model of a Jewish community run by the Nazis with arts, education, music and a spa-like environment. A film was being made to show the world that Hitler was providing for the Jewish population and all other information was incorrect. This is the start of “fake news” that continues to thrive today. I won’t get political but there are strong parallels to our recent election.
Our main characters, Hannah and Hilde grew up together and were close friends. They end up on opposite ends-one filming, one living it. This is edge of your seat drama of their friendship, trust and honesty. Hannah is very close to her family and cares deeply about her culture. Hilda’s priorities are advancing in the Hitler regime rather selfishly. Where do our priorities stand? I shed a few tears over these characters and became totally immersed in their stories. I have been thinking about them and their decisions ever since I finished reading. A true sign of a five star read- loved it!

I would definitely recommend this book.

From the goodreads description: From the author of Cradles of the Reich comes a poignant and inspiring tale of resistance, friendship, and the dangers of propaganda, based on the real story of Theresienstadt, for fans of The Forest of Vanishing Stars and The German Wife.

I've read Cradle of the Reich and The Forest of Vanishing Stars, and I agree that if you read those books and liked them, you will like this book.

One of the reasons I recommend this book is I've read books based on other concentration camps before, but I've never read one about Theresienstadt. Jennifer does her research. Her writeup at the end of the book with all of her research is a worthwhile read as well as the book.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley

We meet Hilde and Hannah.

Hilde's husband was killed in the war and is now working for a film crew who will be making a propaganda film about Theresienstadt - a Nazi camp that spouts a wonderful, peaceful city for the Jewish people and where they are treated well.

In reality, it is a Ghetto, a work camp, and a prison that was a a stopover before being sent to death camps.

Hannah is a prisoner in Theresienstadt and tries to thwart the efforts of the Germans since she is living in squalor, working for nothing, and eating watered down soup for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

When Hilde arrives, she sees her friend Hannah.

Will friendship win out to thwart the fake news about the camp or will the Nazi’s lies and deception win?

Hannah was a very likable character whereas Hilde was not. Hilde was self centered - Hannah suffered a lot and had compassion.

THE GIRLS OF THE GLIMMER FACTORY brings to light the horrors of this misrepresented camp but focuses on courage, friendships, and the will to live.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book is very meaningful to me. Two years ago, while in the Czech Republic for a Christmas market river cruise land tour, my husband and I chose to do a tour of the Terezin fortress and the ghetto museum. I reflected on that visit as I read this novel. It was so heartbreaking. A wonderfully written story about how friendship and love can carry people through horrific situations. It is also the tale of how brainwashing can turn kind people into monsters. We see two sides of the coin here. On one side is Hannah, a kind young Jewish woman separated from most of her family during WWII, taken to the Terezin camp. On the other is Hilde, a childhood friend of Hannah’s from Germany who has become a Nazi. In the beginning I wanted to like Hilde. Something about the way she was characterized at the start made me try liking her. The more I got to know her, I realized she was selfish and brainwashed. Her desire to have a film career had her making a decision to help create propaganda for the Nazis to display to the world how “terrible” Jewish people are and how good they have it at these “camps” like Terezin. The Nazis put on a display for the Red Cross to show them all of the wonderful things that Terezin was for its inhabitants. In reality, it was a cruel place bringing despair, sickness, and starvation to the people. the author, Jennifer Coburn describes it all with just a perfect amount of details to make you feel like you are there. This is the second book I read from her and I thoroughly enjoyed both. After reading her note at the end of the book I saw just how much research she did to really be as accurate as she could and tell a good story that needs to be shared with the world.

I really enjoyed Jennifer’s book the Cradels of the Reich as it explored an interesting part of WWII that I wasn’t familiar with. I have recently read a few books which featured Theresienstadt, known as them model camp and a place where the arts thrived. I was excited to see that Jennifer’s latest offering was set there. It didn’t disappoint.

Told from the dual points of views of Hannah and Hilde. Childhood friends who end up on opposite sides of the fence. Hannah is Jewish who fled Germany for the Czech Republic. Her story gives us good insight into what it was actually like to live in the ghetto. Hilde is doing her best to be a model citizen. I found it fascinating to see behind the scenes of how propaganda films were made, and how Germans were manipulated into believing they were doing the right thing at the time. Both women were quite complex and well developed. I felt for them both at times, however, it was a lot harder with Hilde at times.

Another well-researched novel, I loved the attention to detail such as the shared wedding dress that was passed on between women in the camp. I loved the spirit of resistance that was still present despite the circumstances. People helped each other out, looked after babies and banded together to make concerts. It seemed a strange thing to do but the quote ‘joys is the greatest act of resistance’ really brought home why. The glimmer factory in the title refers to the mica factory, I would have liked it to have played more of a role in the a risky story. I enjoyed the big finish and the detailed authors notes. A novel of bravery, humanity, friendship and betrayal.

This book is based on the real life existence of Theresienstadt, a ghetto established in WWII that served several functions, including for German propaganda. Hannah becomes a Jewish prisoner in this ghetto, and spends years learning more about the life in the ghetto, including resistance efforts, but also the Nazi plans to create a film of life in the ghetto to show the Jewish people living a wonderful and sometimes extravagant life there.

In a secondary storyline, Hilde is a Nazi believer, and gets a job in the office that is filming the propaganda films. She gets the assignment to help create the film about the Jewish life in the ghetto city, and she is determined to deliver Hitler's plan to show how well the Jews are being treated.

This story deals with the tough topics of the Jewish containment, and it was interesting to learn about this establishment.

This heartbreakingly beautiful story follows Hannah, a Jewish prisoner at Theresienstadt, a model ghetto where the Nazis plan to make a propaganda film to convince the world that the Jewish people are living well in the camps. She and some of her fellow prisoners fight to find ways to let the truth out but the International Red Cross is taken in by the staged performance during their visit and doesn't bother to look beneath the facade to find the truth about the prisoner's conditions. Meanwhile, the story also follows a young woman trying to work her way up in the Nazi organization. The paths of the two young women living very different lives crosses and the story is spellbinding. I highly recommend this wonderfully written book.

As I had read The Cradles of the Reich by Jennifer Coburn, I was excited to receive an advanced copy of her new book, The Girls Of The Glimmer Factory through NetGalley. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. I received no compensation. The events portrayed are based upon historical events when Hitler and the Third Reich imprisoned and murdered thousands of Jews.

The story opens with a family dinner as Hannah’s family are leaving their home to relocate to Palestine the next day. However, Hannah becomes ill, causing a last minute change of plans to flee their home in 1940 Prague. Hanna’s grandmother takes Hannah’s place leaving Oskar,her grandfather behind temporarily until plans and proper travel papers could be secured. So the story of Oskar and Hannah begins.

I found all the characters to be layered and believable. I did not care for Hilde, Hannah’s childhood friend at first; but somehow, as the story progressed, I began to see her through a different lens.
Hannah’s grandfather was a rock in his own way, trying to be cheerful and positive while the events around them were so horrible it was beyond comprehension.

There is so much to take in and absorb that I found I couldn’t read this book piece meal in short periods. I needed time to read and slowly digest what I had read as all of the characters were vital to the story even the minor ones.

To be honest, this book scared me. There are forces in play right now if left unchecked…could it happen again?

I encourage you to read all the extras at the end of the book. Food for thought of what was just read. The Girls Of The Glimmer Factory would be an excellent bookclub selection.

A thought provoking ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just about anyone can go viral with anything these days.

We’ve all heard the term ‘fake news.’

Please tell me you don’t believe everything you see or hear!

Even though we now share information differently than we did 80+ years ago, the dangers of misinformation and propaganda are still the same. Author Jennifer Coburn’s pleas to wisely navigate the myriad of information we’re bombarded with daily, stem from her time spent visiting the site of a former ‘glimmer factory’ - Terezin, or, as the Nazis called it, Theresienstadt.

Pared down to its main objective, The Glimmer Factory, exposes the Nazi strategy of deception at Terezin.

All was not glitter and glam at the ‘spa resort’ in, what is now, the Czech Republic. and Coburn warns that the same strategy that was utilized to hoodwink Red Cross officials in the 1940s is being utilized today. Yes, ‘spa visitors’ created more than 5,000 pieces of visual art: sketches, paintings, sculptures, and dolls. Yes, there were daily musical performances, like Verdi’s Requiem. Yes, there were also theatre, readings, and lectures. After all, the majority of the 'visitors' were prominent and talented Jews.

The truth is that Terezin was designed to deceive the world about the true nature of the ‘final solution.’ It was curated after reports leaking the true conditions and functions of the death camps sparked concern and the Red Cross put pressure on the Nazis to inspect. A plan was hatched to present it as a model ghetto by masking the true purpose and conditions. The showcase of cultural activity was orchestrated to discredit accusations of maltreatment. It worked; the Red Cross was duped. So was the rest of the world. Heck, I didn’t even know about it and I’ve read many books with a Holocaust focus.

Coburn’s novel is set in this ‘glimmer factory’ and showcases two women, a Jewish prisoner and an ambitious filmmaker, who were once childhood friends. Hannah Kaufman is willing to risk it all to show the world the truth about Terezin. Coincidentally, this is Hilde Kramer’s objective, too. She works for the Reich Ministry of Enlightenment and Propaganda and has been sent with a film crew to renew confidence in Hitler’s plans for the Jews. When they reunite they mutually hope to use their connection to further their cause. The trouble is, they aren’t on the same track, going the same direction. Will they be able to help each other survive? Will their friendship carry them through even the most harrowing times?

This gripping historical fiction, with an absolutely PERFECT title, that explores both sides of the Nazi oppression is not to be missed. I"m still thinking about it days later and I'm much more suspicious of the 'glitter.'

“One cannot be part of such an evil movement without great personal cost in the end.”

“Oppressors are the least creative people in the world. They constantly borrow one another’s ideas, and if we learn the early warning signs, we are better equipped to defeat them.”

I was gifted this copy by Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley. I read a lot of WWII historical fiction, but this was the first I've read that really focuses on the Theresienstadt camp in Czechoslovakia that was used to show the Red Cross that that the Jewish people were fine under Nazi occupation. This was a ruse of course, but it stopped the Red Cross inspectors from going to look at other camps such as Auschwitz where it would've been harder for the Nazis to hide what they were doing. This book focuses on Hannah and Hilde --one woman a Jew and one a staunch supporter of the Reich as they both use what they have available to survive in this world.