This was decent. It's definitely not an easy read, as we read the story from both the perspectives of a Jewish prisoner, Hannah, and of a woman Nazi fully believing in the regime, Hilde. The things Hilde and her "coworkers" believed about Jews were vile, and the things Hannah and her loved ones endured in the prison camp were heinous and inhumane.

Other reviews mention that Hilde is from Coburn's previous book, Cradles of the Reich, but they are standalones and do not need to be read together (I have not read that one yet).

While this was informative, as I had never even heard of Theresienstadt before this book, I wanted more from it. It's a bit slow in the beginning and some of the backstory felt unnecessary, but it does pick up. It is clearly thoroughly researched, and I learned a lot about this camp the Nazis used as propaganda to lie to the world about how "well" Jews were treated while they waited out the war.

The title is a bit misleading as I thought the glimmer factory would play a bigger part in this story.

The ending felt abrupt. I'd have liked a little more closure.

Thank you NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and author Jennifer Coburn for the arc!

This captivating historical fiction is one of two childhood friends torn apart by war with journeys that lead them in two very different directions. One friend Hannah, a Jewish woman & one friend Hilde, a Nazi activist & propaganda film maker … their stories interwoven with both sides represented.

Not often do we see pov’s written from the perspective of those “innocently” (and I throw that word in there very loosely) believing out of loyalty of country that the German causes were righteous ones, but I felt the author handled this with care. Although, I couldn’t find much to love about Hilde & I still had no empathy for her, the perspective was a fresh one for a WW2 prison camp story.

The author was well researched & I learned a lot about the making of the propaganda films & their staging & also about the “glimmer factory” which was the process of mica splitting & how that mineral was used in the war efforts.

Haunting & informative this one will break your heart & yet somehow fill it back up with hope & faith in the human spirit.

If you love reading historical fiction—specifically WWII stories—then you must give Jennifer Coburn’s novels a try. Her latest, THE GIRLS OF THE GLIMMER FACTORY is so incredibly crafted and meticulously researched. It’s a very impressive read that cannot be missed.

QUICK SYNOPSIS:
“𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘝𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘞𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢, 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘢𝘻𝘪 “𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘱” 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘥𝘵.”

The novel follows two young women, Hannah and Hilde who give the reader two very crucial (and opposing) points of view. Hannah is a Jewish prisoner and Hilde fully supports the Nazi cause. As you can imagine, their individual experiences are extremely different, yet the author expertly weaves their stories together to create one powerful piece of historical fiction.

The novel brings light to the propaganda and disgusting lies told by the Nazis to convince the world that the Jewish people were actually living and being treated quite well in the camps. Hilde wants her film to showcase this, and Hannah wants to expose the ugly truth.

Please don’t skip the author’s note! Coburn discusses her writing process and the extensive research put into writing this novel, which even included traveling to the Czech Republic! I’ve read a lot of WWII novels over the years, but have never heard of Theresienstadt, so I appreciated the history lesson on this specific prison camp.

Like most novels about this time period, the subject matter is disturbing and heavy, so it’s heartbreaking and absolutely maddening to read about. Be prepared for an emotional read with a nail-biting and heart-pounding conclusion.

4/5 stars for THE GIRLS OF THE GLIMMER FACTORY! It’s out now!

Hannah and Hilde were the best of childhood friends. Unfortunately, World War 2 separates them and places them on opposite sides. Hilde pledges her allegiance to the Nazi cause while Hanna finds herself in the ghetto of Theresienstadt.
When Hilde visits Theresienstadt to make a documentary, the girls are re-united. Both have a hidden agenda. Jennifer Coburn has written a beautiful novel of broken friendships, broken hearts and broken promises.

I loved how this book highlighted the propaganda from the war and from both sides. I feel like that aspect is not talked about enough so I liked the new perspective on the time period. It was an emotional read especially when it came to the time in Theresienstadt for Hannah as she battles with herself on what to do. Hilde has a lot of passion even if it was for the wrong reasons and I really enjoyed her growth. The writing is captivating and immersive, I didn’t want to put it down.

Thank you @jennifercoburnbooks @suzyapprovedbooktours @netgalley and the publisher for the gifted copy.

I've read several books about the Holocaust and I had never heard of Theresienstadt. The Holocaust Encyclopedia states that Theresienstadt was described as a "spa town" in Nazi propaganda. When the Red Cross came to do inspections, the Nazi staged social and cultural events to show that the Jews were having a wonderful time when in actuality they endured horrible conditions at the work camp while waiting to be sent to Auschwitz or other extermination camps.

The story is told from the alternating perspectives of Hannah and Hilde who were childhood friends. Hannah is a young Jewish prisoner at Theresienstadt who works in the mica factory. Hannah believed if she was hard working and stayed under the radar, she would remain where she was and eventually be released after the war was over, but after seeing her friends killed and learning the brutal truth about what is happening, she eventually joins the resistance. Hilde is a childhood friend of Hannah's who becomes part of the Nazi regime to further her career as a film maker by making a film about how well the Jews are being treated at Theresienstadt. The subject matter makes this a very difficult read and I found myself getting quite emotional. The betrayal that Hannah felt from Hilde was both heartbreaking and infuriating.

The afterward written by the author was fascinating to me. Please read that to appreciate all of the research that went into writing this book. This is such an important book for this time because while we must "never forget", we must also never let such atrocities happen to any group of people again.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for allowing me to read an early release of this book which was published January 28, 2025 and is available for purchase now.

The Girls of the Glimmer Factory

“In its three and a half years, Theresienstadt served as a Jewish ghetto and way station to death camps in the east. Prisoners performed slave labor for the Nazi war effort, received starvation rations, and lived in crowded barracks. At the same time, many prisoners at Theresienstadt were world-renowned artists, musicians, and intellectuals, so a vibrant cultural scene sprang to life.”

The Girls of the Glimmer Factory follows two young women, Hannah - a Jewish prisoner at the Theresienstadt camp, and Hilde - a Nazi trying to rise within the ranks.

I appreciated learning about Theresienstadt, the “model camp” Nazi’s created for propaganda purposes. I had not known about it until this book. The phrase over the gates there were the same as Auschwitz “work sets you free.” It was used for fake propaganda videos to show the world how “well” Jewish people were living/treated (to be clear, they weren’t treated well) and it was also used for Red Cross inspections.

It’s clear that this book was well researched! It was cool that the author continued Hilde’s perspective (a character in her first book, The Cradles of the Reich) into The Girls of the Glimmer Factory - although her perspective was very hard to read.

While I enjoy learning about pieces of history I’m unaware of, and I love the alternating perspectives of the two characters, I wasn’t *totally* captivated by the writing. I understand where the title comes from, but it played such a minor part of the story that it didn’t totally make sense to me. I also guessed the ‘twist’ early on.

Overall, it’s a powerful read that will teach you a lot! Huge thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the eARC!

This was an interesting book. The author does a good job at portraying what life may have been like for the inmates at Theresienstadt and how different life was in the Jewish ghetto compared to the “model village” portrayed in propaganda films. However, the most fascinating aspect of a book like this is the afterword, where the author explains what parts of the story and which characters are fact versus fiction, how and why certain details were altered, who inspired certain fictional characters and what inspired certain fictional events, and sources for more information about the factual people and events in the book.

Jennifer Coburn has written an well researched and frighteningly relevant story. The stories of Hannah and Hilde and how their paths diverged were sad but interesting. I am a fan of historical fiction, even when the events are painful to read about. “But it happened. And we must make sure it never happens again."
Thanks #NetGalley #Sourcebooks

Thank you to Netgalley for this e- copy of The Girls of the Glimmer Factory by Jennifer Coburn in exchange for a honest review . Having read Coburn’s previous novel Cradles of the Reich , I can say that this novel is just as powerful and well researched. Set in Theresienstadt , the model Nazi concentration camp this novels center around the 2 main characters Hannah and Hilde. Hannah is a Jewish young adult sent to the camp with her grandfather when smallpox prevents her from traveling to Palestine with her family . Working to translate the Torah for a museum and then as a worker in a mica factory Hannah is forced to endure harsh living conditions while trying to survive concentration camp life . Hilde is an ambitious German Nazi filmographer and former friend of Hannah’s from Germany who needs Hilde’s language expertise to make her film that falsely portrays an ideal lifestyle of the Jewish residents at Theresienstadt.Will Hannah help her and at one point is Hilde willing to save Hannah ? Read the book and find out.Great twist at the end .

This is quite a long book to read but once it drew me in it had me hooked. Such a strong story of war, friendship and how different people view situations. And this is the story of two young women, two friends, Hannah and Hilde, and what the story it is.

This is such a well written and descriptive book which kept me interested and enthralled throughout. I enjoyed the stories of these two women, their stories really get to the heart. Great characters that are well developed and a book that kept me reading, never boring and always poerful and emotional.

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thanks to Net Galley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC of The Girls of Glimmer Factory by Jennifer Coburn. Once childhood friends, Hannah and Hilde are reunited during WWII at a Jewish prison camp/ghetto.. (Theresienstadt). Hannah is the reluctant resister, while Hilde is a filmmaker spewing propaganda. The story, told from two points of view is a reminder of the terrible atrocities endured by the Jewish people by the Nazis. Very well researched.

"Six million Jews and five million other people murdered because Hitler deemed them unworthy of life...it happened. And we must make sure it never happens again."

I have read hundreds of WWll historical fiction novels but none seems so currently the most important as The Girls of the Glimmer Factory, by the best in this genre, author Jennifer Coburn.

With minute detail this writer crafts the horrific story of Theresienstadt, a Nazi camp used for slave labor in their factories. The Ministry of Enlightenment and Propaganda, yes this existed, planned to use the camp for a documentary, Hitler Gives A City To The Jews, for their lies to the world that the Jews were being treated well. Never mind that it held 155,000 prisoners, 88,000 sent to the death camps, and 35,440 died of starvation and disease.

Hannah and Hilde were childhood friends. Hannah was sent to the camp. Hilde became a Nazi wanna be film maker. Hannah was resilient. Hilde was narcissistic. When they meet again one thinks she's free but the other knows her heart is freer.

Needless to say, there are many devastating heartbreaking moments in this book. But there are also astonishing moments of bravery, kindness, and generosity in the face of despicable cruelty. It will leave you feeling a bit uncomfortable knowing that Hitler's "fake news" is still thriving in our modern world. Thankfully, this writer knows there's power in keeping the truth alive.

I received a free copy of this book from #sourcebooks via #NetGalley for a fair & honest review. All opinions are my own

Courtesy of Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley, I received the ARC of The Girls of the Glimmer Factory by Jennifer Coburn. This well researched historical WWII novel covers the events dealing with the Theresienstadt concentration camp from the viewpoints of two young women who were childhood friends. Hilde chose to be part of the Nazi regime to further her personal interests, oblivious to the implications of that ideology. Hannah is transported to the camp and endures the horrible conditions there, eventually working with the resistance movement, while creating the fake atmosphere to be shown to the Red Cross investigators, as she crosses paths with Hilde. Emotionally told, this story reminds us to never forget the atrocities of the Nazis.

Compelling, with detailed descriptions to immerse the reader. Weaves together the stories of two young women, on very different sides of the Holocaust in a gripping narrative. The characters are fully realized, if not always very likeable.

The Girls of the Glimmer Factory by Jennifer Coburn
This is a phenomenal WWII novel! I love to learn through reading and Jennifer Coburn does not disappoint.
Two friends, very different paths and one destiny. The two, Hilde and Hannah, childhood friends exist on different sides of the war, one trapped in a Jewish concentration camp and the other climbing her way up through the ranks of the Reich. Hannah, a hero for the children in the camp, Hilde an aspiring film maker trying to prove herself and justify the horror with complete ignorance.
This story is so real and powerful, so sad and it gives the reader a new perspective with two views. This wonderful book made me mad – for the pain and pure hell that existed for Jews and mad that so many Germans let themselves be led in complete ignorance, participating in such horrific tragedy. I really enjoyed the experience with this story.
So real and raw, I connected with the characters, the descriptions were painful and real. Hannah, betrayed in so many ways, was my hero!
I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC of this book. It was a phenomenal experience.
On a side note, the German terms in the story were distracting for me as a reader but I purchased the audiobook and it was a phenomenal game changer, I was able to better immerse myself in the story and not fret about pronouncing or finding meaning in the unfamiliar terms.
5/5

Jennifer Coburn's writing style never fails to draw me in and keep me enthralled in the stories she writes. That they are based on true events brings to light the horrors of one of the most horrific times in modern history. Well-written, informative, compassionate, and showing both the incredible strength and the darkness of human nature this novel will bring you to tears and yet also inspire you to be better, do better, and never forget.

Another powerful historical fiction story by this author, one that showed me another piece of history I'd not heard about before... Theresienstadt, one of the Nazi camps occasionally used as a "model" for tours by the Red Cross and others. Most of the story is from Hannah's POV, a young Jewish woman in Theresienstadt, and some of the story is told from her old childhood German friend, Hilde's POV.
The story is based on many real people and real situations, As horrific as the reality of the Nazi Concentration Camps is, the story also reflects the spirit, tenacity, and bonds that kept the prisoners of war going. Their determination is reflected well in this important historical fiction read.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early read. This story started out a little slow, but picked up as you read it. Overall, a solid read.

After missing her opportunity to escape to Palestine, Hannah and her grandfather had been taken prisoner to the model ghetto, Theresienstadt. The Nazi’s planned to use this ghetto for propaganda purposes to convince the world that the Jewish people were living well. But Hannah is living anything but a model life. Hilde, a Nazi supporter is helping the cause by assisting in making these propaganda movies.

Unpopular opinion alert, I did read a ARC, so the final book could have been different. Unfortunately, on paper, this book should have worked for me, but I struggled with it. The dual POV had little to do with each other until very late in the book. I struggled with Hilde’s POV most of the book as she is pretty unlikable. This is also a long slow book with not a lot going on. There were many instances that could have been used to rise the stakes, but were glossed over or resolved easily. This appears to be more play driven that character development. I did enjoy learning yet another view point of WW2, but this one will not be one I return to. I’m