Hannah is a Jewish girl sent to Theresienstadt because she is Jewish. She is determined to get out and save others along with herself.

Hilde, a character familiar if you read Cradles of the Reich finds herself working for a filmmaker. A trip to create propaganda leads to her arrival in Theresienstadt and her crossing paths with Hannah.

It wasn’t until her trip to the camp that Hannah finally realizes that things are not nearly what she has been trained to believe, what she has been spreading as a supporter of the Reich. Is it enough to change her mind, to cause her to act in time to help Hannah?

This story had me engrossed in both story lines. I desperately wanted to help Hannah and to make Hilde see what was truly going on, all the ways she could possible be helping instead of hurting others.

I really learned a lot from Cradles of the Reich and was so happy to see Jennifer had written another book. This one taught me so much as well. I highly recommend this for historical fiction fans.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for the copy of this book. All views are my own.

This was an interesting concept and I was really looking forward to learning about Theresienstadt. However, it was just too slow moving for me. I didn't feel drawn to pick it up and decided to DNF @ 38%

“Nature taunted her, but it was humanity that had betrayed her. Where were the cries of outrage from the world?  They had to know what was happening.”

Theresienstadt concentration camp was the ‘model’ camp the Nazis created to hide from the world the nature of the ghetto and their death camps.  To hide their true intent from the world, ‘Operation Embellishment’ created a picture perfect Jewish settlement that did not reflect what was actually happening.  Indeed to make the Red Cross visit a success (and the propaganda film that was recorded after), they built and painted new buildings, brought in new Jewish prisoners who didn’t show the strain of the camps, and instructed prisoners on what they could say.

“Girls of the Glimmer Factory” tells the story of two young women, Hannah and Hilde.  One a Jewish girl who is sent to Terezin, the other a German girl who has absorbed every lesson of the Nazi propaganda machine, works for the reich, and has ambitions to become a filmmaker.  I found Hilde incredibly frustrating because she has been so fully indoctrinated by the party and her family.  I found her to be naive and self-centred with a focus on advancing her own fledgling career in the Reich.  This is a testament to Coburn’s ability to write authentic characters.  Hilde does have some redeeming qualities and as the novel progresses the reader gains an understanding of how she came to be this way.  By contrast, Hannah is clever, thoughtful, strong, determined, and kind, though cautious about risks.   Despite the horrors of the ghetto, residents of Terazin surrounded themselves with light and hope whenever possible, using music, plays, concerts, and lectures as an escape to remind them of the joy in life outside the walls.  As Oskar, Hannah’s Opa stated, “Joy is the greatest act of resistance.”

While this is the first book I have read about Theresienstadt concentration camp, I hope to read more soon to better inform myself and to ensure that those whose lives came before are remembered.  Impactful, gripping, and powerful, “The Girls of the Glimmer Factory” is a must-read.

Many thanks to @bookmarked and @netgalley for an advance #drc. Available everywhere January 28, 2025.


🏷️ #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #historicalfiction #wwiihistoricalfiction #theresienstadt #terezin #jennifercoburn #girlsoftheglimmerfactory #fyp #bookfluencer #bookreview #bookrecommendations #sourcebookslandmark #netgalley

This historical fiction will keep one turning the pages!
During WW2 two women, once childhood friends, find their paths diverging in very different directions. One is all in for the Reich and the glory of Hitler. The other has been sent to Theresienstadt
concentration camp, the one the Nazis use as their “model camp” for propaganda purposes…
*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

This is a fast paced, well-written, informative WWII historical fiction. Its a well-researched novel about Theresienstadt, a Nazi camp for Jewish people. I never knew about this camp so it was very interesting to learn about.

Jennifer Coburn brings the people and storyline to life and I felt like I was apart of this emotional story. A definite recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and isn't influenced by anyone else

There are so many aspects of WWII and the Nazi’s practice that are not as well known that it’s nice to read a book that does such that. Coburn focused on the Theresienstadt, the Nazi camp that was supposed to be the model to show the world how “nice” the Jews had it and how anything that sad otherwise was a lie. The propaganda that was created while the prisoners suffered was eye opening as well as the lies that were created to convince people to go to the camp.

While this book was eye opening and very educational the story Itself did not fully hold my attention, especially as the book went on. I think it was a nice attempt but just not for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

📖 Book Review 📖

📱 "The Girls of the Glimmer Factory" by Jennifer Coburn

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Expected publication January 28, 2025

Based on the true story of Theresienstadt, a “model” Jewish ghetto where Nazis plan to make a propaganda film and two old childhood friends. Hannah is now a prisoner at Theresienstadt, working long hours and praying not to be on the next deportation to camps in the east. Her grandfather has a positive attitude through it all- believing help will come, the war will end, and not to get into trouble so it was very difficult for Hannah to begin to help the resistance group. Her old neighborhood friend Hilde is a true believer in the Nazi cause, and always wanted to be a filmmaker, so she works hard getting the job within the Reich to film “Hitler Gives a City” a Nazi propaganda film to show how good the Jews are being treated, when she sees Hannah.

The sheer fortitude of the prisoners' was amazing. Theresienstadt was a ghetto with over 88,000 imprisoned there, including many artists and musicians who performed often trying to keep spirits up. The ghetto was set up to look nice when in fact conditions were horrible. A prized job was inside the “Glimmer” Factory. Women prisoners used a sharp knife to scrape tiny flakes of “glimmer” or mica flakes off larger rock-like slabs to be used in radios, due to its insulation properties. Told in alternate POV between Hannah and Hilde.

#somanybooks #readsomemore #audiobooks #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #readersofinstagram #readmorebooks #booklover #bookishlove #readersgonnaread #bookishaf

Thank you @bookmarked @jennifercoburnbooks #partner for the gifted copies if this book!

This was my very first book of the year and my second by her and it certainly was the perfect way to start with a bang! 5 glorious stars for Jennifer again which means I would happily auto buy her books in the future! I am telling you if you are a historical fiction lover you need her books!

This book isn’t gonna make you warm and fuzzy inside but what it will do is remind you of the ways that the human spirit stays alive miraculously in such dreary, dreadful and terrible times. Hannah and Hilde grow up as childhood friends and as I am sure you have heard fell into the Hitler trap of choosing sides. Hannah being on the Jewish side, Hilde on the German side. Hannah ends up being a part of the resistance and their paths cross again. Hannah cannot believe how much her friend has changed but in a last ditch effort maybe there is hope for them.

There is SO much to this book that my blurb above. I always, always learn something in Jennifer’s books. The unique way Hannah and the resistance efforts she tried were simply fascinating to me. I always get so emotional in these books because I cannot even imagine what these poor people endured. This book really shines a light on one of the darkest periods in our world’s history but at the same time tells the story of compassion, determination, and steadfastness in which these people tried to save each other. The hate and utter disregard for human life is sickening but through Jennifer’s incredible research and ability to create a story that will forever stick with me she makes a book that I feel everyone should read. I HIGHLY recommend this one. Thank you for continuing to write so these memories don’t fade and we learn from our mistakes.

It is always heart breaking to read novels of the Jewish experience during World War II. Coburn has created a beautiful novel that follows the fate of Hannah, a German Jew exiled to Prague, and her childhood friend, Hilde, who rises in the ranks of the propaganda department of the Third Reich. Hannah is transported with her grandfather to Thereisenstadt, a Jewish ghetto the Nazis used to persuade the world that they were not exterminating the Jews. There she is reunited with Hilde who is there to make a documentary to show that Germany was not mistreating the Jews.

Hannah starts as a quiet, docile girl who finds her strength and will through adversity. A haunting read.

Girls of the Glimmer Factory by Jennifer Coburn
Set in 1940 in Czechoslovakia, this historical tale is based on the actual events and horrors of Jews captured and sent to Theresienstadt internment camp outside of Prague. With careful research, Jennifer Coburn brings to life the ugly motives and tactics used by the Nazis to both torture the inmates and use them for positive propaganda.
The Nazis wanted to show the world that Theresienstadt was a lovely place. When Hannah and her grandfather, Oskar, were ordered to go there, they expected a lakeside home with full amenities. Instead, they experienced starvation, slave labor, and the threat of being sent to other camps that were killing centers.
Hannah, the main character, is 19. Her family had planned to immigrate to Palestine, but the sudden death of her grandmother forced Hannah to stay behind with her grandfather. Eighteen months later, they report to a cattle car train ride to Theresienstadt.
Reality hits immediately. Meals are unsustainable. Hannah shares a bunk bed in a barracks with six others right next to Alice Herz-Sommer, a famous Czech pianist. Many renowned artists, scholars, and musicians are imprisoned at Theresienstadt. Opposed to the misery, there is a vivid cultural life with music concerts, art, lectures -even religious services and weddings.
Hannah is assigned to be a transcriptionist in the “museum” of Jewish artifacts stolen from inmates. She must hand-pen holy scriptures with calligraphy to appear to be the originals. Her assignment is one of the best. Women assigned to the Glimmer factory also feel fortunate to work inside, chipping mica into small pieces.
Then we meet Hilde, previously a school friend of Hannah’s. Hilde is a proud Nazi who works in the film department at the Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda. Hilde’s dream is to become a filmmaker, and she spots an opportunity when the Reich plans to produce a documentary about the idyllic life in Theresienstadt.
As in other camps, prisoners find ways to survive by sneaking out food and arranging other clandestine activities such as sending out mail and even smuggling out newborn babies. Hannah was a leader in these hazardous actions.
After major renovations and “sprucing up,” filming begins. Prisoners are assigned acting parts. The many renowned musicians in the camp create orchestras, and even the children are cast to perform a musical play called Brundibar. Meanwhile, Hannah’s group plans to sabotage the film.
Coburn writes engagingly, grabbing the reader’s heart and mind. Her excellent descriptions take us right into the horrors of the camp. “From the moment Hannah’s lips touched the cold rim of her cup, she could smell a fetid odor that reminded he of rotting leaves. …. A gritty film coated her mouth and crunched against Hannah’s teeth.”(Pg.87) “The sun was buried under sheets of steely overcast, and new leaves shivered on the branches outside. A crash of thunder shook the window of Commandant Rah’s office, cracking open the atramentous slate of sky for the downpour that had been threatening since early that morning.”(Pg.263)
Coburn also takes the reader into the minds and souls of the main characters. Such as when Hilde meets up with Hannah after years of separation, “Hilde felt the milk from her lunch begin to curdle in her stomach. Her childhood friend was still as kind and helpful as ever despite her current circumstances. Hilde wished Hannah’s family had never left Germany and that she hadn’t missed out on their friendship for nearly a decade. Yes, Hannah was a Jew, but she and her family were different from the rest of them.”(Pg.268)
This book will undoubtedly touch your heart and mind. While the themes include survival, determination, and hope, they also include man’s inhumanity to man.
Rating 5

3.5 ⭐️

Things I liked
- one of the things I love about this author is that she finds unique perspectives and stories to tell about a time there are many books written about . Although I had heard about the Nazi propaganda movies and Theresientstadz in passing, I loved learning more about them .

- The book is very well researched and I enjoyed the authors notes at the end ( which I rarely read tbh but I try to in historical fiction )

- I enjoyed getting two completely different perspectives- Hilde who was a character I loved to hate and Hannah ( who tbh annoyed me a bit first half of the book ) but grew on me over time

What I didn’t like so much
- the first half of the book felt really slow to me; the book picked up about half way thru but the ending felt very rushed . At min I thought Hilde needed one more chapter - her story felt incomplete to me .


Thank you to the author, Netgalley and the publisher for complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review

4.5 stars.

The Girls in the Glimmer Factory by Jennifer Coburn is a well-researched novel about Theresienstadt, a Nazi camp for Jewish people.

Hannah Kaufman’s grandfather Oskar is duped into believing they are going to a resort town. Instead, they become prisoners of a Nazi propaganda and transit camp. The camp is filled with Jewish people who are elderly, war veterans, artists, musicians, etc. It is also a work camp where women cut pieces of mica for the German war effort. Oskar works on the cultural committee while Hannah is initially a transcriber.

Hannah’s childhood friend Hilde Kramer completely believes the Nazi ideology. After losing her husband, she returns to work in Munich and ends up at the propaganda arm of the Nazi party. At first a secretary, Hilde aspires to become a famous director. She schemes and plots her way into making a propaganda film at Theresienstadt. There, she and Hannah cross paths while eventually planning and assisting in the making of the final propaganda film made at the camp.

The Girls in the Glimmer Factory is an eye-opening historical novel about the Nazi attempt to hide the truth about the Final Solution. The characters are richly developed and most are endearing. The horrific conditions are heart wrenching as is the realization that Theresienstadt is also a stop along the way to Auschwitz. Theresienstadt is not a well-known camp so it is very interesting to learn about the camp and its purpose. Jennifer Coburn brings the people and storyline brilliantly to life throughout this captivating novel. It is a timely warning about the dangers of propaganda and lies that are used to promote dangerous ideology.

Historical fiction readers will want to read this well researched novel about Theresienstadt, the Nazi model camp. The author does an amazing job interweaving factual accounts into a fictional story. The propaganda the Nazi fed the world during this horrible time is astonishing. The realistic characters and their stories are heartbreaking. Readers will not want to miss the author’s note. Recommended.

The Girls of the Glimmer Factory is an exceptionally well researched, heart-rending story of the Theresienstadt ghetto. This ghetto was created by the Nazi's as a model camp to dispel any rumors of their mistreatment of Jewish prisoners. I loved this book, although it was difficult to read at times. The story is told in alternating chapters by Hannah, a young Jewish woman transported to the camp with her grandfather, and Hilde, a young woman who is a staunch supporter of the Reich. Hannah's daily experience within this model camp is one of constant back breaking work, food barely sufficient to sustain life, and constant fear for her life and the lives of those within the camp. Hilde is determined to further her career within the Reich, indoctrinated with the propaganda she has been subjected to since childhood. The book is a chilling tale of the horrors of the Holocaust at all levels, and a world that did not wish to probe too deeply. Through her characters, especially Hannah, Jennifer Coburn has written a memorable, completely absorbing book of the hope, resilience, determination that exists in all of us, even when the fight cannot always be won. The author's notes at the end are a must-read part of the book, on the facts of the camp, and the Glimmer Factory within it. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy. The opinions of this review are my own.

Historical fiction based on the truth of the Holocaust are always both haunting and interesting reads. The author captures a part that not many people are aware of, and that is of the Theresienstadt "model ghetto" in a Czech village. We learn of this through the eyes and chapters of two young childhood friends: Hilde who is a firm believer in the Reich and Hannah who is of Jewish ancestry and caught in the web of families whose futures were so drastically changed. by those beliefs. As we see Hannah struggle to survive, we see Hilde struggling to make her place within the ranks of the Reich as a filmmaker. As Hilde begins to realize her dreams, she comes to the camp to make films and finds her friend Hannah. While the stories of the two and their own disparate dreams are well-carried out in the story, a lost opportunity within the telling of the story is that of being more in depth as to how the outcomes of their lives became. Hilde's life takes a drastic turn as does Hannah's, and this reader would have liked to read more about that part of their stories, especially Hilde's. However, in reading the Author's Note at the end of the book, we do follow the history of many of the people introduced to us in the story, and it shows the amount of detailed research it took to write this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #TheGirlsoftheGlimmerFactory

What a hauntingly sad, beautiful, empowering, informative book. I am always fascinated by the history of WW2 and the Holocaust, especially after visiting Auschwitz as a teenager. It was so interesting to delve into how propaganda can influence and harm others.

This story followed two girls with separate journeys in a Jewish ghetto and how their lives intersect. The side characters were lovely and the author really made me feel for all of them.

This is a story with very heavy themes but I definitely recommend it.

3.5 🌟
First, I’d like to thank NetGalley, Jennifer Coburn, and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

As a historical fiction novel set during WWII, The Glimmer Factory is a compelling and well-crafted read. I appreciated the dual perspectives of a Jewess and a Nazi and how their lives intersected in meaningful and unexpected ways. This narrative choice offered a nuanced exploration of the complexities and moral conflicts of the time.

That said, there were a few storylines I wish had been explored further. For instance, I would have liked more closure regarding what happened to Hilde's husband after the war. Additionally, Hilde’s ultimate fate felt rushed in the epilogue—I think an additional chapter dedicated to her would have provided a more satisfying conclusion. I also felt that having one of Hannah’s friends, like Radek, survive alongside her could have added more emotional depth to her story.

As for the titular Glimmer Factory, while it played an important role, it felt like only a small part of the book. Given the title, I was expecting a greater focus on the factory itself and its significance.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Glimmer Factory and would highly recommend it to fans of historical fiction, especially those who appreciate multi-faceted stories set during WWII. Jennifer Coburn has created a thoughtful and engaging novel that lingers with you after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review. This is the story of Hannah and Hilde, a Jew and a Gentile growing up in the shadow of Hitler’s Reich. They were childhood friends until Hilde’s family supported the doctrine of hate against Jews, and Hannah’s family moved to Czechoslovakia from Munich, in search of better treatment. Unfortunately, this does not come to pass, and on the eve of their planned departure for Palestine, Hannah becomes ill, and the plans change. When she and her grandfather are deported to a camp called Terizen, the reader is introduced to what life truly has become for the Jewish people. Told they are going to a place where they will be well-treated, life there is anything but what they were promised. Jennifer Coburn gives an honest and well-researched depiction of camp life, while building strong relationships and a support network among people who are fighting to stay alive. I did not know anything about this camp, and the descriptions are graphic and realistic, definitely evoking an emotional response in me. I gave it four stars and not five because I felt it ended abruptly, right at what I thought was the most suspenseful part of the book. The Epilogue wrapped everything up, but it spanned a big gap in time and I felt it did not blend seamlessly with the rest of the book. Kudos though, to the author for celebrating resilience, perseverance, the will to survive and the bonds of friendship, especially during terrible times. I highly recommend this book.

This is my second book by the author- she continues to deliver well researched novels on a topic requiring sensitivity from a dark period of time.

****Publishing January 28, 2025*****

The book starts out by explaining about Theresienstadt ghetto. It was advertised that this ghetto was a free settlement for Jewish people,but in fact,it was far from that. People died, starved, and it was a slave camp. This ghetto was also used for any kind of inspections.

This book follows the lives of Hannah Kaufman,19, who was left behind when her family evacuated due to having smallpox that ended up at Theresienstadt, and Hilde, 20, who was widowed and works for the Reich. They knew each other from high school. When Hilde goes to Theresienstadt to make a propaganda film for the Reich, she realizes it is different from what she was made to believe. Hilde asks Hannah to be a translator for her film, but with Hilde being a Nazis and Hannah a prisoner will that really be allowed? Will Hilde be able to ultimately help Hannah?

From the research to the story to the characters in this book, this author created a heart-breaking and powerful story! You get the perspective of what it was like working for the Reich, through the eyes of Hilde and the perspective on what it was like living in Theresienstadt ghetto through the eyes of Hannah. This was not an easy book to read, but very well-researched and informative! I loved the author’s note at the end of her book detailing out her research! A must-read for those who love Historical Fiction!!

Thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, I was provided an ARC of The Girls of the Glimmer Factory by Jennifer Coburn via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.