🎧 Book Info

- Author: Suzanne Goldring
- Narrator: Antonia Whillans
- Length: 9hrs 32mins

🧠 Plot & Characters

- Brief Plot Summary:

The Twins on the Train is a story set against the backdrop of WWII's chaos and uncertainty. It centers around two women—Rosa and Dora.

Rosa, a mother overwhelmed by fear and desperation, is forced to make the heart-wrenching decision to send her newborn twins on a train with a stranger, hoping to save them from the impending horrors. Meanwhile, Dora, a compassionate woman, finds herself protecting these innocent lives. Their paths, though different, are intertwined by the threads of sacrifice and courage.

As the war rages on, the story weaves through moments of sheer terror, unexpected kindness, and the unwavering resilience of the human spirit. Rosa and Dora's lives, though worlds apart, become bound by a shared determination to fight for a future free from the shadows of war.

It's a narrative rich with emotional depth and historical context, highlighting the enduring power of love and the strength found in even the darkest times. I see why WWII stories captivate you; they often illuminate the resilience and spirit of those who lived through it.

- Favorite Character: Dora - imagine being WOMAN enough to risk your life to save children affected by war. WHAT A WOMAN!

🎙️ Narration

- Narration Quality: Antonia’s voice is sooo calming 😂 i was falling asleep! that’s a compliment, btw. But yeah, I freaking loved it!

🌌 Atmosphere

- Setting & Mood: depressing - Berlin during Hitler’s reign
- Suspense Level: 🔍

💭 Final Thoughts

- Rating (out of 5 stars):⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Recommend? if you like different POVs of WWII, you might like this book. I’m very knowledgeable of WWII and this book was hard to read due to the severity of the misuse of power. it also puts in perspective what happened during this time.

Based on true events, The Twins on the Train follows a brave young English Quaker named Dora, who was fluent in German and early on recognized the danger Hitler posed to anyone not fitting in his ideal Aryan race. After Kristallnacht, she recognized that Jews were in imminent danger and volunteered to help. From 1938 to 1940, she and a few other English Quakers took young Jewish children from Germany to Great Britian as a part of the Kinderstransport program. It took plenty of time and a mountain of paperwork to get these kids to safety and she was at risk more than once to be imprisoned on trumped up charges, but this never deterred her from her mission to help these innocent children. When a desperate mother shoved an oversized basket into her carriage as one of the last trains rolled out of the station, her life was never the same for inside was a set of twins with no hope of survival if they were caught.

Rosa Goldberg never had the same quite the same faith in the Nazi regime that her husband seemed to carry. The Night of Broken Glass finally gave him the wake up call he needed to see that this was only a harbinger of things to come. Seeing Jews rights stripped away one by one, and her husband taken away, Rosa began to lose hope. She was forced to make a choice that no mother should ever face, to give away her children in hopes that they can survive.

The decisions these two women faced because of one man’s deranged hate are ones I cannot fathom as an open-minded mother myself. This story does an excellent job of showing how Hitler used the Jews as a scapegoat for a country’s economic problems after losing in WWI and being forced to making financial reparations. His propaganda messages fueled hate, but there were brave people still willing to stand up for basic human rights. If you are a fan of WWII historical fiction, Dora’s story will help restore your faith in humanity.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio, and author Suzanne Goldring for the advanced copy of the audiobook. The Twins on the Train is out on October 30th! All opinions are my own.

I guess I struggled to rate this book. I felt the book was really not about what the description explained. The twins on the train were a very small portion of this book. On the other hand it was still a good book. I was still interested in the story and what was happening back at the beginning of world war II. It was as story that I wanted to follow and see how it went. I never felt like ugh this is nothing like the description I am not reading this. It was a good read if you do like historical fiction books.

This book was captivating for the entire read. I was so invested in the tales of rescuing Jewish children before WW2 broke out. The book changes perspectives from one of the twins, to the woman that rescued them and then from their mother. Her harrowing story and ultimate decision to save her babies tells of the selflessness parents had to make out of fear. As well as what may have happened to those that could not part with their children. I thoroughly enjoyed both the book and the narrator and recommend it to all who are curious about different perspectives of the Holocaust. For sure the best audiobook I have listened to, so far.

Another interesting story revolving around out the evils of Hitler as well as a small group of people who arranged the transport of Jewish children from Germany to a more neutral area (Great Britain), so that if/when the parents were able to come for them, they would be safe.

The story opens up with a young woman handing a basket to another woman as the train pulls away. In the basket are two babies…twins…only a few weeks old.

The main woman involved in the story/transport is Dora. She is a Quaker, and apparently, there was an agreement made where she was permitted to transport the children from Germany. She is married to Hugh, a physician. They have no children of their own. He is very supportive, but also worried about her safety.

Dora has made MANY trips to transport these young children and the story revolves around these trips, their hardships and the awful realities that Jewish families were facing at the time.

Wonderful to see communities working together for the greater good, especially when it involves children! And…the harsh realities that exist could possibly involve these very same people who are doing the transport..if the rules change. Even though there WAS an agreement, many times these women were threatened, questioned, propositioned, and even hurt… while trying to bring these children to safety.

One of the side stories involves Dora’s cousin, Verity (V), who is fascinated with Hitler and will do just about anything to get close to him and his close knit army…

Many stories here. So many moments of pure grief as the mothers are sending their loved ones away…in hopes of a better life for them. Some stories that we’ve all heard before about the awful stuff that Hitler did…but it hits home every time, and my heart breaks all over again. I can’t even imagine having to give everything up…your home, your career, your belongings…and all of life as you knew it.

At the same time, I’ve never heard of this Quaker movement that so helped the children of Germany…in order to escape, and at least have a chance at some kind of a life.

4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, rounded up to 5.

#TheTwinsOnTheTrain by #SuzanneGoldring and narrated nicely by #AntoniaWhillans.

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #BookoutureAudio for an ARC of the audiobook which will be released in a few days on *** 10/30/24 **** so look 👀 for it then!!

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An amazing story of bravery and determination, set at the start of WWII. When the Kindertransport started to evacuate children to safety, Rosa hands her two week old twins to a stranger. I can't imagine feeling that scared and desperate that I would ever do something like that, and that in itself demonstrates the agony that so many parents had to suffer in letting their children go, not knowing whether they would ever see them again.

The twins are hidden on the train by Dora, the wife of an English doctor, who works for the Quakers. Despite the very serious and dangerous circumstances, Dora makes the task of hiding the babies into a fun game for the other children and together, they outsmart the guards.

The characters and the writing are brilliant and Antonia Whillans' narration was excellent; she captured the characterisation of each person and brought them to life, doing a great job with accents as well.

What set this apart from other WWII historical fiction was the Quakers. I previously had no idea that they had played such an important role in helping so many children to safety.

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Suzanne Goldring and Bookouture, for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This one is for my WWII historical fiction readers. It was well-written, and I enjoyed listening to this heart-wrenching story. The emotional impact just wasn't enough for me to give it 5 stars, but I enjoyed the read enough to recommend it to other readers who love this genre. The story is about Quakers from Britian and their choice to transport Jewish children out of Germany before the borders closed. Truly heartbreaking to know that families were ripped apart like this. It's definitely a story that needs to be heard.

Dora worked to help Jewish children escape Germany with the Kinder Transport leading up to the start of war. As the train was about to leave Rosa thrust a basket into Dora’s arms. Only when the train had left the station did the contents be known, two newborn twins. This starts the life of Ester and her brother together with their mother, Rosa.

Beautifully written and well narrated (I listened to the audiobook). Many were trying to help others as the war drew close. A heart wrenching decision to send your children away to another country not knowing if you would ever see them again and if they would be safe. A history well told and well worth knowing.

The Twins on the Train is beautifully written historical fiction that captivated me from the first page. It sheds light on the Quakers' incredible efforts to rescue Jewish children before and during World War II. The story follows Rosa, a Jewish mother faced with the gut-wrenching decision to give up her twins, and Dora, a dedicated English woman working with the Quakers to get the children to safety. The characters were so well-developed that I felt genuine sympathy for their struggles and sacrifices.

Suzanne does a fantastic job of blending moments of despair with hope, showcasing the strength of the Jewish community and the bravery of the Quakers. I highly recommend The Twins on The Train for its engaging storytelling and emotional depth, and I really enjoyed Antonia Whillans's narration. This book pulled me in and kept me engaged the whole way through!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio, and Suzanne Goldring for an audio ARC in exchange for my review.

The women and children in this book are incredibly brave and strong. This book was a little slow to start but really picked up about half way through. It provides great insight as to what is be Quakers role was in this war. I would definitely recommend this book for people who enjoy historical fiction or anyone who enjoyed the nightingale.

The Twins on the Train starts briefly in 2023 being told from one of the twins on the train. It is then mostly set between 1938 and 1943 and focuses on The Kindertransport Sceme which was to try and get Jewish children (and other children deemed unsuitable for Hitler's "superior" race) out of Germany to other countries such as the UK.

"Book overview
Berlin, 1939. Tears pouring down her cheeks, Rosa pushes through the crowds and thrusts the basket containing her darling newborn twins at the woman closing the door to the carriage. All she can say is please take them. Then she runs, praying the train will reach England safely…

As the smell of smoke drifts through the air, Jewish people lock their doors. They no longer feel welcome in their home city, and while some mothers hide their children, others take them, clad in dark threadbare coats, to the crowded train station and the hope of a new life.

Rosa has feared for her twins since they were born two weeks ago. As she huddles in her filthy house, crammed in with her neighbours, she sees children growing weaker. It may be too late for her and her seven-year-old daughter Therese. But can she find a way out for her precious babies?

Dora scans the desperate crowd on the platform, despairing as she knows there isn’t room for all of them on the train to England. And when a woman thrusts a basket containing newborn twins into her arms, a shiver of dread slides down her spine. Babies aren’t authorised to travel – how can she keep them hidden from the cold-eyed soldiers?

She knows this mother wants the same thing she does – safety for these innocent children. But will she be able to help this brave woman before it is too late?"

This book was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Knowing what people will do to save their children but then also knowing what staying in Germany would be like for the poor Jews who were unable to get themselves out too.

I have always found WW2 and the Holocaust fascinating as I can't even fathom how humans can be so cruel to each other but sadly there are still people out there who are cruel and wrong but there are also many more people who both see the best in people and try their best to help those in need.

I would definitely recommend this book, it was well written and these kind of things can never be forgotten.

Wow!! I am utterly blown away by this novel!! I have wanted to learn more about the Kindertransport and to have a story from both the perspective of the parents living through the horrors as well as the people who were running the transport .... I was breathless. This was an incredible book that I will surely revisit as one of my favorite books.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story, and I do think I would have been more engrossed in the physical book - I think I would have felt more emotional from it.
Don't get me wrong, I loved it, it was powerful and very well written. The research carried out must have been a lot of work!
I'd definitely recommend it to my audience.
I liked the narrator,.she did a good job.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was good. The story was heartbreaking and so well written that I could visualize some of the scenes. Highly recommend this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Antonia Whillans does a fantastic job narrating this story with many characters! Its definitely an enjoyable listen!

A desperate mother hands off her 2 week old twins to one of the Quaker volunteers on a kindertransport in 1939. Dora, the volunteer, does not know that the basket has 2 undocumented babies in it let alone their story. This is the tale of the lives that these twins touched on the eve of WWII.

I am familiar with the evacuation of jewish children but its been awhile since I have read a story about the kindertransports to England through Holland. But this was a richly layered story told from the points of view of the twins' parents and their rescuer. The pacing is fast, the story is very realistic and I loved the characters.

Highly recommend!!!

The Twins on the Train by Suzanne Goldring
Narrated by Antonia Whillans

From 1938-1940 children, most of them Jewish, some of them "imperfect" in other ways according to those who set the standards for a perfect German, were transported from Berlin to safety in Great Britain. This was no sending off the kids for a while, the reality of the situation was that these children faced death if they stayed with their parents, if their parents hadn't already been sent to camps that almost guaranteed their deaths. Parents and other family members put their children on these transports knowing they would never see them again, hoping these children would have a chance of lives elsewhere, away from this deadly prosecution.

We meet Rosa, whose husband is probably already long dead, mother of a seven year old girl and of newborn twins. She regrets the decision she made about not sending her daughter on the train and it's too late to take back that decision. But Rosa will save her twins, if at all possible.

Dora works for the Quakers of England and her heart breaks for all the children they can't help. Her heart also breaks for the children she is able to rescue as they leave their families for a new place where they can survive, leaving everything behind. Brave little kids, some who have already met physical and emotional harm at the hands of the people who want them dead.

The work that Dora and others do is dangerous although she doesn't realize, at first, just how much danger she is in when in Germany. But as war grows closer for Great Britain, no one is safe in Germany, and Dora and her coworkers must try to get the last few children out of Germany. Sadly their work ends before it is done but that can't erase all the good that the Kindertransport accomplished for so many children.

This historical fiction gives us a picture of those who tried to do as much as they could until they could do no more. The sacrifices of parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, knowing there was no hope for themselves, but hoping their children could have a chance to be saved, were repeated over and over. Imagine having to say goodbye to your children forever because there is no other choice. It'd be so easy to hope against hope that by keeping them by your side that things might work out someday, when the reality is that keeping the children by your side would mean death for them, too.

Antonia Whillans narrates the story and her soft, matter of fact voice doesn't exaggerate the danger, it doesn't have to do so. As we see the bigger picture of ongoing tragedy we also get to see the impact on a much smaller scale, of two babies lives being changed forever, and the impact of those who try to save them and others. Of course, the story is sad on a scale that can be hardly imagined but the story is also inspiring as we see just a few of those who gave their all to lead others towards life and freedom.

Thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.