THE DUTCH ORPHAN
HarperCollinsCanada And PArk Row Books (USA)
Amsterdam, 1941. When the Nazis invade Amsterdam, singer Johanna Vos watches in horror as her Jewish friends are forbidden from performing with her onstage, and the vibrant music scene she loves is all but erased. Johanna helps organize the Artists’ Resistance, an underground network that arranges for Jewish musicians to perform at house concerts hosted by their allies. When Johanna is told about a Jewish orphan who is headed for deportation, she does not think twice: she takes the baby in as her own, hiding the truth from everyone, including her sister, Liesbeth.
Meanwhile, Liesbeth de Wit finds herself torn between her sister and her failing marriage. She knows Johanna is an ally of the Resistance, while her husband actively supports the Dutch Fascist Party. As the sisters navigate the ongoing Nazi occupation, they find themselves growing further and further apart. And when another charming member of the Dutch Fascist Party sets his eyes on Liesbeth, her predicament only deepens.
As the war unfolds, secrets continue to grow between the sisters, severing their once-unbreakable bond. Eventually, both women are forced to make a choice that will alter their lives forever: the choice between family and freedom.
“Vivid and deeply personal, The Dutch Orphan is a harrowing story of two sisters torn apart by secrets, then forced to make an impossible choice. A heartbreaking, compelling story I couldn’t put down until the very last page.” – Genevieve Graham, bestselling author of Bluebird
“Keith weaves an intricate tale of survival as two sister's loyalties to spouse, country, and each other are tested when Nazis invade and the lives of those they love are put at risk. A compelling and heart-pounding read.” – Noelle Salazar, bestselling author of The Flight Girls
“The Dutch Orphan is a dazzling, intimate, and gripping story of two sisters whose courage and devotion transcends occupation and war. Ellen Keith writes the most deft, beautifully realized historical fiction.” – Carol Windley, bestselling author of Midnight Train to Prague
“The Dutch Orphan will enthral you with its unforgettable characters forced to choose between following the rules to survive, or flouting the rules and risking their own lives to save others. With her flair for understated yet evocative prose, Ellen Keith brings to life the intricate bonds of sisterhood, ruptured by WWII fascism. By the end, I was moved to tears by this riveting and timely read.” – Shelly Sanders, bestselling author of Daughters of the Occupation