I noticed a like on one of my English notes by Elske Höweler a week ago. Curious, I clicked on the profile picture that led me to her blog site. There, I found a post introducing this book: Left Behind.

The blog briefly outlined the book, which revolves around Sarah’s grandma, Louise, in Amsterdam during the last year of World War II, intertwined with Sarah’s quest to uncover her grandma’s story. Intrigued, I promptly ordered the book from Amazon without delving into the latter half of the article.

On Amazon, the book was described as being inspired by Anne Frank and her family. It turned out to be a smooth read with hardly any difficult words, making it accessible to readers with a basic grasp of English. It took me two afternoons of fragmented reading to finish it. It wasn’t until I completed it that I realized I almost missed out on something significant.

Unlike a typical action-packed movie with thrilling, brutal, or heroic sequences to captivate audiences, this story spans nearly a month which couldn’t be much room for a broad perspective, numerous characters, or dramatic twists and turns in the storyline. However, the narrative is tense, especially when Louise, holding the child, confronts Nazi soldiers alone. In that era, the everyday lives of brave and kind-hearted people in Amsterdam were fraught with danger, shaping the fabric of their existence.

After finishing the story, I delved into the author’s blog and discovered that she drew inspiration from her own grandmother. During World War II, her grandfather was involved in anti-Nazi underground activities, necessitating his absence from the family. Meanwhile, her grandmother quietly harbored a homeless Jewish girl at home. Through this book, the author pays tribute to the unsung heroines who courageously resisted during wartime.
This was my first encounter with a diary-style novel based on a true story. I hope to encounter more authors like this in the future. If similar books emerge in the future, I would gladly purchase them. I enjoy reading them when I have the same peaceful and concentrated moments.