Genre - Historical Fiction

Our Narrow Hiding Places by Kristopher Jansma is a gorgeous book. Rooted in his own family history, Jansma tells the story of Mieke and Rod - two children trying to survive the Hunger Winter with their families in Holland at the end of World War II. Mieke is reliving and recounting the story for her grown grandson as they each deal with their own reckonings. She is still looking for the story of her lost father in law who disappears during that time. He is battling issues personally and professionally that could be traced back to his grandparents’ suffering that winter. I am reminded again about the horror of war and evil in this book. I am also reminded about the beauty of love and hope. Jansma creates these side by side in this upcoming publication.

The novel is punctuated by vignettes narrated by eels and signed with mysterious initials. These vignettes are beautiful and poetic and speak to the power of language. I can’t share quotes as evidence, but please believe me. They further speak to mystery, quiet strength and survival. No spoilers, but the role these interludes fulfill is profound - felt reminiscent of an ancient Greek drama’s chorus. These eels have a more physical and practical role in Mieke’s childhood and survival during this time - I love the connection. Through Mieke and her grandson primarily, Jansma explores the impact of war on victims and on the generations that follow them. I feel helplessness in the face of this motif. And again, Jansma notes that these descendents are often, then, caught up in wars of their own. I appreciate the sensitive and respectful exploration of mental health. Mieke has to deal with the mental illness of her son and perhaps that of her grandson Will. Through Will we learn of his wife Teru’s ancestral connections to the bombing in Japan and her own struggles. In the midst of all of the horror, Jansma explores the fine line between good and evil, hope and despair. Mieke often sees only the darkness in her hungry and freezing world - she becomes tempted to join the evil forces just to survive, but she chooses to remain loving and good and fair, and is able to appreciate that in the others she sees trying to do the same. These moments of hope are so striking in the winter landscape. I also noted how often Jansma contrasted winter and storms and flooding with color and sparkle and fairy tales and joy. Even when connected with death, imprisonment, and mental illness these moments are beautifully written - again, the power of language.

Our Narrow Hiding Places by Kristoper Jansma appeals to me on so many levels. The writing is beautiful. The motifs are powerful. The connection between past and present is complex and fascinating. We must think more about war, family, mental illness and determine where and how we can influence culture and do better for our people. I am grateful for Jansma allowing for hope and the power of love to transform people and families. I am further grateful for how he illustrates that healing can be in friendship or the hope of a new baby or other daily joys. If you are still reading, please know that I could go on and on…even more than I have. I have just begun to touch on what Kristopher Jansma accomplishes. Please read Our Narrow Hiding Places. Thank you NetGalley and Ecco Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.