Elisa BoxerCritiques

Engagingly told story of a Jewish member of the French Resistance that, while disguised as a social worker, smuggled forged identity papers to families inside a toy duck.

Written by Emmy Award-winning journalist Elisa Boxer and movingly illustrated by the acclaimed Amy June Bates, Hidden Hope is the remarkable true story of how a toy duck smuggled forged identity papers for Jewish refugees during World War II. During World War II, a social worker named Jacqueline bicycled through the streets of Paris, passing Nazi soldiers and carrying a toy duck to share with the children she visited. What the Nazis didn't know, however, was that Jacqueline wasn't a social worker at all, but a Jewish member of the French Resistance. Families across Europe went into hiding as the Nazis rounded up anyone Jewish. The Star of David, a symbol of faith and pride, became a tool of hate when the Nazis forced people to wear the star on their clothing and carry papers identifying them as Jewish, so that it was clear who to arrest. But many brave souls dared to help them. Jacqueline was one of them. She risked her life in secret workshops, where forgers created false identity papers. But how to get these life-saving papers to families in hiding? The toy duck held the answer. Hidden Hope, a true story, celebrates everyday heroism, resilience, the triumph of the human spirit, and finding hope in unexpected places.

This book is heartbreaking. This is the true story of a young woman not much more than a kid herself, who rode her bike and carried a wooden duck around occupied France to help free Jewish people. This book does take literary license, but the author has made sure to include resources and full notes with pictures of actual items, and the reasons why the author chose to bring this story to light. The story shows children not just the horrors of the time, but that you were never too small to do something. There is always some way to help, even if that is just passing papers in a wooden duck. This book is fantastic, and I hope it stays in libraries for many decades to come.

art as a shared event/free to all
art as democratic/for all

First sentence: "Hide! Quick!"
Hearts pounding,
breath quickening,
feet scrambling.
Down into damp basements,
up into old attics,
crammed into dark closets.

Premise/plot: Nonfiction title for upper elementary on up. This picture book for older readers is set in France during the Second World War. The focus is on a young girl--a young woman--who smuggles false identity papers to Jews by using a TOY DUCK. (Yes, a toy duck). Her name is Jacqueline Gauthier. This is her story of how she (and the duck) helped save two hundred lives. It is written in verse.

My thoughts: I loved this one so much. I absolutely love hearing new stories. I love continuing to learn about the war, about the Holocaust, about these experiences. Every voice matters. Every story is worthy of an audience. I'd never heard of this story! And it was such a great story! I loved learning about this young woman and the creative way a TOY DUCK was used to smuggle papers. I loved the gumption and bravery.

The narrative and illustrations are SO good. Definitely recommend it.

I love this book but even though it’s a picture book it’s not for preschoolers. Even though there is nothing graphic and a lot of the information in the book proper is implied, it is made fairly clear what conditions the Jews experienced Nazi occupied France. The author’s note and illustrator’s note in the back leave little to the imagination, even though there is no graphic violent content at all. I’d say the book is appropriate for those ages 9-109, though for those on the lower ages of that spectrum I think reading the book with a teacher or parent or librarian there to help answer any questions and foster discussion would be wise, especially if the reader (or listener for a read aloud) reads the detailed notes at the end of the book.

The illustrations are beautiful and incredibly well done. They are so expressive and they are masterful in helping to tell this story.

The (basically) true story is inspiring and suspenseful. Once again I learned something more about what happened in the Holocaust. The teenager who is the main character in this book is a true heroine. I am in awe of her and of the many others who did the lifesaving work that they did. They were brave and creative and hardworking and caring.

I appreciate that two photos of the actual toy duck (closed and open to show where papers could be hidden) are included in this book.

The author’s and illustrator’s notes are heartfelt and informative. There is also a short bibliography included.

5 full stars. Highly recommended for readers who like picture book biographies and/or Holocaust history.

great story