What a beautiful but heartbreaking book! I was expecting this book to be like any other ww2 story, but this one really got under my skin. Truly harrowing at times but this just added to the strength of the writing.

Really enjoyed this book.
It was beautifully written and a real page turner. Kept me right in the story start to finish

I found it hard to put this book down. I had never heard of Hannie Schaft but this book highlights what a brave young woman she was.

Unfortunately I read this when long-term sick and so while I noted a star rating, at the time I didn't have capacity for reviews for everything I was reading, and am only now just getting round to giving my feedback. Sorry that's not super helpful

I’ve been putting this off to be honest. I’m not a fan of this type of book, however, if I’m offered one then I always do take it - and I still always surprise myself when I really enjoy them.

So, I picked it up….and I have to say, it’s incredible. I was sucked in, I felt every moment, and I had to keep reminding myself that this actually happened. We all know how horrific the Nazi party was, but to read things that I didn’t know about just makes it more horrifying.

I’m not an emotional person when it comes to books, but this one really upset me at the end. What an incredible woman, and group of people. I’ll never forget her.

My thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the copy, and sorry for putting it off so long!

The Girl with the Red Hair is an emotive and compelling read, based off real events from WW2 it's a vivid, engaging and well told story.

What a book! It's fiction based of fact of the Dutch resistance movement of WW2. A brilliant read, would recommend.

An engrossing and riveting read that’s takes you through every emotion you have, a loved it and found it beautifully written and a book we all should read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, all the more knowing that it is based on a true story. Hannie Schaft was just a young 19 year old student in Amsterdam when the country was overrun by the German army during the Second World War. She tries to carry on as normal but soon realises that she must do something to help protect her two closest friends who a both Jewish. She moves back to her parental home in Haarlem and persuades her mother and Father to offer refuge. After running errands for the resistance in Amsterdam Hannie soon joins the local group in Haarlem and is soon carrying out sabotage and assassinations.
Buzzy writes with an easy style and wove a very interesting story from the facts she unearthed during her extensive research for this book.

What a book. An easy 5 stars from me. I felt equally heartbroken and uplifted finishing this novel. A stunning debut showcasing the best of WWII historical fiction. Based largely on the true story of Hannie Schaft, Jackson expertly guides us through the resistance movement in Holland, portraying both the devastation of the war and the Holocaust juxtaposed with the bravery and courage of resistance fighters, especially the female resistance movement.

The book is really well paced and kept me fully engaged throughout. Jackson’s writing style and evident thorough research immersed me fully in 1940s Holland and I felt fully invested in the stories of the characters. It is however difficult to read in some in some places, I found the stories of children particularly harrowing.

I am a big historical fiction fan and this is defining my favourite HF of 2023 so far. Can’t wait to read more by this author.

Big thanks to the published and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I knew very little about the Resistance in Holland during the war and found this account detailed and astonishing. It’s clear that the research has been meticulous and sensitive. It’s also noteworthy that this shows the extent to which women took part in anti Nazi activities. Most accounts are male dominated and the female aspect is understated and diminished.

Buzzy Jackson’s writing is vibrant. This is a difficult subject, but she approaches the narrative with an elegance and freshness that draws the reader in. My interest didn’t wane at all and there are numerous poignant moments. A well informed slice of social history and a true human story that I’d recommend to most readers.

The Girl with the Red Hair is a fictional account of the life of Hannie Schaft, from the early days of the Nazi-occupation of The Netherlands to the legacy she left behind as a member of the Dutch Resistance.

I was engrossed from the start. The way Buzzy Jackson approached the gradual, growing antisemitic world that Hannie and her friends found themselves in after the Nazis took over, and their reactions – particularly Hannie’s realisations of what her friends are going through, was chilling and sensitive.

Hannie herself is such an interesting person to read about, from her initial forays into helping the resistance to her determination to continually do more. She is smart, stubborn and willing to get her hands dirty, yet Jackson doesn’t shy away from more vulnerable moments – ensuring that Hannie’s humanity is captured alongside the reputation that made her so wanted by the Nazis.

The writing is engaging and fresh – there’s no slow or dense moment and I found myself trying very hard not to tear-up on the train as I read the final parts of the books. It is clear that Jackson very heavily researched this and had spoken to those involved, or family of those involved. This is certainly a book I’d come back to and one I think those interested in the Dutch Resistance, but also the lives of those living under the Nazi-Occupation, from the Jewish people forced into hiding to those risking their lives to help them.

I Loved this real life historical figure of a little known area of resistance. Very interesting and a good read

In a bizarre set of coincidences I've read a lot of books set in Holland during WW2 recently but this have all been either about Jewish people's experiences or more scholarly works looking at the Dutch experiences in an all round view - focussing on how few Dutch Jews did survive the Holocaust when compared to other occupied countries.

This book about a member of the Resistance rounded out this reading nicely and I was astounded at the audacious things the resistance did in Holland and also by this woman's bravery. Although told in a fictional way (because Hannie herself didn't leave much written evidence of her life) this book was gripping from page one and at many points a shocking read.
It is a great addition to the canon of Dutch WW2 books.

The download date was unfortunately missed, I would be happy to re-review if it became available again. I have awarded stars for the book cover and description as they both appeal to me. I would be more than happy to re-read and review if a download becomes available. If you would like me to re-review please feel free to contact me at thesecretbookreview@gmail.com or via social media The_secret_bookreview (Instagram) or Secret_bookblog (Twitter). Thank you.

I read this book thinking it was something else entirely but if it isn’t made into a film I’ll eat my hat. It’s sad and does stay with you afterwards which is obviously a really good sign. I did actually think about it after I had read it too.

Wow! Buzzy Jackson has created a masterpiece. I absolutely devoured this from start to finish. Well written, some cinematic-worthy tension and at the heart of the story we have our protagonist, Hannie. It is tough to read in places, but that's inevitable with a story of this nature. A remarkable debut and I cannot wait to see what Buzzy does next.

A novel based on the true story of Dutch resistance fighter Hannie Schaft. Sad and emotional, I found it a difficult read.

This was a very sad but also very uplifting story. The bavery of those who fought beneath the radar against the Nazis and also hiding and trying to protect the Jewish people and others who were being persecuted by the Germans. Some great characters and a compelling story line. Some joy and some sadness in the conclusion.

I really enjoyed this book . I feel like I have learned a lot about Hannie Schaft , a brave woman who I hadn’t heard of before. I thought it was such a well written book. It is truly heartbreaking in parts . Such cruelty, and there are parts that will stay with me forever . Hannie was such a determined young woman and felt strongly about protecting her people and fighting the Nazi regime. I was interested to find out at the end what actually happened to the characters after the war and the author explains it well . Such a beautiful, interesting book which would make an excellent film .