This was an interesting book that I read without realizing it is a historical fiction based off a real couple. It was just really good nice clean novel that I highly recommend.

I was unaware when I received this book that it was a highly religious book. I do not care for books like that and this was no exception. Add to that the fact that I felt it was poorly written and jumped around a great deal and it became a book I really did not like or enjoy.

This book is different from the books I usually read and review. It is a novelisation cum biography of two female Kuypers: Johanna (Abraham’s wife) and their daughter Henrietta. It is facts plus imagination. Unfortunately, it is more imagination that fact. It is aimed at female teenage and is part of a series published by Presbyterian & Reformed entitled Chosen Daughters.

The book is split into three parts. The first dealing with the childhood of Johanna, the second with ‘Jo and Bram’ and the third ‘Harry’. It provides an interesting insight into the patriarchal culture of the time and gives a good feel for what life might be like in the Kuyper household.

The main aim of the book appears to be to help the readers be true to themselves and true to what God intended them to be - just as Jo and Harry did. For example:
‘Above all, honor the Lord and be true to your heart’. (114)
‘When I surrendered to the Lord, I didn’t lose myself; I gained the true me’. (188)
‘The Lord gave each of you a unique personality. He wants you to honor him and be true to yourself.’ (269)
The historical aspects are then given second place to moral examples for the readers to follow. This becomes particularly clear in the ‘Go deeper’ section at the end of the book where questions such as: ‘What in Jo’s story could help you to be friends with that girl [ie someone who doesn’t have a Christian faith]?’ and ‘At her sewing class, she saw a girl being mistreated. How did Jo stop the bullying and help the girl to feel welcome in the class? How can you help if you see a girl being bullied?’

The book has some appropriate photographs, a recipe for Dutch apple pie and details of how to make a textile book cover. There are a useful timeline and a two-page list of bibliographical resources, which includes Bratt’s 2013 biography of Kuyper and Heslam’s 1998 book based on his PhD of Kuyper’s Stone Lectures - both of which would be challenging reads for teenagers.


I hope this book will provide a catalyst for more research into Harry Kuyper, in particular, as there is so much more to learn from her than is suggested in this book.

An inspiring story of a two women whose legacy of faith influenced many for generations.

Mainly focussing on Johanna, and her husband, Abraham "Bram" Kuyper, I found this an interesting read, not knowing anything about the Dutch reformers, or history of the Netherlands in the 1800's. Johanna's life legacy passed down to her children, especially daughter "Harry", was encouraging to read, as she taught them that the Lord gave them all unique personalities, to guard their hearts and live authentic lives that honor Him. She heeded her own father's advice not to "lose herself" in serving and supporting her husband, but to use her gifts to help others, with grace and faith, teaching others to read and love them in Christ. Abraham and Johanna's love story was a unique one, and fun to read. Their daughter "Harry" was an interesting person, helping others as her mother had, but also respectfully working towards and achieving social reforms.

I enjoyed reading the author's notes at the end, with photos and the history of the real people in the book, noting how their lives "encourage us to honor God and stay true to the person He created each of us to be." It would have been helpful to have more dates in the story for reference.

Recommend for teens and up who enjoy reading Christian biographical fiction.

Johanna and Henriette Kuyper

Daring to Change Their World
by Abigail van der Velde

P & R Publishing
Christian

Pub Date 30 Jun 2017

I am reviewing a copy of Daring to Change Their World through P&R Publishing and Netgalley:

This book transports us to nineteenth century Netherlands. Johanna Kuyper is a traditional wife, and her husband Abraham Kuyper a prominent leader in the church.

Jo and Bram had seven children. Johanna serves her family through joys and sorrows including the death of her ten year old son. Late in the nineteenth century Johanna contracts Typus.

Johanna's daughter Henrietta is more progressive than her Mother. Henriette Kuyper traveled the world, she was a champion of Woman's suffarage as well as a wartime News Correspondent.

I give Daring to Change Their World five out of five stars.

Happy Reading!