Harboring Hope is the true story of a young Danish man named Henny Sinding who helped Jews escape Denmark during the German occupation of the country during WWII. It's written in verse so it's a very quick read and also a format that kids seem to really enjoy. I know many teachers use Number the Stars by Lois Lowry as part of their ELA curriculum and this book would make an excellent nonfiction companion to that fictional account of the same historical event. Teachers and librarian, add this one to your collection!

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for a review copy of this book.

Love the use of concrete poetry in this book! Despite this, however, the rest of the verse did not touch me the way that Alias Anna did. I would definitely recommend this to patrons interested in WWII though.

My students love all things WWII, and this book will be no different. The Danish occupation is a lesser-known part of history, not covered in great detail by the state curriculum. It is important, however, for them to understand the broad-reaching aspects of the Nazi occupation of Europe. Books in verse are in high demand by my more reluctant readers, and "Harboring Hope" brings the true story of Henny Sindig to life in an accessible and entertaining manner.

I read this book immediately after reading Hood's book Alias Anna, which I found superior. Something about this book just seemed a bit forced and I didn't enjoy it as much. That said, I think it would be a very good addition to a middle school collection of books about WWII, specifically dealing with Nazis.

Loved this nonfiction novel in verse about Henny Sinding and how she and other Danes helps Jews escape from the Nazis during WWII. I think what I loved the most is that Hood really establishes that the Jewish people were accepted and welcome in Denmark society and had been for generations. The war did not change that, and the Danish people warned their Jewish neighbors, as well as created routes to help them escape to Sweden (after pressuring the Swedes to help). Henny was just one of the many Danes who helped, but serves as a solid focus for the story and a "heroine" worth rooting for. Another point that Hood emphasizes is that the Danes never considered themselves "saviors" of their Jewish neighbors. The Jews in Denmark fought for their own lives by fleeing the Nazi regime, with the support and help of their countrymen. I was shocked to learn that 99% of Denmark's Jews survived the Holocaust, while 98% of Poland's Jews did not.
This is an uplifting, but often intense story. Recommend for ages 10+. Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

After loving Susan Hood's Alias Anna and Lifeboat 12, I've been anticipating this book's release. What a compelling story. The reader follows Henny as Nazi Germany takes over Denmark. At first there is an uneasy peace between occupier and occupied, other than sabotage by angry Dane school boys. But when an order for the final solution to be applied to Denmark's Jewish population is leaked, many in the country mobilize to protect their neighbors. Henny is one of those putting her life on the line. One whose bravery eventually forces her out of the country she loves if she hopes to keep her life. I loved the way Susan Hood played with the harbor where so many Jews were assisted in their flight, and how the young people of the country harbored hope in their hearts for a better future, taking action to make it happen.

First sentence: Knock! Knock!
A package at the door!
It was rectangular,
big enough
that Henny had to grasp it
with two hands.
It was addressed to her.
Who was it from?
What was inside?

Premise/plot: Middle grade historical fiction novel written in verse with a World War II setting--this is how I'd describe Susan Hood's newest novel, Harboring Hope. It is based on the life of Henny Sinding, a young woman (teen? tween?), who helped Jews escape from Nazi-Occupied Denmark. She was part of a network, certainly, part of the Danish Resistance. She smuggles Jews onto the Gerda III, a supply boat. The boat then takes the Jews to a safer country. (The historical note at the end pointed out that 99 (or 98) percent of Jews were saved--avoided deportation to concentration camps or falling into the hands of the Nazis. This is a really HIGH number.)

As I said, this is one story about one person who helped. It has fallen out of favor--and who am I to argue--to call them rescuers. I hope it isn't incorrect to say helped.

My thoughts: I definitely felt the story was engaging/compelling. I am always open to reading more stories [fiction and nonfiction] about World War II and the Holocaust. Every story is important. This one is based on a true story, a real person.

I don't automatically love, love, love the verse novel format. I would read it either way--verse or prose. The subject matter is heavy, weighty, serious. The verse doesn't seem to be elevating the narrative. In other words, the verse doesn't seem especially poetic.

Again, I enjoyed the book. I would read it no matter the format. One plus to having it in verse format, I suppose, is that verse novels *feel* quicker to read.

ETA: Is it historical fiction? Is it nonfiction? I am not 100% sure. I know it is BASED on a true story, the characters were real people, this is history. But does that automatically make it nonfiction? Or can it have fictional elements--like dialogue or sequence of events--added???

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

Susan Hood does it again with an excellent nonfiction story in-verse. Well researched, compelling storyline, engaging characters, and the verse structure flows well. Due to some intensity in the book (which is very fitting as a World War 2 book) I might not recommend this book to young MG readers, but this is definitely a book to add to your classroom library.

The back matter of the book (photographs, resources, etc) is definitely worth reading and I was struck by this statistic...99% of the Jews in Denmark survived while 98% of Poland's Jews perished.

I really liked all the back story we got and learned more about the real people this story is based on.
I liked reading this story and seeing all the people that were able to be saved.
As any WWII story it is intense and at times hard to read, but it is a story that belongs out in the world for everyone to read.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!