Our Narrow Hiding Places: A Novel BY Kristopher Jansma

An elderly woman recounts her Dutch family’s survival during the final years of Nazi occupation, shedding new light on old secrets that rippled through subsequent generations.

Eighty-year-old Mieke Geborn leads a life of quiet routine on the New Jersey shore, enjoying her days with friends and tai chi at the local retirement community. Her peaceful existence is disrupted when her grandson, Will, and his wife, Teru, visit, bringing with them the strains of a troubled marriage and Will’s burning questions about family secrets that have long remained buried.

As Will seeks answers, Mieke must confront her past, revisiting her childhood in coastal Holland during the final years of World War II. She recalls surviving the Hunger Winter, a harrowing period when food and heat were scarce, and many Dutch citizens perished. Her memories blend childhood wonder with the harsh realities of war, transporting readers from the windy beaches of the Hague to the dark confines of a concentration camp, and the winding eel-filled rivers.

As Mieke’s story unfolds, it reveals not only the struggles of her youth but also the hidden narrative of Will’s father, who has been absent since Will's early years. Our Narrow Hiding Places is a sweeping saga of survival and the profound impact of war, illustrating how inherited traumas are interwoven with an unexpected resilience. This novel is a poignant reminder of the strength that can emerge from the darkest of times.