"The Belgian Twins" by Lucy Fitch Perkins is a poignant and captivating story set against the backdrop of World War I. The novel follows the adventures and hardships of two young twins, Jan and Marie, whose lives are abruptly disrupted by the horrors of war. Jan and Marie are typical children living in a quaint Belgian village with their parents. Their lives are filled with simple joys and routines until the war reaches their doorstep. When German soldiers invade their village, the twins are separated from their parents in the ensuing chaos. This separation sets the stage for their harrowing journey, as they navigate a war-torn landscape in search of their family and safety. Despite their young age, Jan and Marie display remarkable courage and resilience. The bond between them is unbreakable, providing them with the strength to face the many challenges that come their way. Their journey is fraught with danger, including encounters with soldiers, navigating through desolate villages, and the constant threat of starvation. However, their determination and love for each other help them to persevere. Perkins paints a vivid picture of the impact of war on civilians, especially children. Through the eyes of Jan and Marie, readers get a glimpse of the devastation and displacement caused by the conflict. The author does not shy away from depicting the harsh realities of war, but she also balances this with moments of kindness and hope. Along their journey, the twins encounter several characters who help them, demonstrating the compassion and solidarity that can emerge even in the darkest times. The narrative is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. Perkins' portrayal of the twins' innocence and bravery serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit. The author's descriptive writing brings the setting and characters to life, making the reader feel deeply connected to Jan and Marie's plight. "The Belgian Twins" also serves an educational purpose. It introduces young readers to the historical context of World War I and the impact it had on ordinary people. Perkins includes details about the cultural and geographical aspects of Belgium, enriching the reader's understanding of the setting. The book is well-paced, with a mix of suspenseful and tender moments. Perkins' writing is accessible, making it suitable for younger readers while still engaging enough for adults. The themes of perseverance, familial love, and the kindness of strangers are universal, making this a timeless story. "The Belgian Twins" is not just a tale of war and separation; it is also a story of hope and the enduring strength of family bonds. Perkins' ability to convey deep emotions through the experiences of Jan and Marie ensures that this book remains a memorable and impactful read. For those looking for a story that combines historical realism with heartfelt narrative, "The Belgian Twins" is an excellent choice. Lucy Fitch Perkins' masterful storytelling and her compassionate portrayal of her young protagonists make this book a touching tribute to the resilience and bravery of children in times of conflict.

The Dutch twins Kit and Kat spend happy hours fishing off the pier, shopping at the village supermarket, skatind on the canal, and celebrating St. Nicholas day.

Reproduction of the original.

Jan and Marie Van Hovegrow up on a farm in Belgium.

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New York Times Bestseller • Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize • An Oprah's Book Club Selection “Powerful . . . [Kingsolver] has with infinitely steady hands worked the prickly threads of religion, politics, race, sin and redemption into a thing of terrible beauty.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review The Poisonwood Bible, now celebrating its 25th anniversary, established Barbara Kingsolver as one of the most thoughtful and daring of modern writers. Taking its place alongside the classic works of postcolonial literature, it is a suspenseful epic of one family's tragic undoing and remarkable reconstruction over the course of three decades in Africa. The story is told by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a fierce, evangelical Baptist who takes his family and mission to the Belgian Congo in 1959. They carry with them everything they believe they will need from home, but soon find that all of it—from garden seeds to Scripture—is calamitously transformed on African soil. The novel is set against one of the most dramatic political chronicles of the twentieth century: the Congo's fight for independence from Belgium, the murder of its first elected prime minister, the CIA coup to install his replacement, and the insidious progress of a world economic order that robs the fledgling African nation of its autonomy. Against this backdrop, Orleanna Price reconstructs the story of her evangelist husband's part in the Western assault on Africa, a tale indelibly darkened by her own losses and unanswerable questions about her own culpability. Also narrating the story, by turns, are her four daughters—the teenaged Rachel; adolescent twins Leah and Adah; and Ruth May, a prescient five-year-old. These sharply observant girls, who arrive in the Congo with racial preconceptions forged in 1950s Georgia, will be marked in surprisingly different ways by their father's intractable mission, and by Africa itself. Ultimately each must strike her own separate path to salvation. Their passionately intertwined stories become a compelling exploration of moral risk and personal responsibility.

"Completely original. A fiction whose poise, compassion and breadth take the reader's breath away"JOAN SMITH "Gripping and touching" Independent "Memorable and moving" The Times Bound by blood, separated by love... Twin sisters, Lotte and Anna, share a bond that is far stronger than anyone except they alone can understand. But when war comes between them, the two discover that even the deepest bonds have their limits. Having been cruelly separated as children, Lotte and Anna are at last reunited. Neither lost hope to see each other again. However, with Europe on the verge of war, much has changed between them. While Lotte has enjoyed a privileged upbringing in liberal Holland, Anna has endured a life of poverty in a Germany under the spell of Hitler. With Lotte now engaged to a Jewish musician, and Anna brainwashed by Third Reich ideas, cracks in their relationship soon appear. With the war on, the twins decide to part again. Back in Germany, Anna marries Martin, an Austrian soldier, who hates the war but joins the SS for the sake of his wife only to be killed a few days later. Anna is devastated and longs for her sister. At the same time, Lotte's own life is in danger. The Nazis have invaded Holland and her lover has been taken to Auschwitz. Knowing she will never see him again, all she can do is keep his family safe from Hitler's troops. Now an old woman, Lotte remembers the pain as, before her, stands the sisters she disowned all those years ago. Can these two lives ever be reconciled? The twins now face their final test . . . Translated from the Dutch by Ruth Levitt