Review
Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
Brave Face by I. Caroline Crocker is a memoir that follows the life of Meta during World War II in the Netherlands, describing childhood experiences, family dynamics, and the challenges they faced under German occupation. Meta's family becomes part of the Dutch resistance, aiding Allied pilots and refugees. Meta recounts the resourcefulness of her family during food shortages, their interactions with neighbors and friends, and their endurance through bombings and an unimaginable avalanche of hardship. Meta's personal growth is central as she navigates the complexities of war, her relationship with her family, and her determination to overcome obstacles. Through Meta's journey, Brave Face portrays the impact of war on individuals, the enduring spirit of ordinary people, and the triumph of resilience in the face of adversity.
There is no shortage of fictional accounts of World War II or non-fiction academic texts that try to break down the specifics of it, but every once in a while a first-hand account of those who experienced it on the ground arises. Brave Face: The Inspiring WWII Memoir of a Dutch/German Child by I. Caroline Crocker is one of those stories, and it is both beautiful and heartbreaking. As a parent, I was crushed by what Meta went through, and as someone who also knew poverty and has gone to bed hungry, I empathized. The difference is that economic poverty is not the same as that which comes from enemy occupation or is forced, or where everyone else in an entire area is equally impacted. The standout to me was the survivor's guilt that Meta experienced when the occupation ended but resources were still scarce, and post-war adjustments such as when Meta asks what happens to Jewish survivors who return home only to find their home now belongs to someone else. The writing is clean and effective, and the picture painted is clear. Overall, this is an excellent work of non-fiction that is as inspiring as it promises to be.
Brave Face is about the worst and best of humanity: it is about fear, hunger, poverty, loss, heroism, sacrifice, and the delightful warmth of family life. Over time, and given the random confluence of luck and determination, one can survive and perhaps, with even more luck and determination, thrive. While academic texts certainly have their place, novels have the unique ability to draw a reader into the many human aspects of a story, even one as horrible and alien as the Holocaust. Brave Face brings the reader into a world that is still unimaginable to all but those few still alive who actually experienced World War II. It is recommended to any person who wants to understand how ordinary people can survive, and even thrive, after living through extraordinary times that reveal the worst and the best of humanity.
Dr. John Schmitz, author of Enemies Among Us: The Relocation, Internment, and Repatriation of German, Italian, and Japanese Americans during the Second World War
Oct 18, 2023- Speak Up Talk Radio announced the recent FIREBIRD BOOK AWARDS contest winners.
One of the winning entries was from Virginia and Texas authors Caroline Crocker and Meta Evenbly, whose book titled Brave Face: The Inspiring WWII Memoir of a Dutch/German Child won in the biography/historical category.
Authors and publishers worldwide submitted their work to the International Firebird Book Awards. Two judges from a select panel of 27 read each book and independently scored each entry. All judges commit to a set of standardized criteria that evaluates the quality of the writing as well as production aspects. Only entries with the highest scores are awarded the coveted Firebird.
Meta's experiences during a turbulent time in history stand as an example of exceptional bravery and courage. This is a story of a girl who, being half-German, had a different perspective on WWII. It details how the occupation affected her family, her community, her country, and her childhood. Her perseverance will encourage readers to find their own courage during difficult times, even if that means traveling across the globe to accomplish their dreams.
Tim Carver, Principal, Urbandale High School, Urbandale, IA
This detailed and unflinching account of a child's life "under the jackboot" of Nazi oppression during WWII serves as a primary source in company with others such as those written by Anne Frank, Corrie Ten Boom, and Rutka Laskier. Extensive use of Dutch words, dialogue, and descriptions of home and family link contemporary readers with a time and place that might otherwise be inaccessible to many young people today.
Amy Imbody, Founder and Director, Center for Redemptive Education, Ashland, VA
Brave Face portrays the impact of war on individuals, the enduring spirit of ordinary people, and the triumph of resilience in the face of adversity.
There is no shortage of fictional accounts of World War II or non-fiction academic texts that try to break down the specifics of it, but every once in a while a first-hand account of those who experienced it on the ground arises. Brave Face: The Inspiring WWII Memoir of a Dutch/German Child by I. Caroline Crocker is one of those stories, and it is both beautiful and heartbreaking. As a parent, I was crushed by what Meta went through, and as someone who also knew poverty and has gone to bed hungry, I empathized. The difference is that economic poverty is not the same as that which comes from enemy occupation or is forced, or where everyone else in an entire area is equally impacted. The standout to me was the survivor's guilt that Meta experienced when the occupation ended but resources were still scarce, and post-war adjustments such as when Meta asks what happens to Jewish survivors who return home only to find their home now belongs to someone else. The writing is clean and effective, and the picture painted is clear. Overall, this is an excellent work of non-fiction that is as inspiring as it promises to be.
Reader's Favorites Review
This book is such a personal narrative that people will find themselves sometimes hurting with Meta and other times laughing with her. Indeed, I often was laughing with tears in my eyes. Yes, Meta is plucky, but she also is willful AND she is treated unfairly. I was rooting for her all the time while at times thinking, "Oops, Meta, that is not quite what you should do!"
I have read many books about WWII, and I think that this book captures growing up— maturing—from 1935 through the war and after from a unique and appealing personal perspective that adds valuable insights for all of us. I heartily recommend it.
Bruce Hann, Emeritus Professor of Creative Writing, Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny, IA
From the Author
My mother, Meta, is a born storyteller. Throughout my childhood I heard many of the stories in this book. As I grew older, the thought that I should record them for future generations often entered my head, but it didn't stay there for long. That changed in 2017 when my beloved father passed away.
It was then too late to ask him about his childhood and the aunt, cousins, and friends who perished in Auschwitz. It was too late to probe into the details of the stories that he could not bring himself to relate until well after his hair had grown gray. World War II (WWII) veterans are now in their 90's; soon they will all be gone. Many of them never talked about their experiences with their children and grandchildren—they did not want to. But once again, in the United States, in Europe, and around the world, authoritarianism, nationalism, Holocaust denial, antisemitism, and many other kinds of discrimination have taken root and are spreading. Everyone must hear what those who experienced WWII have to say.
I began this book by writing those stories that I could remember. Meta read the resulting document, filled in some details, corrected others, and gave me more stories. Next, I researched the historical context and checked that the incidents were in the right order [Meta adjusted the manuscript wherever I went wrong]. During the process, Meta remembered and shared more about her childhood, and I added those stories, too. This cyclical and close collaboration continued for over two years. Eventually, Brave Face was complete. Looking back, I can honestly say that it was a privilege, a pleasure, and an unforgettable experience to co-author this book with Meta. I am proud to be her daughter.
From the Inside Flap
"This moving and shocking memoir is an account of how Meta experienced the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Its picture of the brutality of this occupation and the response of Dutch society is remarkable for its vividness, giving a clear picture of the evil of Nazism, something which is also recognized by Meta's mother's German relations immediately after the war. The memoir concludes with Meta's struggle to find a place for herself in the postwar world and her unsuccessful attempt to fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor. It is essential reading for all those interested in modern European history and the nature of German national socialism."
Dr. Anthony Polonsky, Professor Emeritus of Holocaust Studies, Brandeis University; Chief Historian, Global Education Outreach Project, Museum of Polish Jews in Warsaw.
From the Back Cover
"This memoir has universal human themes that touch our hearts movingly. It is a story deeply resonant in our time, one that grants us a measure of hope that terror and evil do not have the last word. Meta gives us hope, and that is an act of grace."
Dr. Hemchand Gossai, Professor of Liberal Arts at Northern Virginia Community College.
About the Author
I. Caroline Crocker, PhD is both Meta's daughter and an immigrant to the US. Over the past 20 years, Caroline has worked as a biology professor, the chief executive officer (CEO) of a startup company, the president of a nonprofit, a private tutor, a technical writer, a research scientist, a consultant and a communications expert. Her last position involved teaching microbiology-very topical.Caroline maintains a blog, RamblingRuminations, and is the author or coauthor of eight nonacademic books, including Growing the Church 101 and Free to Think. Caroline is married to Richard and has four grown children, eight grandchildren, and a bulldog who snores very loudly.
Meta A Evenbly, who lived the story told in Brave Face, was born in 1935 to a Dutch father and a German mother and grew up in the Netherlands. When she had just turned 17 years old, she met the love of her life, Frits, who was born to Dutch parents in the Congo, but then grew up in the Netherlands. Meta raised her five children in three different countries, none of them her country of origin. She graduated cum laude with a degree in Liberal Arts from St. Thomas University in philosophy, psychology, and theology at the age of 59.
