Hidden Hope

By Elisa Boxer, Amy June Bates (Illustrator)

A toy duck conceals forged papers, aiding Jewish refugees in WWII's perilous Paris streets.

4.5/5 Goodreads · 525 ratings

48 pages

$19.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

In Nazi-occupied Paris, Jacqueline, a Jewish member of the French Resistance, risks everything to save lives. Disguised as a social worker, she uses a toy duck to smuggle forged identity papers past soldiers. As families hide from persecution, Jacqueline's courage and ingenuity offer a lifeline. Can this unlikely hero outwit the oppressors and deliver hope to those in hiding? Discover a tale of bravery and resilience where a simple toy becomes a beacon of survival.

From the publisher

The remarkable true story of how a toy duck smuggled forged identity papers for Jewish refugees during WWIIDuring World War II, a social worker named Jacqueline bicycled through the streets of Paris, passing Nazi soldiers and carrying a toy duck to share with the children she visited. What the Nazis didn’t know, however, was that Jacqueline wasn’t a social worker at all, but a Jewish member of the French Resistance. Families across Europe went into hiding as the Nazis rounded up anyone Jewish. The Star of David, a symbol of faith and pride, became a tool of hate when the Nazis forced people to wear the star on their clothing and carry papers identifying them as Jewish, so that it was clear who to arrest. But many brave souls dared to help them. Jacqueline was one of them. She risked her life in secret workshops, where forgers created false identity papers. But how to get these life-saving papers to families in hiding? The toy duck held the answer. Written by award-winning journalist Elisa Boxer and movingly illustrated by the acclaimed Amy June Bates, Hidden Hope, a true story, celebrates everyday heroism, resilience, the triumph of the human spirit, and finding hope in unexpected places.