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 lives a life of quiet routine in her New Jersey retirement community, enjoying the view of the shore, visits with friends, and tai chi. Her serene world is disrupted when her grandson, Will, and his wife, Teru, visit. Their marriage is on the rocks, and Will is troubled by questions about family secrets that have remained buried for decades.

To answer Will’s questions, Mieke must revisit her past in coastal Holland during the last years of World War II. There, she endured the Hunger Winter, a harsh period when food and heat were scarce, and many Dutch citizens perished. Her childhood memories intertwine moments of magic with the harsh realities of war, transporting readers from the windswept beaches of The Hague to the grim confines of a concentration camp, and along eel-filled rivers.

Through Mieke’s vivid recollections, the narrative unfolds, revealing the impact of these wartime experiences on her family and on Will’s father, who has been absent since Will's childhood. Our Narrow Hiding Places is a sweeping tale of survival and the heavy toll of conflict, emphasizing how the traumas we inherit can also bring unexpected resilience. This poignant story highlights the enduring strength of family bonds and the power of uncovering long-buried truths.