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English Titles

		HERO MARTHA ATTEMA VICTORIA, B.C.: ORCA BOOK PUBLISHERS, 2003. 131 P. ISBN 155143251X AGES 8 TO 10
Hero Source

Eight-year-old Izaak and his mother have lived in hiding at Mrs. Waterman's house in Amsterdam for over a year. After yet another close call with the German soldiers, Mrs. Waterman deems it too risky for everyone if Izaak and she stay there, even though the war is almost over. Much to Izaak's dread, he is sent by his mother to a family-run farm in Friesland, a province in the northern part of the Netherlands, where he will be safer. Izaak, using the name Jan, arrives at the farm where he meets new friends and has the chance to start school again. Most importantly, Jan meets Hero, a beautiful, strong, gentle Frisian stallion. Jan identifies with Hero immediately because both he and the horse are wanted by the Germans. Aside from missing his family, life is good for Jan at the farm until the German soldiers come looking around. Will Jan and Hero be safe? Will Jan ever see his mother again? Who is really the hero? Young readers will feel compelled to find the answers to these questions and will discover some important truths as they read through to the end of the story.

-SC