To Die Beautiful

A Novel

By: Buzzy Jackson

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

WINNER OF THE COLORADO BOOK AWARD FOR HISTORICAL FICTION
NATIONAL JEWISH BOOK AWARD FINALIST

A heartrending novel based on a true story of love, loyalty, and the limits we confront when our deepest values are tested, by award-winning writer Buzzy Jackson

How far would you go to protect the people and country you love?

It’s 1940 and Hannie Schaft is a shy nineteen-year-old law student living in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands with ambitious goals for her future. But dreams die in wartime, and Hannie’s closest friends are no longer safe as fascism insidiously rises in her country. Hiding them is not enough. Hannie may be young but she can’t stand aside as the menace of Nazi evil tightens its grip. Driven by love and moral outrage, Hannie soon becomes an armed member of the Dutch Resistance movement.

Hannie discovers her own untapped ferocity—wearing lipstick and heels to lure powerful Nazis close and assassinate them at point-blank range, and bombing munitions factories. As humanity collapses around her, Hannie finds a chosen family of friends within the Resistance and falls in love with a dashing fellow resister at a tremendous cost. Her greatest weapon is her determination to "stay human" (blijf menselijk) . . . a promise increasingly difficult to keep.

As Hannie is drawn deeper into a web of plots, disguises and assassinations, whispers spread like wildfire among enemy and friend alike. They all know of her, if not her name: she’s “the Girl with Red Hair.” A match for any Nazi soldier. A true threat. And a target.

To Die Beautiful is a timely look at how fascism flourishes and what good people do to fight back. Based on real events, To Die Beautiful is told with the drama and emotional resonance of meticulously researched history.

Based on a True Story

This is based on a true story of the women in the Dutch Resistance. It was a great book and at the same time heart wrenching. I could tell the author did her research and the historical accuracy was good. I really enjoyed the afterward where the author gave you information on the other people in the book. The narrator did a wonderful job. Highly recommend.

This book will stay with me

What a compelling story. I fell in love with the characters. I thought all the bad news in the current environment would make this book hard to listen to, but on the contrary, their courage and spirit gave me hope. Highly recommend.

Everything

I liked the book very much. It was an excellent and heartbreaking story. Some parts were very difficult to get through but worth it. I looked it up and the story is the truth. The lead character was real as was the book. I listened to the audible and glad I did. The narrator was great.

Gripping and Heartbreaking - It's a Must Read!

This book kept me enthralled from the beginning. Hearing the story of these seemingly ordinary people amid the brutal devastation of war had me crying, cheering, and contemplating the ways I can be a better citizen and friend.

Worth a listen

Amazing story based on an actual resistance fighter. Writing so good you feel transported back in time. Little details highlight little known facts of the time