When the Soldiers Were Gone

Reach for this book when your child is facing a major life transition, such as joining a new family or moving to an unfamiliar environment where they feel like an outsider. It is particularly healing for children who are struggling to reconcile their past identity with a new reality. The story follows Henk, a young boy who discovers that his life on a Dutch farm was a protective lie to keep him safe from the Nazis. When the war ends, he is returned to his biological Jewish parents, whom he does not remember. This gentle historical novel explores the profound emotional weight of belonging and the confusing grief of leaving one home for another. While set against the backdrop of the Holocaust, the narrative focuses on the internal psychological experience of a child navigating displacement. It is appropriate for children aged 8 to 12, offering a sensitive way to discuss how family is built through both memory and shared love. Parents will appreciate how it validates a child's right to feel sad about a change, even when that change is meant to be a 'happy' ending.