Review of Discovering Twins
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Taylor Hammerich
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Review of Discovering Twins
[Following is a volunteer review of "Discovering Twins" by Stella Claire ter Hart.]
Discovering Twins by Stella Claire ter Hart is a combination of historical fiction, non-fiction, memoir, and biography. Stella Claire ter Hart’s book is based on true stories. When she traveled with her mother to Holland, she met relatives that she had never even heard of before. Her mother was too afraid to talk about her background. Stella continued to discover and unravel secrets that her mother kept from her. Soon, she uncovers her mother’s Jewish background and ancestral ties to the Holocaust. Stella discovers a shocking amount of ancestors that suffered during the Holocaust and an incredible amount of twins in her family.
I loved the author’s inclusion of personal photos and journal entries. I really enjoyed seeing photos of Stella's family. They made the tragic events her family went through feel a lot more personal. I felt more connected to her family and the story. It was so interesting to see her family history unfold! Adding Dutch words and historical facts into the book was also a nice touch. This inclusion really showed the author’s appreciation and love for her newfound family members and their culture. Even though she did not know these family members, including Dutch/Jewish history really put into perspective what her family had to endure. A book full of family history is something future family members can appreciate forever.
There is nothing that I truly dislike about this book. However, there are so many different family members' names mentioned that it was often hard for me to keep track of who was who. I'm sure all of these names are much easier to remember when it is your own family!
Overall, I would rate this book a 5 out of 5. This book included minor errors that did not distract me from the story. Although many of the author’s ancestors suffered awful tragedies, this book was powerful and inspiring to read. It made me want to dive deeper into my own family’s genealogy. In fact, while reading this book, I discovered a picture of my great-great-grandfather. I had never seen a picture of him until now! Like Stella, I am amazed. I hope to continue to find more. I have also been told by my mother that twins run in my family. Maybe I will find a long line of twins as well!
I recommend this book to anyone interested in memoirs, Holocaust stories, and Dutch and Jewish culture. As someone that loved learning about Anne Frank’s story and reading her diary, this book offers a new perspective on how the Holocaust impacted families. I also recommend this book to anyone interested in genealogy.
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Discovering Twins
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Discovering Twins by Stella Claire ter Hart is a combination of historical fiction, non-fiction, memoir, and biography. Stella Claire ter Hart’s book is based on true stories. When she traveled with her mother to Holland, she met relatives that she had never even heard of before. Her mother was too afraid to talk about her background. Stella continued to discover and unravel secrets that her mother kept from her. Soon, she uncovers her mother’s Jewish background and ancestral ties to the Holocaust. Stella discovers a shocking amount of ancestors that suffered during the Holocaust and an incredible amount of twins in her family.
I loved the author’s inclusion of personal photos and journal entries. I really enjoyed seeing photos of Stella's family. They made the tragic events her family went through feel a lot more personal. I felt more connected to her family and the story. It was so interesting to see her family history unfold! Adding Dutch words and historical facts into the book was also a nice touch. This inclusion really showed the author’s appreciation and love for her newfound family members and their culture. Even though she did not know these family members, including Dutch/Jewish history really put into perspective what her family had to endure. A book full of family history is something future family members can appreciate forever.
There is nothing that I truly dislike about this book. However, there are so many different family members' names mentioned that it was often hard for me to keep track of who was who. I'm sure all of these names are much easier to remember when it is your own family!
Overall, I would rate this book a 5 out of 5. This book included minor errors that did not distract me from the story. Although many of the author’s ancestors suffered awful tragedies, this book was powerful and inspiring to read. It made me want to dive deeper into my own family’s genealogy. In fact, while reading this book, I discovered a picture of my great-great-grandfather. I had never seen a picture of him until now! Like Stella, I am amazed. I hope to continue to find more. I have also been told by my mother that twins run in my family. Maybe I will find a long line of twins as well!
I recommend this book to anyone interested in memoirs, Holocaust stories, and Dutch and Jewish culture. As someone that loved learning about Anne Frank’s story and reading her diary, this book offers a new perspective on how the Holocaust impacted families. I also recommend this book to anyone interested in genealogy.
******
Discovering Twins
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas
