Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust

The remarkable true story of how a toy duck smuggled forged identity papers for Jewish refugees during WWII

During World War II, a social worker named Jacqueline bicycled through the streets of Paris, passing Nazi soldiers and carrying a toy duck to share with the children she visited. What the Nazis didn't know, however, was that Jacqueline wasn't a social worker at all, but a Jewish member of the French Resistance.

Families across Europe went into hiding as the Nazis rounded up anyone Jewish. The Star of David, a symbol of faith and pride, became a tool of hate when the Nazis forced people to wear the star on their clothing and carry papers identifying them as Jewish, so that it was clear who to arrest. But many brave souls dared to help them.

Jacqueline was one of them. She risked her life in secret workshops, where forgers created false identity papers. But how to get these life-saving papers to families in hiding? The toy duck held the answer.

Written by award-winning journalist Elisa Boxer and movingly illustrated by the acclaimed Amy June Bates, Hidden Hope, a true story, celebrates everyday heroism, resilience, the triumph of the human spirit, and finding hope in unexpected places.

Author: Elisa Boxer
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Published: 03/14/2023
Pages: 48
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.1lbs
Size: 11.20h x 9.20w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9781419750007
Audience: Ages 9-12


Review Citation(s):
School Library Journal 02/01/2023 pg. 85
Booklist 02/15/2023 pg. 48
Kirkus Reviews 04/15/2023
Horn Book Magazine 05/01/2023 pg. 156

About the Author
Elisa Boxer is the author of the picture book Covered in Color as well as an Emmy Award-winning journalist and columnist. She has reported for newspapers, magazines, and TV stations, and has a passion for telling stories about people finding the courage to create change. Boxer lives with her family in Maine. Amy Bates is the illustrator of many books for children, including The Boy and the Sea, Gittel's Journey, Minette's Feast, and The Dog Who Belonged to No One. She lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.