Thief of Glory: A Novel

I did not know about the Japanese internment camps for the Dutch, so a received a little education reading this book. The Japanese were as mean as the Germans were in WWII in starving and mistreating people. It's hard to see a 10 year old doing all that Jeremiah did to survive. And to see people step up when they needed to be strong and help each other out. I would have liked a little more story at the end of the book. I like that I can recommend a Christian book to men that does not have too much romance in the story.

THIEF OF GLORY by Sigmund BrouwerJeremiah tells his story as an old man remembering the years of World War II when his family was interned by the Japanese in the Dutch East Indies. This is a little known part of the Japanese invasion that is overshadowed by the Burma Death March and the bridge over the River Kwai.Jeremiah’s family is quickly separated. His father and three older brothers are sent to work as slaves for the invaders. Jeremiah, his two younger sisters and younger brother are left with their mother who suffers from an unnamed mental illness. Laura Jansen and her grandmother and Georgie, a boy about Jeremiah’s age, also figure in the camp years as internees.The horror of the camp and the privations are clearly shown. Camp life makes up the majority of the book with several incidents proving to affect the lives of the main characters long after the war is over.The writing engages the reader immediately and doesn’t let go until the end. The characters are fullu fleshed, the incidents believable, the plot and conflict are layered.5 of 5 stars

As much as I've read and studied about WWII, this was an aspect that I knew nothing about. I loved the character development and they tugged at my heart. I can't believe this book doesn't have thousands of reviews. It should!

Most Americans know that Japan invaded and conquered many area of East Asia and Pacific islands, but this is the first I had learned of the Dutch colonists of the Dutch East Indies being subjugated and forced into "camps". Also, I had not known that the Empire of Japan needed/wanted the natural resources that area had. Jeremiah was forced by his circumstances to defend and care for his mother and siblings, enduring harsh conditions, and learn through those circumstances that even as a young boy, he developed fortitude and courage he didn't know he had! Written as a novel, but essential the story of one Dutch colonial family in dire war-time conditions.

Again a book about World War II - this one taking place in Japan and depicting man's inhumanity to man. The fact that so many children not only lost their parents but were starved and punished themselves. I was amazed at what some of this children did to survive.

Excellent read, recommend to all. Loved the characters and the way they interacted. A surprise ending to a surprise story.

The cover of this book was beautiful and helped to draw me in. I loved the historical aspect of this novel as it was all new to me. The story was well written but I just didn't like Jeremiah. Even as a 10 year old, he seemed very mercenary. As an adult, he just seemed to be filled with regrets. This was a clean read but really had no spiritual depth to it at all. Many things that happen, happen with no redemptive qualities to them. There is not spirituality at all to the main characters. It was a haunting book that I wanted to really like but just could not connect to it.

This novel has what I wish for in a Dutch American historical novel. Each character drew me in to life in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) pre-WWII, followed by the horrors experienced inside jappen kampen- Japanese Concentration camps. I was transported into each life, and grieved with each loss, and found myself experiencing relief at the end of the war. The author then deftly brought into better times, but not really happy times....and that is the reality of war.

Sigmund Brouwer has written many books, especially appealing to middle school and junior high boys. He's contributed to a better literary world.Thief of Glory is a must read for anyone junior high on up, not because it's easy to read, but because it shows the complexity of life and consequences of decisions. Marvellous storytelling and history in one book. It's a masterpiece. Thank you for writing.

I read every word of this novel. Excellent

Spectacular writing and riveting story! I will begin another book from Sigmund tout de suite. Enjoyed every word ... finished it in 2 days.

Brouwer is such a good author, and the story is compelling. Great historical fiction based on a true story.

What a wonderful tribute to his father. Thanks for two great reads for the summer.