A Dutch Girl Named Willy

Book excerpt: "A Dutch Girl Named Willy," Is a fascinating memoir of how circumstances change a Dutch girl's life on her path to womanhood. Willy Simonson's story begins in peaceful Holland, soon to be radically altered by the Nazi War machine. When the Germans departed, they left a nation near total starvation. Willy recounts how her family survived those oppressive years. Combined in her story are amusing anecdotes about adventures with her brother, contrasted by shocking scenes unsuitable for any child to witness. After the war, Willy was plagued by a life threatening illness which led to two recuperative stays in Switzerland. In addition, she lived through a complicated family dynamic. How Willy struggled to endure life's burdens eventually turns into a charming love story. A surprise ending reveals a startling secret, allowing her to make sense of events that helped shape her life.