Book cover for Harboring Hope: The True Story of How Henny Sinding Helped Denmark's Jews Escape the Nazis by Susan Hood

Harboring Hope

The True Story of How Henny Sinding Helped Denmark's Jews Escape the Nazis

2023 Released
400 Pages
2-3 Hours
★ 4.2 189 ratings
Paperback Unavailable
HarperCollinsISBN 9780063214507

The inspirational true story of how twenty-two-year-old Henny Sinding courageously helped smuggle hundreds of Jewish families in occupied Denmark to safety in Sweden during the Holocaust. A middle grade nonfiction novel-in-verse by award-winning author Susan Hood.

It wouldn’t be easy, but they had to try.

It was their only chance to survive.

In 1943, Henny Sinding, only twenty-two years old, and the crew of Gerda lll, a lighthouse supply boat, risked everything to smuggle their Jewish compatriots across the Øresund strait to safety in Sweden during World War ll. In Henny’s words, “It was the right thing to do so we did it. Simple as that.” But what happened when their operation’s cover was blown and it was Henny’s turn to escape?

This incredible true story in-verse about courage, community, humanity, and hope is perfect for fans of Lifeboat 12, Alias Anna, and Alan Gratz.

Includes extensive back matter with primary sources, additional information, further reading, and photographs.

A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD GOLD STANDARD SELECTION!


  • A Young Woman's Courage: Follow twenty-two-year-old Henny Sinding as she risks her life to ferry families to safety aboard the lighthouse supply boat, Gerda III.
  • An Unforgettable True Story: Discover the little-known history of the Danish effort to save their Jewish compatriots from the Nazis during the Holocaust.
  • Told in Breathtaking Verse: Experience this powerful and accessible narrative, written in a compelling novel-in-verse format that makes history come alive.
  • Rich with Historical Detail: Deepen your understanding with extensive back matter, including primary sources, photographs, and further reading for young historians.

Susan Hood

Susan Hood is the award-winning author of many books for young readers, including Ada’s Violin, Alias Anna, Harboring Hope, The Last Straw, Lifeboat 12, and Shaking Things Up. Susan is the recipient of the E.B. White Honor Award, two Christopher Awards, the Américas Award, the SCBWI Golden Kite Award, and two Bank Street Flora Stieglitz Straus Awards, given to “a distinguished work of nonfiction that serves as an inspiration to young people.” In addition to winning many state reading awards, Susan’s books have been named a National Jewish Book Awards finalist, a Sydney Taylor Notable Book, a NCTE Notable Poetry Book, a NSTA Best Stem Book of the Year, an Amazon Teachers’ Pick, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, and a Bank Street Best Book of the Year. Visit her at SusanHoodBooks.com.

More by Susan Hood

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