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Caroline is an immigrant born to an immigrant and on for generations. Her parents are Dutch, but she has lived in Canada, Iowa, England, California, Texas and Virginia. Her career has been equally varied. She trained as a scientist: microbiology and immunology. Then she worked in medical research, college teaching, leading a nonprofit, and being a CEO, before finally doing what she loves most. Enjoying her eight grandchildren, gardening, and writing books. Adult books, big kid books, little kid books, and even a book on doing microbiology in your kitchen. Nonfiction written like fiction.
When she was 17, the heroine of the book, Meta A. Evenbly (88), met the love of her life, Frits. They immigrated to Canada, and then lived in the US and England. Meta has five children, one living in Des Moines, and many, many grand- and great-grandchildren. Studying in her “spare” time, Meta was awarded a degree in Liberal Arts from St Thomas University, Houston at the age of 59. Frits is gone, but Meta’s indomitable spirit continues to impact all who know her. After all, according to Meta, “It’s important not to stop living before you’re dead.”
Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
Brave Face by I. Caroline Crocker is a memoir that follows the life of Meta during World War II in the Netherlands, describing childhood experiences, family dynamics, and the challenges they faced under German occupation. Meta's family becomes part of the Dutch resistance, aiding Allied pilots and refugees. Meta recounts the resourcefulness of her family during food shortages, their interactions with neighbors and friends, and their endurance through bombings and an unimaginable avalanche of hardship. Meta's personal growth is central as she navigates the complexities of war, her relationship with her family, and her determination to overcome obstacles. Through Meta's journey, Brave Face portrays the impact of war on individuals, the enduring spirit of ordinary people, and the triumph of resilience in the face of adversity.
There is no shortage of fictional accounts of World War II or non-fiction academic texts that try to break down the specifics of it, but every once in a while a first-hand account of those who experienced it on the ground arises. Brave Face: The Inspiring WWII Memoir of a Dutch/German Child by I. Caroline Crocker is one of those stories, and it is both beautiful and heartbreaking. As a parent, I was crushed by what Meta went through, and as someone who also knew poverty and has gone to bed hungry, I empathized. The difference is that economic poverty is not the same as that which comes from enemy occupation or is forced, or where everyone else in an entire area is equally impacted. The standout to me was the survivor's guilt that Meta experienced when the occupation ended but resources were still scarce, and post-war adjustments such as when Meta asks what happens to Jewish survivors who return home only to find their home now belongs to someone else. The writing is clean and effective, and the picture painted is clear. Overall, this is an excellent work of non-fiction that is as inspiring as it promises to be.
