The Hidden Room
Could you survive in a cave...for a whole year?
That's the challenge facing fourteen-year-old Jacob. Set in Ukraine during the final months of World War II, THE HIDDEN ROOM is based on the true story of a Jewish family who escapes from the Nazis by taking refuge in a remote cave. Jacob adjusts to the hardships of living underground and the dangers of night-time adventures outside the cave. Food is scarce. Darkness, bone-chilling cold, and the fear of being captured are constant. But a surprising discovery gives his family reason to hope.
Bringing young readers back to this time of terror, THE HIDDEN ROOM reveals little-known but vivid historical details of Ukraine, including Stalin's brutal pre-war campaign of forced starvation, known as the Holodomor. You will celebrate the courage of a family who stays positive, even in the face of adversity that threatens their survival.
William Durbin, winner of the Great Lakes Book Award and two Minnesota Book Awards, is the author of fourteen historical novels, including THE BROKEN BLADE; WINTERING; BLACKWATER BEN; DEADMAN'S RAPIDS, co-authored with his wife, Barbara; THE DARKEST EVENING; and three books in Scholastic's My Name is America Series.
For additional information visit williamdurbin.com
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William Durbin lives on Lake Vermilion at the edge of Minnesota's Boundary Waters Wilderness. A winner of the Great Lakes Book Award and a two-time winner of the Minnesota Book award, he has published short stories, essays, and poetry, as well as thirteen novels for young readers, including The Broken Blade, Wintering, Blackwater Ben, The Darkest Evening, The Journal of Otto Peltonen, and El Lector, which has been optioned for film by Jane Starz Productions. His latest novel, co-authored with his wife, Barbara is The Hidden Room. For more information visit his website at williamdurbin.com.
Durbin's honors include a Junior Library Guild Selection, Bank Street College Children's Book of Year list, the ALA's Amelia Bloomer list, New York Library Books for the Teen Age list, Maud Hart Lovelace nomination, Jefferson Cup Series of Note Award, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award, America's Award commended title, Book Sense Summer Pick, Boy's Life magazine serialization, St. Petersburg Times serialization, nominations for numerous state awards lists, and starred reviews in the major journals.
"William Durbin's attention to detail—both historical and fictional—make him one of today's masters of historical YA fiction." -- David Gill of the NCTE
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"William Durbin's attention to detail-both historical and fictional-make him one of today's masters of historical YA fiction." -David Gill, ALAN/National Council of Teachers of English
