Product Description

"I knew I could only be killed once. I might as well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb". Irene was a 17-year-old nursing student when the Nazis invaded Poland. They took over her country and her life. Nothing in her innocent girlhood could have prepared her for the horrors she was to witness. However, instinctively, Irene knew she had to resist the evil in any way possible. Standing by was not an option. Eventually forced to work as a housekeeper to a Nazi officer, Irene carried out her most audacious and heroic act. She hid twelve Jewish people in the basement of the officer's villa and protected them even through the loss of her own freedom, and at the risk of her life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #377710 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Age range: 11 and over

Irene Gut Opdyke was just 17 when the Nazis invaded her native Poland. From that moment she was wrenched away from her family and forced --literally--to run for her life. Eventually, while bearing witness to and falling victim to the brutality of war, she was forced to work as housekeeper to a Nazi officer. It was there that she took her life in her hands and committed the most audacious of acts in the name of humanity: she hid 12 Jewish people in the basement of her Nazi employer's house.

In In My Hands Irene recounts her extraordinary history, leaving no stone unturned as she takes the reader through time from the moment of Nazi invasion to her eventual departure for America. But the most remarkable thing about this book is the matter-of-fact tone in which it is written, which somehow allows readers to observe the events of Irene's life without forcing them to wallow in any kind of sentimentality. And although there is no doubt as to how Irene thought, felt and reacted, readers are required only to observe and draw their own conclusions.

This is by no means an easy read: the effects of war on the lives of ordinary people are surfaced to the point where it is impossible to not feel pain, and although it is ultimately a story of hope and inspiration, the spoils of the human condition are laid bare in a no-holds-barred manner that sometimes takes the breath away.

Jennifer Armstrong, who interpreted Irene's story to form the narrative of In My Hands says: "I was afraid to write this book, to put my self into her past." Irene's past is indeed frightening, and being forced to confront evil in this way is certainly uncomfortable. But if nothing else, it serves as a reminder that there are some things we should never, ever forget. --Susan Harrison

From the Back Cover
'I knew I could only be killed once... I might as well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb.'

Irene was a seventeen-year-old nursing student when the Nazis invaded Poland. They took over her country and her life. Nothing in her innocent girlhood could have prepared her for the horrors she was to witness. However, instinctively, Irene knew she had to resist the evil in any way possible. Standing by was not an option. Eventually forced to work as a housekeeper to a Nazi officer, Irene carried out her most audacious and heroic act. She hid twelve Jewish people in the basement of the officer's villa and protected them even through the loss of her own freedom, and at the risk of her life.

An utterly remarkable true story of one young woman's courage and humanity, which will fascinate and inspire readers of all ages.

Customer Reviews

moving, excellent discription of the scenes and the charactr
I was moved by this book. The author managed to caputure the feelings and emotions excellently that I actually felt her pain and her terror. Every description was so powerfully written down that even readers of a younger age could understand to some extent, her sceniro.

Moving and really outstanding
This book is about a 17 year old girl who lives through the 2nd world war hiding and helping jews through the loss of her own family and various other incidents even though knowing she could die for it. I really admire her and do not beleive that under her circumstances would do the same thing. It was very moving and made me cry in some parts because of the bad luck that she comes across. You have to read this book because it gives you a totally realistic, moving point of view.

Truth is Beauty
I have always wondered what life might have been like for a Gentile girl during the Second World War, and Irene Gut Opdyke's In My Hands answers the question splendidly.I find it to be an essential book, and I hope many schools adopt it into curriculm.Irene Gut Opdyke's faith is as present as Corrie Ten Boom's (The Hiding Place,) however, In My Hands is a far more satisfying book.In the States, this is being promoted as a book for teenagers, however, it is not too simple for adults.My one quibble is that I would have wished more post-war follow up.Jennifer Armstrong's contribution is seamless, Mrs. Opdyke's voice does not falter.