To Die Beautiful

A Novel

By: Buzzy Jackson

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

WINNER OF THE COLORADO BOOK AWARD FOR HISTORICAL FICTION
NATIONAL JEWISH BOOK AWARD FINALIST

A heartrending novel based on a true story of love, loyalty, and the limits we confront when our deepest values are tested, by award-winning writer Buzzy Jackson

How far would you go to protect the people and country you love?

It’s 1940 and Hannie Schaft is a shy nineteen-year-old law student living in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands with ambitious goals for her future. But dreams die in wartime, and Hannie’s closest friends are no longer safe as fascism insidiously rises in her country. Hiding them is not enough. Hannie may be young but she can’t stand aside as the menace of Nazi evil tightens its grip. Driven by love and moral outrage, Hannie soon becomes an armed member of the Dutch Resistance movement.

Hannie discovers her own untapped ferocity—wearing lipstick and heels to lure powerful Nazis close and assassinate them at point-blank range, and bombing munitions factories. As humanity collapses around her, Hannie finds a chosen family of friends within the Resistance and falls in love with a dashing fellow resister at a tremendous cost. Her greatest weapon is her determination to "stay human" (blijf menselijk) . . . a promise increasingly difficult to keep.

As Hannie is drawn deeper into a web of plots, disguises and assassinations, whispers spread like wildfire among enemy and friend alike. They all know of her, if not her name: she’s “the Girl with Red Hair.” A match for any Nazi soldier. A true threat. And a target.

To Die Beautiful is a timely look at how fascism flourishes and what good people do to fight back. Based on real events, To Die Beautiful is told with the drama and emotional resonance of meticulously researched history.

©2023 Buzzy Jackson (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Exquisitely balanced between cloak-and-dagger secrecy, the grinding realities of waiting out your quarry, and the crushing fear of discovery, To Die Beautiful displays the courage and power of a woman committed to doing what is right in a world gone terribly wrong." —Booklist

“This isn’t just a brilliant novel, it’s a measuring stick you’ll use determine what lengths you would go to protect those you love. How much would you risk and how much could you possibly endure? The legendary Hannie Schaft set the bar for all of us. We may not make it to her heights, but this inspiring book will expand our awareness of what’s possible, and haunt you in the best possible way.” —Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of The Many Daughters of Afong Moy

“To Die Beautiful brings Hannie alive and I finished it in almost one gulp! What an amazing, inspiring, true-life hero she was. Her youth, her red-headed beauty, her innocence and her ferocity. This is a story about a young girl fighting with all her life against fascism. As the first-hand memories of WWII are soon fading, we need story-tellers like Buzzy Jackson to carry them on. There is an urgency at this time to remember and acknowledge how women have stepped up and will step up to the fight. And we need just these kinds of books to give voice to the women who for so long were muted in the official accounts. An engrossing read.” —Gwen Strauss, The Nine: The True Story of a Band of Women Who Survived the Worst of Nazi Germany

Gripping and Heartbreaking - It's a Must Read!

This book kept me enthralled from the beginning. Hearing the story of these seemingly ordinary people amid the brutal devastation of war had me crying, cheering, and contemplating the ways I can be a better citizen and friend.

Based on a True Story

This is based on a true story of the women in the Dutch Resistance. It was a great book and at the same time heart wrenching. I could tell the author did her research and the historical accuracy was good. I really enjoyed the afterward where the author gave you information on the other people in the book. The narrator did a wonderful job. Highly recommend.

This book will stay with me

What a compelling story. I fell in love with the characters. I thought all the bad news in the current environment would make this book hard to listen to, but on the contrary, their courage and spirit gave me hope. Highly recommend.

Everything

I liked the book very much. It was an excellent and heartbreaking story. Some parts were very difficult to get through but worth it. I looked it up and the story is the truth. The lead character was real as was the book. I listened to the audible and glad I did. The narrator was great.

Beautifully Written

Beautifully written inspiring story of courage and determination. Even though Hanni was executed during the war you cannot help but hope that that wasn't the case. Hanni was just a regular Dutch girl who didn't sit back and watch while her fellow Dutch citizens were rounded up and sent to the gas chambers. She did everything that she could to fight back against the despicable fascism of that time. Fascism of that level could easily happen again. This book was a riveting story that will grip your heart and mind.

Hanni - will make an amazing movie

This book was so incredibly good. Hanni and all the members of the resistance covered in this book were wonderful. Got the opportunity to chat with Buzzy Jackson via skype with my book group. She was awesome. Answered questions and shared what was fact (a lot) and what was fiction. I loved watching Hanni go from being a quiet, shy student to a dedicated protector of freedom. I loved her friendship with Feline & (Sasha?) and her certainty that she was doing the right thing fighting evil. I also appreciated the truth of the slow increase of the evil Nazi movement which is how it was allowed to happen - by increments.

Based on a true story of the women in the Dutch resistance

I loved every minute of it. A story that needs to be shared.
This truly should be a movie! Haney shaft is a true life heroin

Compelling and incredible story of resistance

IHannie Schaft's life was incredible and the world is better served by more people knowing of her life of resistance during WWII. The way this book narrates her life makes a heart wrenching story easy to access and appreciate.

Inspirational! Heart wrenching

One of best resistance books I’ve read! The narrator was great as well! Must read

Incredible Historical Fiction

So gripping—I could not put this down and devoured nearly a quarter of the book immediately upon starting. The author brings to life the details of the story behind a horrific period in history, and truly remarkable actions taken by average people.