The Upstairs Room

In 1938, Annie de Leeuw is six years old and lives in Winterswijk, Holland, a town near the German border. Her father sells cattle, and she has two older sisters: Sini, 16, and Rachel, 21. Because Annie is so young, she doesn’t understand the news about Germany annexing Austria and Hitler’s hatred of Jews. Annie feels safe from Hitler in Holland. When she hears about Kristallnacht on the radio (the “night of broken glass” in which Hitler unleashed pogroms against Jews across Germany), she asks her mother and father about it, but neither answer her questions. After Kristallnacht, many people gather at the de Leeuws’ house: their neighbors, Uncle Bram, and Uncle Phil. When Annie’s mom, Sophie, declares that nothing bad will happen in Holland, her father retorts that it is war, and they’re Jewish too. Soon, Uncle Bram’s family leaves for the US, and Annie’s dad wishes to go as well. Sophie insists that she’s too ill to leave; her father is angry.

In 1939, all talk is about Hitler’s invasion of Poland and about England and France’s declaration of war against Germany. The family’s radio is constantly on, and some of the news scares Annie. Again, her father begs to go to the US, but Sophie still refuses. Her father begins building a house outside town. In 1940, planes fly overhead, and German tanks appear in Winterswijk. Some Dutch citizens, called NSB-ers because they support the National Socialist Party, are happy the Nazis are there and even spit at the de Leeuws. Annie is eight.

When the Nazis remain quiet all summer, citizens naively think that Hitler likes Dutch Jews. However, in September, new laws prohibit Jews from working. The notices are tacked to a tree. A month later, even though Marie, the de Leeuws’ maid, enjoys working for the family, she quits out of fear of being associated with them. Then, Jews are forced to register with the authorities, food is rationed, and Jewish children can no longer attend school. Although Annie is happy at first, she misses playing with other kids. Soon, a Jewish school opens at the synagogue. Sini accompanies Annie there, and the younger girl is unaware that her sister has a crush on the teacher, Mr. Herschel. Around town, signs forbidding Jews to enter businesses appear, and other kids chase, taunt, and hit Annie. One of the tormentors is Willy Bos, Annie’s former best friend. Father, worried about their safety, moves them into the unfinished house in October 1941.

On the outskirts of Winterswijk, the de Leeuws see few people. Father gets Annie a dog, Bobbie, and together they explore the nearby fields. In her wanderings, she discovers a farm and meets Fritz, a boy her age. Her parents warn her not to spend too much time there. One night in town, the Germans take all the Jewish men away. Father is spared because no one knew they had moved. The son of their former neighbors, the Gans, is taken. When Mrs. Gans writes a letter to him, it’s returned, stamped “UNKNOWN,” suggesting that he has been killed. Meanwhile, Father is increasingly worried because Jews aren’t allowed to travel anymore. He plans an escape to Switzerland but is unsuccessful. All Jews must now wear a yellow Star of David. Annie innocently likes the star because she feels like an adult. A new notice on the tree asks for volunteers for a labor camp. Many volunteer, but Annie’s father considers them fools.

When Annie’s mother becomes bedridden due to illness, the Germans ask for, and then demand, more Jewish volunteers. Father looks for a place to hide. Then, Mr. Herschel, the synagogue teacher, is taken by the Germans, and Sini is distraught. In 1942, rumors fly that the war is almost over, but Germany is fighting all over the world. Rachel starts a nursery school, and Annie helps. Soon, Mother is hospitalized, and Rachel brings kosher food to her. When Jewish patients are no longer allowed visitors, Annie calls on the mayor, Dr. Bos, for permission to see her mother, and visitation rights are granted. The Germans continue sending Jews to camps. Father spends all his time looking for hiding places for the family.

One day, Father takes Annie to ask a local farmer, Mr. Abbink, for help hiding them. Abbink declines because his small children can’t keep the secret; however, he agrees to talk to a minister who might help. A few days later, Father meets with Reverend Zwaal, who has found a place for him in Rotterdam. He’ll leave after he finds somewhere for the girls to go. Mother must stay in the hospital. Uncle Phil’s friend offers to hide his family, but Phil’s wife refuses because they can’t serve them kosher food. The friend, Mr. Hannink, agrees to take the girls; however, Rachel declines because she wants to stay with Mother, so only Annie and Sini will go to the Hannink home in Usselo.

When Father learns that the family must go to a Dutch work camp next week, he sets the plans in motion. He leaves the next day, instructing Annie to keep up with her studies and begging one last time for Rachel to go into hiding. Rachel refuses. Mrs. Kleinhoonte, the teacher, arrives later to inform them that their father arrived safely and to give Sini and Annie instructions. Sini must dye her hair, dress as a farm girl, and bike to Usselo to follow Mr. Hannink. Meanwhile, Annie must cut her hair like a boy, wear a sailor suit, and catch a bus to Enschede, where she’ll meet Dini, Mr. Hannink’s daughter, and bike to Usselo.

Visiting their mother one last time, Sini lies about their father hiding at a hotel with excellent food. They don’t tell her that they’re leaving too. When they leave the hospital, Annie asks how long Mother will be ill, and Sini tells her bluntly that their mother won’t live much longer. At home, Rachel dyes Sini’s hair, which ends up a rusty red color. Then, Rachel cuts Annie’s hair. The next morning, Sini gets rid of her yellow star and leaves while it’s still dark. Later, Annie departs for the bus stop. On the way, she spies an old neighbor and worries that he might recognize her. When Annie looks back at him, she sees that Rachel is following her. When Annie gets on the bus and buys a ticket, Rachel turns to go home.