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by Cynthia Polansky

On the morning of May 10, 1940, the last thing Sofie Rijnfeld expected was the sky to start raining German paratroopers. She and Jan, her husband of 3 years, were living contentedly in Amsterdam with Jan's 6 daughters. Life held the promise of a bright future for the Rijnfelds...until the German occupation of Holland and a 6-pointed yellow star with the word Jood in the middle...

As the persecution of Europe's Jewry escalates, all 6 Rijnfeld daughters are called up for deportation. Rather than allow them to venture alone to an arcane fate, Sofie insists on accompanying them, ignoring the dangers implications. In Auschwitz, she discovers a strength and ingenuity she never knew she had, but can her indomitable spirit keep her stepdaughters alive?

This is based on the true story of a woman who refuses to be bested by circumstances. Like a phoenix, she rises from the ashes of tragedy to triumph as a heroine who calls to mind the passage from Proverbs, "A woman of valor, who can find? For her price is FAR ABOVE RUBIES."