How do you respond when your country is conquered by enemies?
When loving your neighbor could lead to prison or death, what do you do?
Can you still believe God is good when all you see is darkness?
On May 10th, 1940, Germany invades the Netherlands. And so begins five years of enemy occupation. Rules, rations, and curfews are implemented. Jews are discriminated against, banned from public places, forced to wear a yellow star, and then hauled off to concentration camps.
All twenty-year-old Pieter Knies wants is to continue studying theology at Utrecht University and one day become a pastor. But as time passes and the persecution of the Jews increases, it becomes harder for him to ignore the Nazis. He becomes convinced that Christ’s command to “love your neighbor” includes the Jews.
Gerrit Vogel, a cheerful, young farmer who hates injustice, is engaged to Pieter’s sister Marit. From the moment the Nazis first set foot in his country, he knows he cannot simply stand by and do nothing. Marit agrees, but what can they do?
David Meijer is a veterinary student at Utrecht University. But soon, he’s no longer allowed at the university–because he is Jewish. And things only get worse. When his family is arrested, David goes to Gerrit for help, and now Gerrit and Marit know what they can do.
Elsje DeLong’s life is turned upside down on her eighteenth birthday when a neighbor comes to her with a request: Will you take a Jewish baby and claim her as your own?
Soon Pieter, Gerrit, Marit, David, and Elsje find themselves heavily involved in the Resistance. But helping the Jews and standing against the Nazis carries a cost–and for some, it will cost everything.
Trains and Tulips is extensively researched historical fiction with a plot built around the real historical facts of the war. While focusing on fictional characters, it is largely inspired by the true stories of World War II heroes such as Corrie ten Boom, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Hans Poley, Diet Eman, and Johanna Ruth Dobschiner.
Watch the Lego trailer
Trailer created by Levi McCrary.
“Trains and Tulips is a fictional mosaic, wonderfully bringing into one great picture many of the different historical events which took place during the Dutch resistance in World War II. The book spans over the years of the German occupation in the Netherlands to give an overall view of this time period. It is an easy read yet will have you deeply pondering what you might do in the face of the difficult circumstances the characters find themselves in. The chapters are laced with real historical moments as well as inspirational quotes from the Bible and many of the great authors who lived through the World War II era, such as: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Corrie ten Boom, C. S. Lewis, and more. Hope in God and shining His light, are resounding themes and makes this story shine. For a wholesome historical fiction, I highly recommend Trains and Tulips.”
–Jessica Marinos, author of the the Trimont Trilogy
Released December 5th, 2025!
Includes over 50 hand-drawn full-page illustrations by yours truly! The paperback editions available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble include black and white illustrations, but the full-color editions (both paperback and hardcover) are only available to purchase directly from me.
A peek at the illustrations…
Book details:
496 pages.
6″ x 9″ trim size.
Available in e-book and black and white paperback on Amazon.
Signed copies available to purchase from me in both black and white and full-color paperback and hardcover editions.
An audiobook narrated by the author is also available.
“Trains and Tulips is an extremely well-researched novel with deep themes and a cast of delightful characters. In this stirring tale, Savannah Jane McCrary allows the reader to experience both the tragedies and the triumphs of life in the Netherlands during WWII. She tackles difficult topics sensitively, creating an educational story that the whole family can enjoy!”
–Amy Ullrich, author of the Heroes of Wessex series and founder of Christian Wordsmiths
Read the Prologue
Click the button below to read the prologue for free!
What age level is this book for?
Obviously, this book is about World War II and the Holocaust, so it deals with some heavy topics–war, anti-semitism, concentration camps, executions, etc. While there are some very sad parts and characters face some serious moral dilemmas (such as: when is it justifiable to kill to save others?), I refrained from going into graphic detail and tried to keep it appropriate for readers as young as early teens. I was homeschooled and have many fond memories of my parents reading aloud to me and my siblings, and I still enjoy read-alouds with my family. My vision for this book includes teens and adults enjoying it on their own or with family and friends, and younger kids reading it with a parent. Overall, it’s a very clean read, but I know it won’t be for everyone! Click the button below for a detailed content breakdown, so you can see for yourself if it would be a good fit for you/your family!
“This is such a good book; so full of research, cool historical tidbits, lots of action, and solid spiritual messages… I really love Savannah’s heart in this book; she does honor to the heroes of the Resistance and pleads for the value of human life. Oh, and did I mention encouragement?? SO much light even in the worst places! There’s a cast of five solid characters, but they’re all distinct and never get confusing. I love their courage, self-sacrifice, and devotion…
I both grinned and teared up while reading. Multiple times.
I had to ask myself, how would I respond if I were in these characters’ situation? What would I have done? And honestly, I don’t know, because I’ve never faced anything like what they did. But I do know this; the same good God who guided them, gave them light in their darkness, and upheld them in distress, would be with me as well, because He never changes.”
–Phoebe Hinkle, author of We Gave Our Tomorrows
There are several reasons I chose to write about this time period, but I will share two of the main reasons I am so passionate about sharing the stories of World War II and the Holocaust and a bit of the heart behind this story.
- I want to remind people that God is good and give them hope.
As I’ve read the stories of real heroes from World War II, one of the things that has stood out to me the most is how they kept hoping, kept believing in the goodness of God, in even the very darkest of circumstances. They found beauty and light in even the worst places and never stopped hoping. I personally have experienced the goodness of God and the incredible hope and joy and peace that comes from trusting Him, and I want to share that with my readers. - I want to remind people that life is valuable.
Another of my biggest takeaways from my World War II heroes is that every life is precious.
During World War II, the Nazis sought to exterminate Jews, the disabled, and anyone else they deemed “unfit.” Two-thirds of the Jewish population as a whole in Europe were killed by the Nazis, and approximately 90% of Jewish children in Europe were murdered. Thousands of disabled children and adults, Russians, Romani people, and others were also systematically killed. This is a horrific tragedy that should not be forgotten.
While there were many Christians in Europe who did nothing in the face of such evil, there were also many Christians such as Corrie ten Boom, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Hans Poley, Diet Eman, and others who worked to rescue those persecuted by the Nazis and spread the truth that God values life.
While today, we thankfully don’t have concentration camps and gas chambers, there is a disturbing disregard for human life, evidenced in the wide acceptance of abortion, human euthanasia, and doctor-assisted suicide. And in the past few years, antisemitism and crimes against Jews have risen alarmingly.
All of this convinces me that these stories must be told. We must remember and learn from our history. While the practicals will look different for us than they did for the Dutch Resistance during World War II, as we’re not living in an enemy-occupied country in wartime, we can still work to rescue the needy and vulnerable as they did. I desire to use my writing to be a voice for those who have no voice–the unborn, the sick, the elderly, the orphan, the persecuted, the enslaved, those with special needs. I want to share the truth that every life is created by God in His image, and therefore has great value.
Lest you think this story is all seriousness, though, let me assure you that there is humor interspersed in it as well! I like to describe my writing as “infused with a hearty dose of hope, truth, and beauty, plus a dash of humor.” I love to laugh and think serious subjects should be lightened up with a bit of fun!
You can learn more about the real stories that inspired this book and the lessons from my World War II heroes by reading these blog posts:
The Story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Lessons from My World War II Heroes Part One: God Still Does Miracles
Lessons from My World War II Heroes Part Two: Find Beauty in the Dark
Lessons from My World War II Heroes Part Three: Give Thanks
Lessons from My World War II Heroes Part Four: Every Life is Precious
Who would like this book?
You might like Trains and Tulips if you enjoy…
🚂 Historical fiction focused on action, not romance
🌷Stories of hope in dark places
🚂 Heroes who are ordinary people, yet exhibit extraordinary courage, self-sacrifice, and faith
🌷Books with strong family relationships
🚂 WWII historical fiction such as Journey Through the Night by Anne DeVries, The Auschwitz Escape by Joel C. Rosenberg, Hunger Winter by Rob Currie, and The Resistance by Douglas Bond.
🌷Stories of real WWII heroes such as Corrie ten Boom, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Hans Poley, Diet Eman, and Johanna Ruth Dobschiner
“Trains and Tulips reads as a story that’s not meant to just be a novel-instead, the historical depth combines with an epic, truth-filled story that reveals the account of WWII through the eyes of followers of Jesus. It will delight both history-lovers and those who want to enjoy an adventurous story of courage. The story portrays an example of true Christianity in which God’s people take strangers into their home, adopt children, and risk their lives, love stories, and what they hold most dear to serve Jesus, and those believers show true love to their enemies, hold fast to truth, and extend the Gospel to people of varied cultures and religions, no matter the danger. It’s a call for the Christian to stand up, declare truth, and love God and others radically. The novel displays that God is good, period, and invites readers to see His goodness in a deep, rich way, especially in the midst of darkness and trial, because in WWII and in today, we are invited to praise the Lord and be part of His work.”
-Hosanna Emily, author of The Torch Keepers and The Way of the King
Savannah Jane McCrary 