Content Guide for Trains and Tulips
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! Here is a detailed content breakdown, so you can see for yourself if it would be a good fit for you/your family!
Spiritual Elements
This book is written from an unashamedly biblical Christian worldview perspective. While I’m non denominational, I made most of my characters be Dutch Reformed Christians, as the vast majority of Protestant Christians in the Netherlands at this time were members of the Dutch Reformed Church (which is very similar to the Presbyterian Church). Characters pray, read the Bible, talk freely about God, quote Scripture and the catechism, and wrestle with difficult spiritual and moral questions. I also do represent other belief systems in the book including Orthodox Judaism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Communism, and secular humanism.
Violence
Most of the violence is only implied or talked about, not actually shown “onscreen,” so to speak. Characters talk about how the Nazis are killing Jews and people with disabilities, including children, but it’s never shown, and no details are given. One character also tells another about the medical experiments the Nazis are doing on prisoners. What we actually “see onscreen” includes a couple of shootouts between Dutch Resistance fighters and Nazis, a few executions by shooting (not graphic), a few young men and boys are beaten up, and depictions of hunger and sickness in concentration camps.
Sexual and romantic content
Very little and nothing at all graphic or inappropriate. Two of the main characters are a young engaged couple, but while it’s obvious they love each other, the romance is not the main focus of the story, and a hug is the farthest any physical affection goes. A teenage girl pretends she had a child outside of marriage in order to protect the child which leads to a few awkward conversations, but again, there’s nothing graphic or inappropriate.
Language
No foul language. A few characters refer to a concentration camp as being “like hell.” Nazis make anti-semitic remarks and derogatory comments about people with disabilities. The Dutch have a few derogatory names for Nazis.
Drug and alcohol content
A few mentions of drinking alcohol and brief smoking of cigarettes (both portrayed negatively.)
Other noteworthy elements
A character very briefly, in a moment of despair, almost wishes to die, but quickly regains his will to live. Characters (often after quite a bit of wrestling over what the right thing to do is) lie, steal, and kill in order to save others.
Savannah Jane McCrary 