When the Dikes Breached

by Martha Attema

$19.95

• April 2023
• print ISBN: 978-1-55380-674-5
• ebook ISBN: 978-1-55380-675-2
• PDF ISBN: 978-1-55380-676-9
• 5-1/4″ x 7-5/8″ Trade paper, 302 pages
• Young Adult – Ages 12 and Up

For 16-year-old Klara, a devastating flood reveals a dark family secret.

It is February 1953 in the Netherlands and Klara is expected to marry the son of a prominent farmer. In this small island community, steeped in tradition, the Church controls the lives of its citizens but Klara longs to escape. When a spring tide merges with a brutal storm it causes the dikes to breach, unleashing death and destruction that exposes a dark family secret.

Selected by CBC as a young adult book to read spring 2023!

“The backdrop of real historical events lends interest to this tale. The relative simplicity of the language and writing style make the difficult subject matter accessible to reluctant readers. Informative historical fiction written in a quaint, entertaining style.” – Kirkus
“A fast-paced and compelling story. There is barely a moment where the action lags, or where a detail feels out of place. The author does well to manage a large cast of characters and to weave a complex series of historical events around the story of Klara’s coming of age.” – Miramichi Reader

“This is a beautiful book that really has it all. Based on real and tragic events that took place in Dutch island communities during the 1950s, it is a gripping adventure story which offers a moving and detailed portrait of life at the time. The story’s protagonist is strong yet endearingly vulnerable, and it is impossible not to root for her. Although Klara’s lifestyle and its restrictions are very different from the experiences of most 21st century adolescent readers, her struggle for the right to self-determination is a timeless theme that everyone can relate to in some way. Attema’s world-building is also powerful. The author weaves a rich tapestry of this community’s daily life, and succeeds in placing the reader right in the middle of the action.” – Youngadulting

“An admirable, realistic historical fiction novel for teens.” – TIE Blog: Teaching Your Way Around the World

“This is an unforgettable story of survival. If you enjoy human drama set against historical events as much as I do, this is a book for you.” – Heather Stemp, author of Under Amelia’s Wing