To Die Beautiful

A Novel

By: Buzzy Jackson

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

Length: 12 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

A heartrending novel based on a true story of love, loyalty, and the limits we confront when our deepest values are tested, by award-winning writer Buzzy Jackson

How far would you go to protect the people and country you love?

It’s 1940 and Hannie Schaft is a shy nineteen-year-old law student living in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands with ambitious goals for her future. But dreams die in wartime, and Hannie’s closest friends are no longer safe as fascism insidiously rises in her country. Hiding them is not enough. Hannie may be young but she can’t stand aside as the menace of Nazi evil tightens its grip. Driven by love and moral outrage, Hannie soon becomes an armed member of the Dutch Resistance movement.

Hannie discovers her own untapped ferocity—wearing lipstick and heels to lure powerful Nazis close and assassinate them at point-blank range, and bombing munitions factories. As humanity collapses around her, Hannie finds a chosen family of friends within the Resistance and falls in love with a dashing fellow resister at a tremendous cost. Her greatest weapon is her determination to "stay human" (blijf menselijk) . . . a promise increasingly difficult to keep.

As Hannie is drawn deeper into a web of plots, disguises and assassinations, whispers spread like wildfire among enemy and friend alike. They all know of her, if not her name: she’s “the Girl with Red Hair.” A match for any Nazi soldier. A true threat. And a target.

To Die Beautiful is a timely look at how fascism flourishes and what good people do to fight back. Based on real events, To Die Beautiful is told with the drama and emotional resonance of meticulously researched history.

©2023 Buzzy Jackson (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Exquisitely balanced between cloak-and-dagger secrecy, the grinding realities of waiting out your quarry, and the crushing fear of discovery, To Die Beautiful displays the courage and power of a woman committed to doing what is right in a world gone terribly wrong." —Booklist

“This isn’t just a brilliant novel, it’s a measuring stick you’ll use determine what lengths you would go to protect those you love. How much would you risk and how much could you possibly endure? The legendary Hannie Schaft set the bar for all of us. We may not make it to her heights, but this inspiring book will expand our awareness of what’s possible, and haunt you in the best possible way.” —Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of The Many Daughters of Afong Moy

“To Die Beautiful brings Hannie alive and I finished it in almost one gulp! What an amazing, inspiring, true-life hero she was. Her youth, her red-headed beauty, her innocence and her ferocity. This is a story about a young girl fighting with all her life against fascism. As the first-hand memories of WWII are soon fading, we need story-tellers like Buzzy Jackson to carry them on. There is an urgency at this time to remember and acknowledge how women have stepped up and will step up to the fight. And we need just these kinds of books to give voice to the women who for so long were muted in the official accounts. An engrossing read.” —Gwen Strauss, The Nine: The True Story of a Band of Women Who Survived the Worst of Nazi Germany

Gripping and Heartbreaking - It's a Must Read!

This book kept me enthralled from the beginning. Hearing the story of these seemingly ordinary people amid the brutal devastation of war had me crying, cheering, and contemplating the ways I can be a better citizen and friend.

This book will stay with me

What a compelling story. I fell in love with the characters. I thought all the bad news in the current environment would make this book hard to listen to, but on the contrary, their courage and spirit gave me hope. Highly recommend.

A Story Well Told

Remarkable research and story-telling by the author. I have read hundreds of books of WWII and this one will stay with me.

Outstanding Read

Highly recommend. Historical fiction at its absolute best. Narration is excellent, too. Looking forward to reading other books by Buzzy Jackson!

TOP Historical Fiction

You cannot stop listening. An amazing story. A must read if you enjoy historical fiction with strong female characters.

Beautifully Written

Beautifully written inspiring story of courage and determination. Even though Hanni was executed during the war you cannot help but hope that that wasn't the case. Hanni was just a regular Dutch girl who didn't sit back and watch while her fellow Dutch citizens were rounded up and sent to the gas chambers. She did everything that she could to fight back against the despicable fascism of that time. Fascism of that level could easily happen again. This book was a riveting story that will grip your heart and mind.

Hanni - will make an amazing movie

This book was so incredibly good. Hanni and all the members of the resistance covered in this book were wonderful. Got the opportunity to chat with Buzzy Jackson via skype with my book group. She was awesome. Answered questions and shared what was fact (a lot) and what was fiction. I loved watching Hanni go from being a quiet, shy student to a dedicated protector of freedom. I loved her friendship with Feline & (Sasha?) and her certainty that she was doing the right thing fighting evil. I also appreciated the truth of the slow increase of the evil Nazi movement which is how it was allowed to happen - by increments.

Based on a true story of the women in the Dutch resistance

I loved every minute of it. A story that needs to be shared.
This truly should be a movie! Haney shaft is a true life heroin

Best historical heroine you never knew about

The book seems more of an autobiography. The narrator did justice to the historical names and locations that I could never have. I listened intently, even through the Afterward. I hope they make a movie of Hannie's efforts and I hope they do her as much justice as Buzzy Jackson has!!

Brilliant book

Gripping and riveting story about young lanky youth who make the ultimate sacrifice to stop fascism.