By: Kay Lee, Perimeter School Director of Student Support and Former Perimeter School Language Arts Teacher

"There are no ‘ifs’ in God's world and no places that are safer than other places. The center of His will is our only safety."
Betsie ten Boom, The Hiding Place

As parents of developing readers, it is natural to want to protect our children from some of the more complicated topics found in literature. I was the same way with my own children. Our leadership team takes great care to honor this as we choose literature that depicts relationships, strength, hardship, fear, disappointment, and perspectives that our children might not ever be exposed to if not in the pages of a book.

I’ve had the privilege of teaching language arts in four different grades at Perimeter School and have observed our students pausing and fully engaging when asked to relate to a character’s circumstances. As we strive to provide our students with literature that causes them to think, introducing redemptive attributes and offering hope, we encourage you to read with your children whenever possible. As you do, we encourage you to leverage the literature to ask open-ended questions that point them to God's truths in Scripture and build your parent-child relationships along the way.  

Empathy and Perspective in Literature

Sixth graders at Perimeter School will begin the full version of The Hiding Place in late January. This story, which so beautifully aligns with the grade-level study of World War II, is one of the most impactful novels I’ve ever read or taught. Every year, we encourage the sixth grade parents to read along with their children so that the life and faith of Corrie ten Boom, her sister Betsie, and their entire family may be deeply understood.

The ten Booms, a Dutch, Christian family living in Amsterdam during the Nazi takeover, are led by Corrie's father, Casper. Casper is known as Amsterdam's most meticulous watch repairman, and his willingness to minister to all people influences his family to risk their lives to save as many Jewish people as possible. As Corrie and sister Betsie suffer through the horrific circumstances of WWII, they often recall the wisdom and biblical truths explained by their father. 

I’ve received many emails from parents over the years telling of how reading The Hiding Place together has impacted their student’s ability to handle adversity and hurt. I’ve watched children at our school who have faced complex life events (like losing a parent or sibling) articulate Corrie and Betsie's thoughts and frustrations authentically with the hope of eternity. In my first year of teaching sixth grade language arts, my teammate, Ken DeMaris, wrote on his board, "WWBD?" during a morning Bible lesson. Ken explained to his homeroom that this code was short for "What Would Betsie Do?" and asked the students to consider their circumstances and how Betsie ten Boom might have responded.  

Truth in Scripture

"The blacker the night around us grew, the brighter and truer and more beautiful burned the Word of God."
Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place

It would be nearly impossible to read The Hiding Place and not be impacted by the value and truth of Scripture. Without spoiling this true story before your child is in sixth grade, know that Corrie and her sister Betsie smuggled a tiny Bible through the horrific, undignified circumstances of being checked into a concentration camp. With this tiny Bible, they found comfort, and they shared Jesus in the pit of daily suffering and death.

As sixth grade parents, when you read along and discuss this story with your children, acknowledge the comfort found in Scripture and point to the complete depravity of those who caused this suffering. I encourage you to ask, "What is happening here?” and “Do you see any hope in Corrie and Betsie's circumstances?” Reflect on Psalm 119:114, “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word." Take this dramatic novel and consider "trying on" the emotions of those that suffer with the hope of the gospel.  

Worship in Times of Adversity 

In The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom recalled the night she and Betsie were pushed out of the miserable death train and stood before Ravensbruck, a concentration camp. In the darkness of night, Betsy began singing the hymn, "Lead, Kindly Light" (words written in 1833 by John Henry Newman after he became sick in Italy trying to help others during a deadly pandemic). The hundreds of women, many of whom were standing at death's door, joined in to sing with Betsie that night.

Three years ago, during our "Covid plan,” the sixth grade classes were stationed in the Fellowship Hall (where the sound system was incredible!). My homeroom class found the Audrey Assad version of this great hymn and played it many times, reflecting on the circumstances that Betsie and Corrie faced and those of the writer John Henry Newman. The students, now aware of Corrie and Betsie's circumstances, reflected on the words of Newman's impactful hymn and discussed that Christ is this light that leads us from the darkness. We can cling to this no matter our circumstances.

I am so thankful that at Perimeter School, our families and teachers get to experience the BEST literature as we navigate life and the TRUTH!

For parents of Perimeter School students who are avid readers, Barbara Beach, our school media specialist, introduced me to Redeemed Reader. Language arts teachers have used this valuable site as a sifter for what we might add to our curriculum. Check out the website here.