Counting Lost Stars

A Novel

By: Kim van Alkemade

Narrated by: Andi Arndt

New York Times bestselling author of Orphan #8, Kim van Alkemade returns with a gripping and poignant historical saga in which an unmarried college student who’s given up her baby for adoption helps a Dutch Holocaust survivor search for his lost mother.

1960, New York City: College student Rita Klein is a pioneering woman in the new field of computer programming—until she unexpectedly becomes pregnant. At the Hudson Home for Unwed Mothers, social workers pressure her into surrendering her baby for adoption. Rita is struggling to get on with her life when she meets Jacob Nassy, a charming yet troubled man from the Netherlands who is traumatized by his childhood experience of being separated from his mother during the Holocaust. When Rita learns that Hitler’s Final Solution was organized using Hollerith punch-card computers, she sets out to find the answers that will help Jacob heal.

1941, The Hague: Cornelia Vogel is working as a punch-card operator at the Ministry of Information when a census of Holland’s population is ordered by the Germans. After the Ministry acquires a Hollerith computer made in America, Cornelia is tasked with translating its instructions from English into Dutch. She seeks help from her fascinating Jewish neighbor, Leah Blom, an unconventional young woman whose mother was born in New York. When Cornelia learns the census is being used to persecute Holland’s Jews, she risks everything to help Leah escape.

After Rita uncovers a connection between Cornelia Vogel and Jacob’s mother, long-buried secrets come to light. Will shocking revelations tear them apart, or will learning the truth about the past enable Rita and Jacob to face the future together?

Smooth transitions between time periods

The voice actors for this book were very good. Their pronunciation of Dutch, German and French was excellent.

Perseverance. God is Just.

I’m grateful for their strength in that horrible time. I’m shocked that the leaders of the Nazi parties didn’t get to enjoy the same treatment that they gave the Jews.

My kind of book

This is an excellent example of true REALISTIC fiction at its best! I loved the authenticity of it and also the development of these characters. The author researched what took place during WWII and ensured that each event, workplace, home life, person and situation was portrayed as genuinely as possible. That enabled this reader to gain true knowledge and understanding of the depth of emotions the characters were experiencing, and also the role of early technology in relation to he suffering and oppression the nazis inflicted.

I loved this book!

Great very factual story, great narrator! So many plot points, but all very interesting - such a good read. I will be recommending it!

Excellent story

Great characters, excellent story - actually stories since each character has their own story that interweaves into the main one - perfect narrator. Highly recommend you don’t pass this up.