Cover art: Girl in Blue by Maximilian Alexander Alandt, a portrait of Marie Johanna Bennink (Rita) at 17 years old.
How can we judge another’s choices if we don’t know the circumstances in which they were made?
Lament
I can hear you talking about me. Yes, I abandoned my sons during World War 2, and now you see me as a neglectful, cold-hearted mother. Even my boys are convinced I don’t love them. They don’t get it. Never mind. Their opinions don’t matter. And perhaps, neither do yours.
No one should judge me. Except for a few friends, I had nobody. My mother loved herself alone; my father had an unquenchable thirst for the footlights. Husbands? Fiancé? They either didn’t or couldn’t provide what I needed. And don’t even talk about my brother!
As far as my people, the Jews, went, if they knew everything that I did and especially thought during the war, they’d be appalled. I know.
But hear this! Before you judge me, realize that you don’t know why I did what I did. You don’t know me. You have no idea about what happened. You don’t know the whole story. Nobody does. You see, the truth was different. Read my story; see for yourself.
By I. Caroline Crocker
The Truth Was Different
One Woman’s Journey Through Occupied Holland
To be published in November, 2026
Summary
Moeder
The most common reaction of those who read Unforgivable is “I couldn’t put it down.” Then, in a tone of disgust, comes, “What was up with that mother (Rita)?” The Truth Was Different is the answer to that question.
Her Story
Every person must live with themselves. Most believe they are rational, and their actions are justified. Rita was no different. Some judged her harshly, seeing only a cold-hearted and cruel woman. But in The Truth Was Different: One Woman’s Journey Through Occupied Holland, Rita speaks for herself, revealing the reasons behind her impossible choices without omitting the painful, embarrassing, and even illegal details. What emerges is a haunting story of heartbreak, moral compromise, and long-hidden realities that will linger in readers’ minds long after the final page.
How I Know
This extensively researched and deeply personal historical biography comes from information gleaned through years of meticulous research. First, Rita wrote five now-out-of-print books in which she detailed and explained some of her actions. More of her true story was pieced together through interviews with her Jewish-heritage relatives, reading what her brother wrote, help from an awesome genealogist, a trip to the places she lived, much time spent on MyHeritage.com, and enough poring over newspaper articles, court records, and other primary sources to make me cross-eyed!
My Journey
I tend to write and research simultaneously. For this book, where additional stunning information kept coming to my attention, that meant I had to rewrite again and again. Totally engrossed doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt while on this journey of discovery! How in the world could this person have betrayed that one? Did this other individual really ally themselves with Nazis? Seriously? Why was that person spared? Who went to jail and why? That revelation blew my mind!
Because historical truth is important to me, as is understanding the why, I persisted until I was satisfied that the story was as accurate as I could make it. The take-home message? During war, the reasons for decisions that change lives may not be obvious and can be very complex. In a book to be published by the end of 2026, all will be revealed. Wait for it!
Author
Caroline Crocker
Caroline is the author or coauthor of sixteen books, including her award-winning World War II series. Trained as a biologist, she worked as a biology professor, research scientist, technology CEO, and nonprofit founder before using the skills gained then to research and write about her family’s wartime history now. Caroline lives with her husband, Richard, and is the mother of four and grandmother of nine. She is also Rita’s eldest granddaughter.
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