Under the Java Moon

by Heather B. Moore, Bianca Amato (Narrator)

Based on a true story, this gripping WWII novel captures the resilience, hope, and courage of a Dutch family who is separated during the war when the Japanese occupy the Dutch East Indies.

Java Island, 1941

Six-year-old Rita Vischer cowers in her family’s dug-out bomb shelter, listening to the sirens and waiting for a bomb to fall. Her charmed life on Java—living with other Dutch families—had always been peaceful, but when Holland declares war on Japan and the Japanese army invades Indonesia, Rita’s family is forced to relocate to a POW camp, and Rita must help care for her little brother, Georgie.

Mary Vischer is three months pregnant when she enters the Tjident women’s camp with thousands of other women and children. Her husband, George, is somewhere on the Java Sea with the Dutch Navy, so she must care alone for her young children, Rita and Georgie, and her frail mother. The brutal conditions of the overcrowded camp make starvation, malaria, and dysentery a grim reality. Mary must do everything she can to keep her family alive.

George Vischer survives the bombing of his minesweeper but feels little hope floating on a small dinghy in the Java Sea. Reaching the northern tip of the Thousand Island would be a miracle. Focusing on the love of his life, Mary, and his two children, he battles against the sea and merciless sun. He’ll do whatever it takes to close the divide between him and his family, even if it means risking being captured by the Japanese.

Under the Java Moon highlights a little-known part of WWII history and the impact of war on Indonesia, its people, and the more than 100,000 Dutch men, women, and children who were funneled into prison camps and faced with the ultimate fight for survival.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, World War II, Historical, Book Club, Audiobook, War

13 pages, Audiobook

First published September 5, 2023

About the author

Heather B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than ninety publications. Heather writes primarily historical and #herstory fiction about the humanity and heroism of the everyday person. Publishing in a breadth of genres, Heather dives into the hearts and souls of her characters, meshing her love of research with her love of storytelling.

Her ancient era historicals and thrillers are written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes historical women's fiction, romance and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore, and . . . speculative fiction under Jane Redd. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom. Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt and the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel. Despite failing her high school AP English exam, Heather persevered and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in something other than English.

Please join Heather's email list at: HBMoore.com/contact/
Website: HBMoore.com
Twitter: @heatherbmoore
Instagram: @authorhbmoore
Facebook: Fans of Heather B. Moore
And yes, the Blog still lives: MyWritersLair.blogspot.com

Literary honors: 2020 Goodreads Choice Award Semi-Finalist, Foreword 2020 INDIES Finalist, ALA Best New Books - September 2020, 6-time Best of State Recipient for Best in Literary Arts, 2019 Maggie Award Winner, 4-time Whitney Award Winner, and 2-time Golden Quill Award Winner.

Heather is represented by Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret.

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️

This WWII novel has to be one of my favourite reads of 2023, based on the true story of Rita Vischer and her family, the author has turned it into the most gripping read. I loved it, not because of the story it told, because it has to be said, it’s a terribly harrowing one, made all the more so because these stories actually happened to those unlucky enough to be interned in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, so definitely not because of the storyline, it’s more a case of ‘despite’ it, shouting out its message of love, hope, determination and courage.

This is a well-researched and well written novel based on the experiences of Marie Rita Vischer (Ita) during the 3 years she and her family were prisoners of war in Tjideng prison camp after the NEI's surrendered to Japan in 1942. The family had been separated from their father George. The story follows the whole family, including George, throughout the war and beyond, and is difficult to read but impossible to put down.
The miserable and terrifying nights spent initially, in a waterlogged bomb shelter fearing a direct hit before the Japanese finally invaded. This was followed by the starvation, torture, abuse and disease that they had to endure in the internment camp, and which actually brought tears to my eyes.

Even after the Japanese surrendered to the Allies, the Dutch still weren’t safe following the Indonesian National Revolution, with rebel gangs out to attack them, with many shot and killed. The Indonesians were taking back control of their lands and occupying homes that had been owned by the Dutch, leaving the Dutch with nowhere to go, and after years in the internment camp, they didn’t have the strength to do anything to help themselves.

This is a moving testament to the human spirit - to the powers of redemption and renewal after such tragic events, with the ensuing pain of lost dreams, misery, hatred and prejudice, and the hardship that makes one wonder at the fortitude and perseverance required to both live and survive such devastating consequences. This is an absolute must read and I shall be thinking about it for a very long time. Highly recommended.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review.*

[Angela M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read a good number of WII novels, most of them focusing on the war in Europe and the Holocaust, the concentration camps . I’ve read a few about Japanese internment camps in this country, but there always seems to be so much more to know . This novel illustrates yet another facet of the war that I knew nothing about. While described as a novel, this book tells the true story of one Dutch family living in the Dutch East Indies during the Japanese invasion as they are held in prison camps. Heather Moore met Marie Vischer Elliott called by her nickname Rita in this story and was taken by her account of her family’s experience . It’s clear that they represent many Dutch families who endured hardship and loss, horrible living conditions, fear and uncertainty under Japanese domination.

With multiple narrative points of view from six year old Rita through a child’s eyes, from her mother Marie bearing the uncertainty of her husband’s whereabouts and condition and managing to keep her children as safe as possible in the prison camp, and her father George, an officer in the Dutch Navy on a perilous mission trying to do his job while always thinking about his wife and children. Heartbreaking and hopeful. There’s always something new to learn through well written and well research historical fiction .

I also recommend Moore’s The Paper Daughters of Chinatown.


I received a copy of this book from Shadow Mountain through NetGalley.

[Blaine DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fantastic book! Author Heather B. Moore has done a marvelous job blending the true story of Rita Vischer into a gripping historical fiction novel about the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) just prior to the Japanese attack and occupation of what is now known as Indonesia. This is a story that needs to be told, about survival and courage and by using the actual events and people in the NEI we see a part of WW2 that is never seen or covered here in the US. We follow the Vischer family and the horrid plight of the women and children in a prison camp. It is tough to read, but not gory. But it is what these people had to put up with for 3 years of Japanese occupation. We also follow George for portion of the book as he is ordered by the navy to try and make a desperate attempt to get to Australia and help form a counter attack. That fails and we see the privation that he is also subjected to. Each chapter begins with a quote from an actual survivor of one of the NEI camps which leads into the focus of each chapter. Men, women, children are all subjected to brutal conditions, and we also see the crazed command of Captain Sonei, who is pure evil and subjects the women and children to roll calls two to three times per day, some lasting as long as 6-hours. This is a book you need to read.. As the prisoners are reduced to one meal per day of porridge, and even must go so far as eating or using grass for sustenance. On minor infraction can lead to multiple days of no food,. The conditions were inhumane and I wonder how they compared to life in the Nazi camps, or even the US Civil War camp at Andersonville, GA? Even after the Japanese surrender the problems persist as native Indonesians attack and kill anyone they can find who is Dutch. Yes it is war and, yes war his Hell, but mans inhumanity to man is here in this book and we need to confront this issue. For the Vischer family goodness and hope survive but for so many others the outcomes were just brutal, A spectacular book in my opinion. 4.5****

[Marilyn (not getting notifications) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Under the Java Moon: A Novel of World War II by Heather B. Moore was a very moving historical fiction novel. I had little to no knowledge about the colonization of Indonesia by the Dutch prior to reading this book. Over time, thousands of Dutch people had made the trip from the Netherlands to Java Island to pursue business opportunities, raise families and seek a peaceful and prosperous life. Heather B. Moore gave her readers a glimpse into the everyday life on Java before, during and after the Japanese gained control of the island. As far as I know, little has been written about the way the lives of the Dutch people changed after the Japanese invaded and assumed control over the Dutch people that lived in Indonesia during the years of the war. Under the Java Moon was based on a true story. I was so thankful that Rita Vischer Elliott had been persuaded to share her story. Under the Java Moon opened my eyes to a time in history that I was not familiar with.

Rita Vischer was six years old when her entire life as she had known it changed right before her eyes. She lived on Java Island with her mother Mary, her father George, her younger brother Georgie and her Oma (grandmother). Rita lived a very idyllic life. Her father worked as an engineer for the Dutch Navy and was able to provide a comfortable life style for his family. Rita’s mother had learned that she was expecting her third child when the life they all knew and loved began to change. It was 1941 and the Japanese had begun to drop bombs on Java Island. Holland had declared war on Japan. The Vischer family spent many nights in the bomb shelter Rita’s father had built. Before long, George Vischer was forced to leave his family behind in Java when he was summoned to join the Allies in Australia to fight the Japanese. As he left his family, he believed they would be safe and remain together in their home. How wrong he had been.

Shortly after George’s departure, the Japanese invaded Java. They forced all Dutch citizens to evacuate their homes. Little six year old Rita, her mother, brother and Oma were taken to Tjident Women’s Camp in Bajavia located on the western side of Java Island. The treatment the Japanese imposed upon the women that were forced to live in this interment camp was barbaric and horrific. Their living quarters were cramped and crowded and lacked adequate sanitation and medical care. Women and children were separated from the men in their families. Two to three times a day, the Dutch women and children were forced to stand at attention for hours sometimes as roll call was conducted. The Dutch women and children were expected to bow to the Japanese officials and count off in Japanese, even though none of the Dutch women or children knew any Japanese. Women were tortured, killed or ridiculed for the slightest incidents. Many women were punished by the Japanese by cutting off their hair to make an example of them. There were times when food was withheld for days or even a week. The men’s prison was even worse than the women’s. The Japanese forced young sons when they turned twelve years old to leave the women’s camp and their mothers. These young boys were placed in the men’s camps with no one to look out for them. The atrocities the Japanese army inflicted upon the Dutch people were numerous and brutal. The atrocities the Japanese inflicted upon the Dutch went on for years and the Dutch people were forced to endure them. Even after the Japanese were defeated and the camps were liberated, the Dutch continued to suffer under the hands of the native Indonesian people who wanted to free themselves from Dutch rule. Due to this new conflict, many of the Dutch people were forced to leave the only home they had known for years.

Under the Java Moon by Heather B. Moore was such an incredible and inspiring story. It took a strong person to recount the details from a very difficult and painful time in her life. I am so glad that members of Ritz Vischer Elliott’s family encouraged her to do just that. It must have been extremely hard for her to remember and share these memories but it was also so important that she did. These atrocities committed against mankind must be acknowledged so they will not be repeated. Unfortunately, we are witnessing much of the same in Ukraine. Under the Java Moon by Heather B. Moore was hard to read in certain parts but it was very well written. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing for allowing me to read Under the Java Moon: A Novel of World War II by Heather B. Moore through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rita Vischer is six, she lives with her mother Mary, father George and younger brother Georgie in Java, when Holland declares war on Japan and everyone is scared, Rita has had an idyllic childhood, her family are well off and live in a nice bungalow.

Her dad builds a bomb shelter in the back yard, Rita hates being woken up in the middle of the night by the air raid siren, at first it’s a false alarm and not for long. Rita’s mother is pregnant and grandmother Oma is staying with them and Rita’s father George is helping the Dutch navy.

The Japanese invade Java Island and the government surrenders, the Japanese have a list of rules everyone must follow and this changes. The Vischer’s are told to pack, leave the house and they walk to Tjident women’s camp, in Batavia a suburb of West Java. Ita worries her father won’t be able to find them when he returns home, thousands of women and children are living and sleeping in any space they can find.

When Captain Kenichi Sonei takes over the camp from the civilian authorities, the conditions get worse, rations are cut, women and children are made to stand for hours in the hot sun for roll call and beaten for making a minor mistake. Due to the poor sanitation and overcrowding, lice and rats, illnesses like dysentery and malaria spread quickly.

George Vischer is aboard a minesweeper and it's torpedoed, he and the other survivors make into a dingy and are floating in the Java Sea. The castaways want to make it to the northern tip of Thousand Island, exposed to the elements, soon the men are hungry, sun burnt, thirsty and exhausted. George and the others are caught and are sent to the Glodak Goal, in Batavia the it's where men and teenage boys are imprisoned, the conditions here are worse, he worries about Mary, his children and their unborn baby.

I received a copy of Under the Java Moon by Heather B. Moore from Edelweiss and Shadow Mountain Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Over 100,000 Dutch citizens were interned by the Japanese from 1942 to 1945, those who survived, many wanted to forget and try to find forgiveness.

Rita Vischer Elliott with her family’s encouragement tells of her childhood experiences in a prisoner of war camp, what she witnessed, endured, was subjected to during the time and how she felt about it as an adult. An inspirational and moving story, Mary Vischer made sure her children knew they were loved, mattered, despite being so hungry they ate snails, she never gave up hope and kept her children safe.

I highly recommend reading this book, you will learn about life in Java before the Second World War, the Battle of the Java Sea, internment camps and what the Indonesian people thought about being ruled by the Dutch and five stars from me.

[Heather]

In August 2021, I had the privilege of meeting Marie (Rita) Vischer Elliott for the first time when she traveled to my home state. My husband and I visited with her for a couple of hours, and she told us stories about her remarkable life in her lovely accent. Marie is now called Mary by family and friends, but I refer to her as Marie in this story for clarity. During our first meeting, Marie and I were both vetting each other. I wondered if I’d be able to do justice to a story that Marie had kept to herself for so many decades. She wondered if she was truly ready to share such private and difficult memories.

Marie told me that her family never spoke of the war after it ended. Her parents had wanted to fully move on. Years later, Marie ventured to ask her mother some questions, but her mother gave precious few answers. The topic was still considered a closed book to the past. Because of all that she’s endured, Marie never wanted to watch war movies or read about wars. She especially stayed away from stories about concentration or prison camps and their victims. Like her parents, she was keeping her past firmly behind her.

Yet, a slow change came over Marie in recent years, and she was surprised to realize that she wanted to share her past. She wrote up a brief summary of her experiences, and she began to tell her family about what had happened to her. The lock she’d kept on her memories and fears was slowly turned, then opened.

Marie’s remarkable story begins when she was a child, living in Indonesia (then called the Netherlands East Indies). Both her parents were originally from the Netherlands. Her father, George Vischer, who worked for the Royal Packet Navigating Company (KPM), was stationed on Java Island as his home base.

World War II left very few countries unscathed, and Marie’s family was divided up, then sent to live in Japanese prison-of-war camps after Japan invaded, conquered, and then occupied Indonesia. Marie, her mother, grandmother, and younger brother Georgie were sent to the Tjideng camp, which interned women and young children. Men and older boys were sent to their own camps. This began a period in Marie’s life that would shape her childhood, her future, and her beliefs.

Having read dozens of books about the World War II era over the years, I hadn’t ever read anything about the Dutch people’s experience in Indonesia. When I searched for books or films about the subject matter, I was only able to find self-published memoirs. I bought everything I could find and began to read.

I was already excited to write a historical novel about Marie’s early life just from what she’d shared with me in our first meeting, but I had no idea the impact of the war on Indonesia and its people until I dove deeper into research. Story after story, shared by former POW camp victims, revealed experiences long-buried. At the end of this novel is a list of the memoirs and other historical sources that helped frame this book.

As a backdrop to Marie’s story, it’s important to understand why Indonesia became an strategic asset to the Axis power of Japan during the war. Due to the oil embargos against the Axis powers, the oil fields that spanned the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) drew Japan to the islands since they were searching for mineral resources to fuel its war effort. To the Japanese, the Dutch colonies were a diamond in the Pacific.

In the early 1600s, the Dutch joined other traders such as the Spanish, Portuguese, British, Arabia, etc., bent on securing trade routes and trade posts throughout southeastern Asia and the Americas. In 1602, in order to establish a dynasty over other traders, the Dutch founded the world’s first multinational trading empire called the Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC) or Dutch East Indies Company. This began the next two centuries of the VOC running trading posts. When the VOC declared bankruptcy in 1796, the Netherlands government took over, and the Dutch colonization of the East Indies went into full effect. Over the next several decades, Dutch families moved to Java and Sumatra, seeking opportunities in private enterprise.

On the day that the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 (December 8 in the NEI), the NEI was spurred into action, and they declared war on Japan. Every Dutchman the age of eighteen or older was conscripted into one of the Royal military branches to undergo accelerated military training. Overall, the Dutch relied mostly on the Western Allied powers for help. But the Allies were busy defending other Pacific Rim countries such as the Philippines and Singapore, leaving the NEI vulnerable to attack.

Battles raged between Japan and the Dutch, on land and on sea, ending with the Battle of the Java Sea, in which the NEI and Allied fleet was soundly defeated. Three days later, Japanese forces landed on Java Island, and one week later, on March 8, 1942, the NEI governing body officially capitulated to Japan.

As a result, over 100,000 Dutch men, women, and children were funneled into prison camps. An additional 40,000 Dutch men became prisoners of war, many of them shipped to work camps in Burma, Japan, and Thailand.

The Dutch-Indonesians, or Indos, were caught in the middle. Descended from Dutch and Indonesian marriages, due to the decades of intermarriage from Dutch colonization, the Indos were given a choice: live in the prison camps or serve the new Japanese regime.

With the takeover of the NEI by the Japanese, everything related to the Dutch culture was replaced by Japanese culture. Even Batavia, the capital of the NEI, was renamed to Jakarta. The Japanese language was taught in schools, the Japanese calendar implemented, and local time became Tokyo time.

Over 6,000 of the 18,110 islands of the Indonesia archipelago are inhabited, and in 1941, the Dutch population made up most of the Europeans living throughout the islands. The total population of the NEI was about 60 million people. To understand the scope of the loss the Dutch people suffered throughout the prison camps in Indonesia, by the end of the war, 30,000 European internees had died, but even more sobering is that a total of four million civilians perished, which included Indonesians and Indo-Europeans, as a result of malnutrition and forced labor.

Under the Java Moon follows the story of Marie and her family, as they endured the hardships of living in a POW camp during World War II. At the end of February 1942, Marie’s father, George Vischer, fled for his life with a group of naval officers in order to join up with Australian Allied forces. On a fateful day in March 1942, Marie Vischer was ushered out of her home. Marie, her elderly grandmother, her mother, and toddler brother were forced into a women’s prison camp ran by the notoriously cruel Japanese commander, Captain Kenichi Sonei.

This is Marie’s story.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heather B. Moore has produced another winning novel. After her novel The Paper Daughters of Chinatown, I was intrigued to read her latest novel. Her research into unknown historical events is incredibly accurate. Under The Java Moon is based on true events that occured during World War11. I was unaware of the colonization of Indonesia by the Dutch and the war that ensued with the Japanese. The atrocities and barbaric treatment of the Dutch in the enternment camps, and the staggering number of deaths. The depth and scope of Heather Moore's writing in my opinion, is on another level of brilliance. I eagerly anticipate her next novel.

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow, where do I even begin? I guess at the beginning.

I was listening to All In, the podcast, and one of the episodes had Marie Vischer Elliott on as a guest. Her story brought me to tears, so of course I had to read Under the Java Moon. I was lucky enough to get an arc and I can't help but think Heather B. Moore was the perfect author to bring Rita's story to life.

The amount of research and care she put into the book was evident by the introduction, historical timeline and character chart, and later the afterword, chapter notes and bibliography. Each chapter also started with a quote from a survivor, and by reading them you could see exactly how well Moore worked those details into the story.

Before reading the book (technically, before listening to the podcast), I had no idea internment camps existed on that side of the world, let alone that Dutch people were forced into them.

Which is why I think the existence of this book is very much needed in the world, to help shine a light on lesser known historical events (and survivor memoirs).

I know some of my friends don't like reading about wars, or WW2 in particular, but I'd still recommend Under the Java Moon to them because Moore's writing isn't only beautiful, but also approachable.

It grips you from the moment you start the book and makes you feel as if you're really there, living through all of these sad and sometimes happy moments with the characters.

The characters felt like real people, which they were, but what I mean is the author managed to capture their personalities perfectly even though the bulk of what she had to go on was Rita's memories and George's articles. But it felt as if she sat down to speak with everyone who was featured in the book, their voices were that vivid.

Speaking of sitting down, I saw that the author did an interview with Rita the other day, and I'm going to check it out when I finish writing my review. I'm also planning on getting a physical copy, because this one of those books you have to reread.

I also appreciate that we saw good and bad people on all sides, like the Japanese guards who were kind even when they had orders to fulfil. It shows that even in the darkest times some people are still human.

*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an outstanding book! I loved Rita right away and was eager to hear her story. She was a Dutch child living in a Japanese prison camp on the Indonesian Island of Java during WW2. The story is mainly told from her point of view but also includes her father and mother.

The Dutch occupation of the East Indies is not something I was familiar with so it was very interesting. Rita’s family was living on Java when Holland declared war on Japan and in return the Japanese conquered Indonesia. There were many POW camps but Rita’s happened to be controlled by a sadistic commander. It was heartbreaking to read about the brutal conditions she and others endured.

The thing that struck me the most is how, at her young age, she was such a help to her mother and family. She tried hard not to complain or bring unnecessary attention to her family so that they would stay under the radar and not be in a position to be punished. What a hard thing for a child to do between the ages of 5-8!

I was saddened to learn that when the Japanese lost and the Indonesians won their country back, they wanted revenge on the Dutch by killing them. I can understand how after having their country taken over by Holland, they would be glad to finally have it back, but it was sad to imagine how scary it would be to think you are finally free from the Japanese only to have to try and get away from the Indonesians without being shot by snipers. And then, on a final trip home most of them died from illness.

Heather B. Moore wrote, Under the Java Moon, after listening to Rita tell the true story in her own words. Heather mentions what parts are facts vs fiction and includes extensive chapter notes, a selected bibliography and discussion questions as well. There is even an afterward written by Rita herself!

I am thankful I was able to read and learn about Rita, her family and many others who lived through this terrible war.

Many thanks to Heather B. Moore and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this ARC via NetGalley!

[Lauren (thebookscript) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Very well researched and Insightful

REVIEW: UNDER THE JAVA MOON by Heather B Moore

If you are always looking for unique WW2 stories listen up!

This is a survival story about a Dutch family living in the Dutch East Indies and what happens when it becomes occupied by Japan.

This will take you through hard moments of survival but highlight the incredible strength of the human spirit.

This is a 3 POV story and the author did her research. Many of the memories are from a survivor she was able to interview personally.

It brought tears to my eyes especially as a mother thinking of what parents had to endure and do for the sake of their children. It broke my heart to see the realities of the war. But it also gave me a great perspective and I really enjoyed being educated on this part of the conflict.

Thank you @shadowmountainpub for my copy! The review is completely my own.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

1941-1945 Java Island/Dutch East Indies/Indonesia

Based upon the experiences of the Dutch Vischer Family as shared by Rita Vischer to the author.

Dutch families living on Java Island were put in internment camps when the island was taken over by Japanese soldiers. The Vischer Family was separated during that time. This novel shares what life was like for George Vischer and his family.

The author includes so many historical details that bring the time to life. What a harrowing experience for the families. The author takes readers a few months after the war ends. Several historical details are in the Afterward.

My gratitude to publisher Shadow Mountain for a complimentary NetGalley copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This WWII read is based on real happenings in Batavia when the Dutch gave up their claim to the land now referred to as Indonesia as the Japanese invaded. They quickly overcame all who were living there in order to access the native resources (oil, etc) for their war efforts.

Characters based on the real Vischer family are interned with others and are subjected to the whimsical tortures of Captain Kenichi Sonei (also very real). Inspiring by the faith and diligence of the mother and her children, the tale pulls readers into the raw survival mode of living due to the inhuman treatment they received. Their best inspiration for hope was the thought of their beloved father who had been called back into duty by the Dutch. They had no news of him as they did their best to "follow the rules," making optimism difficult - still they hung on.

I've read of this family before and their heroic journey. Heather B. Moore kept me interested despite my previous reads, and I appreciated the endnotes and information she provided.

*A sincere thank you to Heather B. Moore, Shadow Mountain Publishing, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #UndertheJavaMoon #NetGalley 25|52:12a

[Melissa’s Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional, heart wrenching, quietly triumphant. I love the way Heather Moore brings history to life. Based on the true story of Marie (Rita) Vischer Elliott, Under the Java Moon shares the gripping account of the Japanese invasion of Java Island through the eyes of five year old Rita, her mother Marie, & father George. It’s a WWII story that’s never been told & in a location rarely discussed. It’s a powerful story that’ll touch your heart & leave you hopeful.

Rita & her family moved to Java Island for her father’s naval work. At that time, Indonesia was occupied by the Dutch & known as the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). When the allies declared war on Japan, the NEI did too. As war comes to Indonesia, Rita experiences its terrible effects first hand as she witnesses bombings, the invasion, beatings, once friendly neighbors becoming enemies, & is eventually sent to Tjideng camp with her pregnant mother, her Oma, & brother. Her father George was on a mission to join the allies in Australia when his boat was torpedoed. He survived but endures the most awful circumstances until he’s eventually captured & sent to an internment camp.

Rita experiences fear, starvation, & the brutalities of war in the internment camp. Though at times hard to read, I appreciated the resilience of Rita & her family mainly due to her mother’s hopefulness. She’s a quiet strength through it all. What little Rita endured was unimaginable, yet the author takes care to never be overly graphic. Don’t miss Rita’s letter at the end. It brought me to tears. She never spoke of the war until now, & her story needs to be told. It’ll tug on your heartstrings & make you hope we learn from the past & never repeat it.

The audiobook version is fantastic! The narrator is brilliant and really brings this story to life.

Highest of recommendations for this book! It’s a must read and beautiful tribute to a remarkable woman. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished reading this book and had tears rolling down my cheeks. Then I continued to read the author's note, a note from Marie Elliott (Elliott is her married name-her nickname is Rita which I'll use to refer to her throughout the rest of the review) about sharing her story and chapter notes. With my heart full of the story I had just finished and reading these personal thoughts, I couldn't help but feel so strongly for the pain and struggles and sorrows and heartache and loss and so much more. But honestly, what really touched my heart more was the focus on the good and happy. Even though it is not the initial focus, I loved near the end of the book and Rita hearing her mom talk about the good and not focusing on all the hardships everyone endured. It was such a beautiful thing that really hit my heart and induced the tears to come down my cheeks. Most people aren't going to ignore the hard and focus on the good. But to see someone who endured horrific circumstances talking about the joys, just touched my heart.

I hope that you pick up this book. I hope you see the hard. I hope you understand the importance of history being studied and learned about so that we don't repeat it over and over again. Unfortunately it is repeated. There are characters that are portrayed in this book who are so awful and do horrific things. And then there are the characters in this book portraying real people, who had a heart and were humane. I hope and pray we all can be that way when push comes to shove. That we see the humanity in each other and take care to preserve that!

Rita was 5 to 6 years old when the Japanese Occupation in Indonesia on the Java island began. She was 9 when she left the internment camp. Thinking about what her and countless other children witnessed is heartbreaking. But the resilience and strength that they showed was incredible. All of those who went through this, I can't imagine the lasting toll that takes on their bodies and minds.

The story is told through the point of view of Rita, Marie (her mom) and George (her dad). It was very eye opening! I have a friend who's family lived through the Japanese Occupation in a different location and their experiences are similar but different in that they weren't in an internment camp. But the terror and fear were just as strong and real.

Yes, this is an emotionally evoking book, but it is one that I highly recommend you read if you can. If you get the chance, the author Heather B. Moore did an interview with Rita on the morning of this book's release. You can see it on a Facebook page under this book's title or the author's Facebook page. It was so very interesting. I loved hearing Rita's perspective and her goodness. Go watch it!

Content: This book has war related elements in it. Bombings, battles, starvation, beatings, brutal conditions, imprisionment, and such. Even with all of these elements I felt like it was clean and that the author did it in a very sensitive way but realistic as well. I would let me teenagers read this book.

I received a copy from the author but have also purchased my own copy. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Java Island, 1941

Under the Java Moon is the story of Rita Vischer's family and their journey to surviving the horrors of the Japanese-occupied Dutch East Indies during WWII. They are separated for the majority of the war to a POW camp. Rita enters the Tjideng camp with her little brother, Georgie, her Oma, and her mother, Mary who is three months pregnant. The chapters go back and forth with chapters of POVs of Mary, Rita, and George (Rita’s father).

The Vischer family is reunited and though it is not graphic in detail, there is enough to convey the life they endured during the Japanese occupation. I was not aware of this part of the war being played out in the Java Islands, but I felt it was written with care, love, and respect for the memories of Rita Vischer. There was hope, courage, and resilience shown and though it was hard to read, I really enjoyed and connected to the majority of the characters except for Aunt Tie, she didn't show compassion, she kept herself separate from the others. I felt this was a unique story though the storyline of WWII has been told many times, the location made it new and engaging. Recommended!

My gratitude to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain. All opinions expressed are mine.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Under the Java Moon is quite a bit different from other WWII historical fiction books that I tend to gravitate towards. The Island of Java is locate in Indonesia, or as it was called at that time, the British West Indies. Many Dutch people lived in Indonesia as it was under the reign of the Queen in the Netherlands. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor it did not take them long to attack Indonesia in order to control the much needed oil reserves. Our Allies were busy fighting in Germany and unfortunately they did not attempt to stop the invasion.
This novel is based on true events and the author collaborated with the main character, Rita Vischer Elliot, in telling her story. Ita, as she was called as a child, was only five years old when she and her Dutch family and neighbors were forced into a Labor camp. It was there that they spent three and a half 3 years of starvation, cruelty and disease.
From the very first page I was totally engrossed in this story. I learned so much and felt a great deal of empathy for all of the Dutch people who suffered in this horrific environment. There is a great deal of authentic information in this book and I was pleasantly surprised to find chapter notes at the end of the book. I would recommend the reader not skip over this section as it added so much more information and clarity. The Afterword, written by Rita Vischer Elliot, is also very moving.

[Sharon the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true and eye opening story full of resilience, hope, and courage.

I have read so many WWII stories, and am amazed when one comes along about a facet of the war that was completely foreign to me. This was one of those. I loved how each chapter begins with a quote from people who were actually living this story, then continues with the family’s tale.

Rita, a young girl and her family are Dutch, living in Java, Indonesia. They have a very comfortable life, and enjoy love for each other. This all changes when Japan declares war on Holland and they are forced to move into a POW camp with hundreds of thousands of other Dutch families.

Rita, her pregnant mother, her grandma, and her toddler brother are alone to face the atrocities that they are faced with there. Her father is sent to sea to help with Hollands efforts in the war. His story is told parallel with theirs.

Illness, starvation, cruelty, and a spirit of survival abound in this story. I continually wondered HOW a human can withstand the things that they were faced with. Friendship, faith, and determination are key.

I’m so thankful to be able to review this book before publication. I appreciate Net Galley and Shadow Mountain Publishers for trusting me with this true tale.

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always know I can count on Heather B. Moore to deliver an incredibly touching story about a little known historical event.

Maybe it's just me, but I didn't know much about the WWII effects in the Dutch East Indies and I felt all the emotions while reading this book. Based on the true story of Rita Vischer's family, I was appalled, shocked, and heartbroken by the devastating and terrifying events that occurred on and around the island of Java in the 1940s, yet I also found a thread of incredible resilience and hope permeating these pages.

The horrors of war are sometimes hard to read about, but I loved how these people had such a strong will and desire to not only live, but to thrive in the best way they could. It made me take a step back and evaluate my own life: what is truly important? What really matters? How can I work with those around me to ease and life burdens, both physical and emotional? I feel these are the best reasons why these kinds of stories should be shared and read. They help us remember and reshift our focus.

I was deeply touched by this book and I'm so grateful for a change to learn more about this piece of history.

Content: wartime type of violence/actions (abuse, disease, death, shootings, etc)--not overly graphic

*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

UNDER THE JAVA MOON

This is a terrific book based on the true events of a Dutch family living on Java Island during WWII. It tells of their experiences in three POW camps, Tjideng, Glodox, and Tjimahi, during the Japanese occupation of Netherland Dutch East Indies. Due to oil embargos, the Japanese attacked the Indonesian archipelago to obtain DEI petroleum products.

The story is told from the perspective of young Rita, daughter of George and Mary. She lived for three years in the Tjideng camp along with her mother, grandmother, and two young brothers. Her father, a Naval engineer who worked for the KPM Royal Packet Navigating Company prior to the war, was mobilized into the Royal Dutch Navy after the Imperial Japanese Naval attack on February of 1942.

From Ria’s very personal memories we learn of the daily existence in the concentration camp. Crowded living spaces, disease, scarcity of food and basic necessities, and fear punishment and abuse. Her resilience and strength throughout this ordeal, along with the love and determination of her family, is beautiful and admirable.

In the aftermath of the Japanese surrender, the Indonesian National Revolution and the Bersiap, guerilla attacks on non Indonesians, presented more challenges for the Dutch people remaining on Java Island. WWII had such far reaching consequences, and this battle in the Pacific theater of Southeast Asia was yet another sad and horrifying result.

I think this book is an excellent example of how experiencing history from a story well told is the best and most lasting way to learn. It was well researched with extensive notes and biography. The writing is excellent. I would like to thank NetGalley, Heather B. Moore, and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book holds an incredible story. Once I started reading, I really couldn't put this book down. This covers a history that I didn't know happened. The historical research and the fact that it is based on a true story is incredible. Indonesia during World War II is something I never considered and I just can't believe that people survived. What horrors other human beings can do to one another is mind boggling to me. This is not an easy read and I appreciate that Heather B. Moore doesn't skip the tough stuff. It is not terribly graphic per se but there are some scenes that are really hard to read. BUT we need to read this story. This needs to be talked about and taught as part of history. This book is told from three perspectives and it is done flawlessly. I was able to go back and forth between them all without issue. To read of an event from the perspective of people who were really there is incredible. It makes history come alive and it also should make us so thankful for what we have today. This is a fantastic book and one I won't soon forget.


Five Stars.

" I received this book from Shadow Mountain Publishers for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the cover of this book; the photo does not do it justice--it's so beautiful in person. Inside its pages is an amazing story of a family's survival in Japanese interment camps on Java Island during WWII. This is the story of Mary and George Vischer, their two small children: five year old Marie (called Rita) and three year old Georgie, Mary's mother Maria (aka Oma), and their experiences under the rule of the Japanese military.

I love Heather B. Moore's historical fiction. One reason is because she's meticulous in her research of the subject and talks to the people she's writing about. She spent time speaking with and interviewing Marie Vischer Elliott, learning of her experiences. Another reason I love her historical fiction is I always learn things I didn't know. Before reading this book I knew nothing about WWII and the Dutch East Indies and the horrors its people went through.

These women and children were prisoners of war in their own country and I felt so many emotions reading their amazing story. I was frightened for them, shocked at the treatment they received at the hands of others and utterly amazed how they kept going day after day. I loved that the author included some happy parts in the story--games the children played, items they could play with made with things available to them, such as tin cans and twine or rope. Their indominable spirits astounded me. This is truly an inspiring story that I recommend to everyone. Thank you Marie Vischer Elliott for telling your story.

Content: wartime type of violence/actions (abuse, disease, death, shootings, etc)--not overly graphic and the author handles it in a sensitive way. I would let my teenage grandchildren read this book.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love learning about lesser known aspects of WWII. I knew there was a war going on with Japan, but so much emphasis is placed on the fighting in Europe. I haven't heard much about the war going on in the Pacific. I enjoyed reading this book and the new perspective and knowledge it gave me. Yes, it was a hard topic to read about, but I felt Mrs. Moore did a good job of letting know how bad it was without going into some of the really horrible details. I am amazed at these people who went through so much and then when one war was ending another one was beginning. How terrifying. I am glad that Rita decided to share her story so we could better understand what others go through and to count out blessings.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley and this is my honest review.

[Suzan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Ita held Georgie’s hand firmly, and her other hand grasped Oma’s hand. Mother’s steps were slow, unsteady. It was a sight that Mary knew would be imprinted on her mind forever. Her little girl, helping her brother and grandmother after a long night of terror. In this moment, humanity still existed. Among the muddy dirt, the pulsing fear, the new and old bruises, the empty stomachs.…compassion still bloomed. Now if it would spread to the rest of the world.”

I’ve read several books about WWII, but I had never heard about what the Dutch experienced on Java Island during the war—the Japanese invasion and occupation, the POW camps, and then the Indonesian rebellion against Dutch rule.

Heather did a brilliant job with this novel based on a true story! It was fascinating, powerful, moving, and informative and educational while still being a gripping page-turner.

Meticulously researched and beautifully written, I felt like I was in the camp experiencing it all—hunger, disease, brutality, fear, trauma, death, and mental numbness.

More importantly, I felt of these people’s courage, hope, endurance, and resilience. The acts of kindness and compassion, between the prisoners and some of the Japanese guards, was truly moving and inspiring.

While you get a very real sense of what these poor people went through, it never gets too graphic.

History needs to be told and learned from. Evil needs to be exposed. Goodness and decency need to be celebrated, and so do the stories of those who overcome the worst experiences. Under the Java Moon does all of these things so extremely well. It’s a story that will stay with me for a long time, and one I highly recommend.

Many thanks to the author for a gifted copy!

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A part of history I never knew about! My daughter-in-law's grandparents experienced this, as they were Dutch in the Indonesian camps during WW2. It was a hard experience to live through, and I interesting to see the differences in human choices of good and evil during great stress. Highly recommend.

[Kay Noble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

I loved this book because it’s a true story written from memories of a strong Dutch woman. She was a daughter of a military man, George and Mary Vischer in the nineteen forties. The daughter’s nickname is Rita in the book, and at first she didn’t want these memories to be written down, but she changed her mind later on. It was a horrible time for her and her family while they were separated from George for three years in a POW Camp. They were forced to be ruled over by the Japanese, and the women were beaten, etc by the Japs for not bowing, roll call, their food was dismal, bad food quality, etc, and that was of a Japanese commander Sonei who made their lives miserable! But even through all of this happening, it was a truly wonderful book, and I cheered when they were reunited with George again along with the end of the War. I was truly amazed by how resilient they were as a people as they learned that anger, and grudges don’t change anything!! Also, the Japs we’re forgiven and forgotten, especially when the kept the Dutch safe from others!! Great read!

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the fact that I’ve read a lot about World War Two, I was not familiar with the Dutch who lived in what is now Indonesia being imprisoned on the island when it was captured by the Japanese. The author did extensive research and worked with the woman who was a child in this camp to tell the story. Extreme cruelty, starvation, sickness, and death were endured by the internees, but there are also some examples of kindness. I’m glad a talented historical fiction writer like Heather B. Moore was able to help tell Rita’s story.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Under the Java Moon
Heather B. Moore


Heather B. Moore’s latest novel is tragic yet full of hope, it’s sad but there’s always a light shining and it’s often hard to read but it’s so necessary for the world to never forget the brutalities of this awful war. We often read WWII stories about fighting the Nazis but not often about the barbarity of Japanese to their captives. This novel is based on one of those stories, of Marie (Rita) Vischer and what she and her family suffered during the war. Moore doesn’t pull punches about the horrors these captives suffered at the hands of the Japanese who were often just as demonic if not at times more than the Nazis in how they treated their prisoners, but the Japanese unlike the Nazis who mostly targeted the Jews were equal opportunity monsters who treated all their prisoners, men, women and children worse than animals. The book is easy to understand but hard to absorb how people could have treated other people the way the Japanese did. There are so few people left who lived through this war and we can’t let stories like Rita’s fade because history will repeat itself if we let our guard down. This book is perfect for fans of WWII stories, historical novels based on facts and all fans of just really great storytelling, it’s easy to understand why Library Journal gave this novel a starred review and it should be a required read for every high school student.

Once the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor all the allied nations with interest in the Pacific mobilized but they were stretched thin fighting the Nazis and as a result were no match for the Japanese and soon one by one the Islands of the Pacific Rim fell to. The Netherland East Indies Island of Java was one of those that the Japanese occupied during the War.

The Vischer family called Java home and with war knocking on their door patriarch George found himself conscripted and soon received orders that would take him away from his family, his wife Mary, his children Rita 4, Georgie 2 and his mother-in-law to face what would soon become the nightmare of being prisoners of war and placed in a concentration camp. For the next 3.5 years this family along with many of their friends and neighbors faced atrocities and deplorable living conditions, where death and torture were the new normal and where survival was elusive.

[Paula Shreckhise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a lot of books about WWII but this story gave new insight into a part of the world I knew little about- Indonesia and the Dutch who lived there. Truly this was a war that effected the whole world. The author took her research from many first hand accounts of the brave souls who endured the occupation by the Japanese. Every chapter starts with a quote from a survivor and then the fictional story commences. A heart rending compilation of the deprivations and harsh treatment suffered by Dutch citizens who were forced into camps by their captors. It reminded me of The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. At times it was almost unbearable to read but the resiliency of the Vischer family was something to behold. There is an afterword by the real Rita Vischer that tells that she never spoke of her time in the camps but made the decision to collaborate on this book. She recounts that hard times are faced by all, and that “happiness comes from within...That God is real, and I have learned to put my trust in Him.”
A difficult book but essential book to read. But I could not put it down and finished it in one day.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Shadow Mountain Publishing through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, wow, what can I say? Amazing historical fiction based on plenty of first-hand accounts about a part of World War Two that I knew nothing about. I’ve read about atrocities committed in Japanese internment camps, but had never realized how many and how widespread they were. I never even realized that the East Indies had been overthrown and the Dutch living there, some for generations had been forced into prison camps and the horrific conditions they endured. I pray for humanity to wake up and never allow this to continue.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

War's Lasting Pain

This was a hard book to read, yet almost impossible to put down. It's a realistic look at the pain, unfairness, and brutality of war. It is also a touching reminder of the kindness and caring of good people during both physically and emotionally difficult times. Not all of the horrors of war take place on battlefields.