{"product_id":"9781452090368","title":"A Boy From Flakkee: The story of a young boy who grew up on the island of Goeree and Overflakkee in the southwest region of the Netherlands","description":"It was on December 15, 1928 when a boy by the name of Roel Krijgsman, also known as Roland Krygsman, was born to Dutch parents on the island of Goeree and Overflakkee in the southwest region of the Netherlands. It was depression time that not only affected the United States, but also in Europe and other parts of the World. Survival was only for the strong. The weak and timid would perish under the world's oppression. It was a time that many would never forget. It was about survival, obtaining food, clothing, shelter, and achieving employment. Watching out for one another became a family affair. Work was scarce, along with food and money. The young and old alike persisted in their efforts to make ends meet. It is through the eyes and collective thoughts of this little boy from Holland that we are introduced to his more than ordinary life near the North Sea. As life goes on, many follow the same road from childhood to adulthood. It is through life changing circumstances that ultimately shape our well-being. What happens in our lives and what we learn will define us in what we become and achieve. The autobiography of Roland's life is indeed extraordinary. The stories of his life, his loves, his adventures, and his quest to succeed in life are imaginable, but yet remind us of our human nature and our ever increasing need to live our lives to the fullest.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eModernization was unheard of. There was no television, or modern appliances like a washer, dryer, and refrigerator. People were poor and many families were quite large. Roland came from a family of seven children. He was the second oldest of six brothers and one sister. As many families found out, each day was a struggle. For the Krygsman family, growing up during the depression period meant that they all needed to work together. Each child was to be treated equally. Each received just enough to survive. There was never abundance; only what each child would get from mother and father. Even grandpa and grandma from both sides of the family assisted in caring for all the children. It was truly a family affair. Mother and father shouldn't have picked their favorites, but they did. Roland would come to find out sooner than later in his young life that he wasn't wanted. How could such loving parents like his deny him of love or to be loved? It is through our childhood that helps shape us into the men and women we become. How we reach that pinnacle is embedded in our minds. As children, we dream of someday becoming someone we can respect, honor, and adore. We all have dreams, but somehow many are robbed of the grand scheme and fall short in life. We have to settle for less and of course, our play on life is distorted. We are locked into life's grip of being less than worthy. We share feelings of inadequacy and failure and wonder aimlessly through life looking for the right answers. Roland was such a boy who developed into a young man looking for life's answers. As a young boy he suffered the loss of a dear brother and was destined to forever try winning over his mother and father's admiration. While going from childhood to adolescence, he faced many challenges and adventures that would have many children today standing in awe. From repairing to rebuilding bicycles, Roland hustled to carve out a piece of his own stake. Attending technical school to become a dental assistant, he persevered to achieve the most in life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSome of his adventures are shared with the reader. Throughout all what he lived through life was never simple.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDuring the Second World War Roland's bravery and tolerance would be tested by the enemy. This was no horror movie. Death was all around him, his family, and the people of his country. There were no sides to take. Either obey the Nazis or be killed. He saw so many of his friends and acquaintances who died trying to escape, or working for their cause. As far as he was concerned, he wanted nothing to do with his oppressors. He vowed that he would do everything in his power to escape their dictatorship. In many ways he did elude them and even was able to trick them. In many other circumstances, however, it was devastating. Seeing many Jewish families pulled apart from one another, and their untimely deaths persuaded him that he needed to always be in constant vigilance. Young crew members perished from the skies as they were en route to Germany's packed cities to deliver their weapons of mass destruction. Right before their eyes they watched as these planes, like sitting ducks, were plucked out of the sky one by one. As they blew up in midair, many fell to their deaths, or were burned alive. It was a scene never to be forgotten. Many of who survived relived these nightmares over and over. When the war was finally over, life in the Netherlands would slowly return to normal. Now was the time to rebuild the cities and restore life to a country that was once under Hitler's oppression. Once again, Roland needed to step up and be accountable for his life.It was always a struggle though.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e*  *  *\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe war was over in Holland in 1945 and life continued on. Roland met his wife, Leny Klink from a town near his own. He eventually wed his beautiful bride and settled in Rotterdam. Life was good and he was making a decent living. He had his bride, a brand new BSA motorcycle, and a good paying job. It was a rough winter in that year of 1953. With uncertainty, a northeaster storm hit the southwest side of the island, breaching the dikes and punching a hole, causing a wall of sea water to roll over the town and its people. Many drowned as a result of the storm. Roland assisted in the recovery effort and rescued many from certain death. He himself had once again cheated death; stared it in the face and had conquered it. Holland's island of Overflakkee was once again faced with the rebuilding effort.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDuring this time with a young bride in hand and a future wide open, he would, like many before him make a choice that would lead him to the land of opportunity, America. Like his uncle Arend and his aunt Lena, Roland was determined to claim his own piece of Americana. The voyage by ship was an adventure on both occasions. Looking for work, an apartment, and raising a family all became part of the course. He and his devoted wife, Leny would raise three sons and settle in a little town known as Clifton in the great state of New Jersey. He did live the American Dream of moving to America and raising his family. Opportunity presented itself and he took a gamble and won out at the end. Not bad for someone with the clothes on their back, two suitcases, and a wooden box coming to a foreign land and starting a new life. The most important lesson though, is he had his own family and incorporated all the love he and Leny could give. Family is and will always be of the greatest importance. It is the main ingredient that drives him even today.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AuthorHouse","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47125248770288,"sku":"9781452090368","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781452090368_p0.jpg?v=1763839137","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781452090368","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}