Yael van der Wouden facts for kids

Yael van der Wouden (born 1987) is a Dutch writer. Her very first novel, The Safekeep, was nominated for the famous 2024 Booker Prize.

Early life and school

Yael van der Wouden was born in 1987 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Her mother is Israeli and her father is Dutch. She grew up in the Netherlands.

From the age of three, she took ballet lessons. When she was ten, she entered her school's talent show. She performed a dance where she pretended to be a flickering flame.

For her university studies, she went to Utrecht University in the Netherlands and SUNY Binghamton in the United States. She studied comparative literature, which means she learned about and compared stories and books from different cultures. Because of her background, she has described herself as a "Dutch-Israeli mixed-bag-diaspora child," meaning she feels connected to both Dutch and Israeli cultures.

Writing career

Famous essay

In 2018, one of van der Wouden's essays, called "On (Not) Reading Anne Frank," was published in the book The Best American Essays. In the essay, she explored what it was like for her to grow up with a Dutch-Jewish identity. She felt that the famous story of Anne Frank was so important that it sometimes made it hard for her to explore her own personal story and feelings.

The Safekeep

Van der Wouden's first novel, The Safekeep, was released in 2024. It was so popular that nine publishers in the United Kingdom and ten in the United States wanted to publish it.

The story is set in the 1960s, about 15 years after the end of World War II. It's about a young woman named Isabel who is living in her parents' old house. Her life is turned upside down when her brother's partner, Eva, comes to stay for the summer. A close bond forms between the two women, leading to a secret that changes everything Isabel thought she knew about her family and their past.

The book received great reviews:

• The Observer said the author mixes a story about dealing with history with the main character's journey of self-discovery.
• The Guardian called it "an impressive debut" and said the book's powerful ending adds "an extra layer of historical heft" to the story.
• The New York Times described it as a powerful story about love and strong feelings set in 1960s Amsterdam.

Other activities

Besides writing, van der Wouden has also worked as a teacher. She has taught creative writing, storytelling, and literature to students.

Awards and nominations

The Safekeep was shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize. This was a huge honor, as she was the first Dutch author to be shortlisted for the prize. It was also the only debut novel (an author's first book) on the 2024 shortlist.

Selected publications

• The Safekeep (2024)