Disguised

Disguised, a personal memoir by Rita la Fontaine de Clercq Zubli is about her early teen life during a war where she needs to pretend to be a boy to save her life and her family's life. The book is full of life lessons that were learned the hard way and situations that teens her age don't get to expricance. Rita is 12 years old when she and her family are first sent to a Japanese-run prison camp during World War II. Concerned about her safety, Rita’s parents decide to disguise her as a boy. So for over three years and in various POW camps, Rita poses as “Rick.” Despite her circumstances, the Dutch-Indonesian girl uses her intelligence and ingenuity to learn Japanese and English. She soon becomes a well-respected translator for a number of Japanese commanders. As young “Rick” gains the trust of Japanese leaders, she is able to stand up for fellow prisoners and instigate positive changes. In this true account, Rita la Fontaine de Clercy Zubli takes readers into her secret world of danger, loss, personal victories and coming-of-age as a prisoner of war.