96 pages • 3 hours read
Resistance
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Book Brief
400
Novel • Fiction
Poland • 1940s
2018
Scholastic
Middle grade
9-14 years
Super Short Summary
Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen follows 16-year-old Chaya Lindner, a Jewish girl in Nazi-occupied Poland who becomes a courier for a resistance group and later participates in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943. The story explores themes of courage, sacrifice, and community amidst the harrowing backdrop of World War II and the Holocaust. This book mentions and describes the Holocaust, antisemitism, and wartime violence.
Adventurous
Suspenseful
Inspirational
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
13,461 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Jennifer A. Nielsen's Resistance has garnered widespread acclaim for its compelling portrayal of a young Jewish girl's courage and resilience during WWII. Readers praise its historical accuracy and emotional depth. While some feel it can be intense for younger audiences and occasionally predictable, its strong characters and gripping narrative make it a powerful read overall.
Who Should Read Resistance?
A reader who would enjoy Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen is likely a fan of historical fiction with strong, courageous protagonists, similar to those in Lois Lowry's Number the Stars and Markus Zusak's The Book Thief. Ideal for middle-grade to young adult readers who appreciate gripping WWII stories of heroism and resilience.
13,461 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Esther Karolinski
Esther Karolinski
A young Jewish girl who joins the resistance organization Akiva, initially shy and inexperienced but motivated by her past to fight against the Nazis.
Yitzchak Lindner
Yitzchak Lindner
Chaya’s younger brother who displays bravery and resilience, ultimately reuniting with Chaya in the Warsaw Ghetto and joining the resistance efforts.
Shimshon and Gusto Draenger
Shimshon and Gusto Draenger
Leaders of the Akiva resistance group who play pivotal roles in organizing and supporting resistance efforts against the Nazis.
Dolek
Dolek
A key member of Akiva known for planning significant resistance attacks against the Nazis before facing capture and death.
Rubin
Rubin
Chaya’s cell member in Akiva who later joins the partisans to continue fighting against Nazi occupation.
Jakub and Hanusia
Jakub and Hanusia
Members of Chaya's cell in Akiva, with Jakub being killed and Hanusia arrested during their resistance activities.
Mordecai Anielewicz
Mordecai Anielewicz
Leader of the ZOB, unified resistance inside the Warsaw Ghetto, known for orchestrating the ghetto's first uprising against the Nazis.
400
Novel • Fiction
Poland • 1940s
2018
Scholastic
Middle grade
9-14 years
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