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Courage & Defiance: Stories of Spies, Saboteurs, and Survivors in World War II Denmark
When the Nazis invaded Denmark on Tuesday, April 9, 1940, the people of this tiny country to the north of Germany awoke to a devastating surprise. The government of Denmark surrendered quietly, and the Danes were ordered to go about their daily lives as if nothing had changed. But everything had changed.
Award-winning author Deborah Hopkinson traces the stories of the heroic young men and women who would not stand by as their country was occupied by a dangerous enemy. Rather, they fought back. Some were spies, passing tactical information to the British; some were saboteurs, who aimed to hamper and impede Nazi operations in Denmark; and 95% of the Jewish population of Denmark were survivors, rescued by their fellow countrymen, who had the courage and conscience that drove them to act.
With her talent for digging deep in her research and weaving real voices into her narratives, Hopkinson reveals the thrilling truth behind one of WWII's most daring resistance movements.
Award-winning author Deborah Hopkinson traces the stories of the heroic young men and women who would not stand by as their country was occupied by a dangerous enemy. Rather, they fought back. Some were spies, passing tactical information to the British; some were saboteurs, who aimed to hamper and impede Nazi operations in Denmark; and 95% of the Jewish population of Denmark were survivors, rescued by their fellow countrymen, who had the courage and conscience that drove them to act.
With her talent for digging deep in her research and weaving real voices into her narratives, Hopkinson reveals the thrilling truth behind one of WWII's most daring resistance movements.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published August 25, 2015
97 people are currently reading
1028 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Hopkinson
97 books364 followersI write nonfiction and historical fiction, picture books, and Golden Books. I speak at school, libraries, and conferences. I also love to garden and offer manuscript critiques. (Deborahhopkinson@yahoo.com)
NEW books in 2024 include DETERMINED DREAMER: THE STORY OF MARIE CURIE, illus by Jen Hill, ON A SUMMER NIGHT, illus by Kenard Pak, TRIM HELPS OUT and TRIM SAILS the STORM, illus by Kristy Caldwell, EVIDENCE! illustrated by Nik Henderson, and a nonfiction work called THEY SAVED THE STALLIONS. I'm delighted to say that Trim Helps Out, Trim Sails the Storm, On a Summer Night and Evidence! are all Junior Library Guild selections.
I live and work in Oregon and travel all over to speak to young readers and writers.
NEW books in 2024 include DETERMINED DREAMER: THE STORY OF MARIE CURIE, illus by Jen Hill, ON A SUMMER NIGHT, illus by Kenard Pak, TRIM HELPS OUT and TRIM SAILS the STORM, illus by Kristy Caldwell, EVIDENCE! illustrated by Nik Henderson, and a nonfiction work called THEY SAVED THE STALLIONS. I'm delighted to say that Trim Helps Out, Trim Sails the Storm, On a Summer Night and Evidence! are all Junior Library Guild selections.
I live and work in Oregon and travel all over to speak to young readers and writers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
March 6, 2024
In April of 1940, Germany invaded Denmark and the quiet, common thread running through the Danish people was plucked. If ever there was a more resilient, resolved and remarkably sympathetic collection of human beings, they are unknown to me. Ms. Hopkinson honestly portrays the dangers of dismal, every-day-life under occupation as well as the cruelty and despair of concentration camps, simultaneously displaying the intuitive empathy and bravery of the Danes.
What strikes me the most is the that each person has an individual ‘line he will cross’ while still doing his level best to resist, if not fight, against the gruesome German goals. That is, until learning of Hitler’s plan to round up and relocate Danish Jews to concentration camps. The unspoken, unanimous decision to prevent this was almost palpable as plans for moving Jewish Danes to Sweden were formed.
I do not have the ability to aptly convey the reasons that I will be highly recommending this non-fiction nugget, so I’ll just leave you with this: reading Courage and Defiance reminds of the quote that Mr. Rogers would share from his childhood. When he would see scary things in the news, his mother advised, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
This mini-review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
What strikes me the most is the that each person has an individual ‘line he will cross’ while still doing his level best to resist, if not fight, against the gruesome German goals. That is, until learning of Hitler’s plan to round up and relocate Danish Jews to concentration camps. The unspoken, unanimous decision to prevent this was almost palpable as plans for moving Jewish Danes to Sweden were formed.
I do not have the ability to aptly convey the reasons that I will be highly recommending this non-fiction nugget, so I’ll just leave you with this: reading Courage and Defiance reminds of the quote that Mr. Rogers would share from his childhood. When he would see scary things in the news, his mother advised, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
This mini-review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
October 19, 2020
This is a YA book about the invasion of Denmark in WWII and the young people who stepped up and organized the underground resistance. Although the book was decent, I feel as though the author "dumbed" things a bit too much for my taste. Planning to look for more on this topic, as it did peak my interest.
February 7, 2017
Originally Reviewed for YA Books Central: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yanonfi...
Immersive, impactful and informative. This non-fiction account of World War 2 takes a somewhat more alternate angle than is usual—shedding light on those among the Danes, specifically, who resisted the Nazi invasion.
Filled with black and white pictures of brave rebel Danes, newspaper pages, and historic moments in progress, Hopkinson stitches together a vivid sense for the oppression and pushback in a tiny nation that regarded all of its citizens with uncommon loyalty. The stories are sobering and significant in historical value, while the language choices leave it accessible to those as young as 10.
COURAGE & DEFIANCE is broken into five parts, beginning in April of 1940 with the overnight invasion of the tiny nation of Denmark. Sedition was initially scattered, disorganized, and small scale until the Summer of 1943. As news of Allied victories spread, it brought embodiment and hope to the Danish people. They began to openly revolt, and the Germans cracked down with martial law and the total neutralizing of the Danish military. It is here, at part 2 and the book’s halfway point, that the Nazis ordered the roundup of all 7,700 Jews living in Denmark. The pacing accelerates from here on out as the Danes worked together to warn their Jewish neighbors, then evacuate as many as they could. Part 3 covers the Fall of 1943-Summer of 1944, as a number of the resistance members that readers have come to know are captured and imprisoned. Some are executed. Part 4 tells of those who survived to be deported into Germany and face the cruel and deteriorating conditions of Nazi camps—illness, starvation, and ten hour work days. Part 5 recounts Liberation in the spring of 1945—though survival was far from assured for these political prisoners, even to the final moments.
What’s most striking is how perfectly well these men and women understood the risks they were running in opposing the Nazis. There were no guarantees that Hitler could be stopped. Torture and death awaited any caught engaging in espionage or sabotage. And yet, there were many who could not just stand by and passively watch their society and principles were ravaged a piece at a time. They were willing to put their bodies and lives on the line—potentially being betrayed by their own Nazi-sympathizing countrymen—to defy submission to a genocidal war machine.
One of the most harrowing accounts would have to be that of The Flight of the Hornet, which begins on page 47. It tells of Tommy Sneum’s daring escape from Denmark to Great Britain in an outdated little plane, which he had to secretly reassemble himself in a barn. The tension throughout this incident is palpable.
On the flip side, readers may have a bit of trouble keeping track of all of the characters followed throughout. Pictures of said persons are offered, but not up front. And while the linear chronological ordering of events makes perfect historical sense, it leaves large alternating gaps between character accounts—and thus time for readers to forget who they are being told about. For this reader, it caused distancing and disconnect from their individual plights.
This book has great bottom-line potential as a tool for bringing the tensions and conflict of WW2 to life in a whole new way; suitable for students as young as lower middle-grade, or for anyone who is simply interested in expanding their understanding on the subject.
Immersive, impactful and informative. This non-fiction account of World War 2 takes a somewhat more alternate angle than is usual—shedding light on those among the Danes, specifically, who resisted the Nazi invasion.
Filled with black and white pictures of brave rebel Danes, newspaper pages, and historic moments in progress, Hopkinson stitches together a vivid sense for the oppression and pushback in a tiny nation that regarded all of its citizens with uncommon loyalty. The stories are sobering and significant in historical value, while the language choices leave it accessible to those as young as 10.
COURAGE & DEFIANCE is broken into five parts, beginning in April of 1940 with the overnight invasion of the tiny nation of Denmark. Sedition was initially scattered, disorganized, and small scale until the Summer of 1943. As news of Allied victories spread, it brought embodiment and hope to the Danish people. They began to openly revolt, and the Germans cracked down with martial law and the total neutralizing of the Danish military. It is here, at part 2 and the book’s halfway point, that the Nazis ordered the roundup of all 7,700 Jews living in Denmark. The pacing accelerates from here on out as the Danes worked together to warn their Jewish neighbors, then evacuate as many as they could. Part 3 covers the Fall of 1943-Summer of 1944, as a number of the resistance members that readers have come to know are captured and imprisoned. Some are executed. Part 4 tells of those who survived to be deported into Germany and face the cruel and deteriorating conditions of Nazi camps—illness, starvation, and ten hour work days. Part 5 recounts Liberation in the spring of 1945—though survival was far from assured for these political prisoners, even to the final moments.
What’s most striking is how perfectly well these men and women understood the risks they were running in opposing the Nazis. There were no guarantees that Hitler could be stopped. Torture and death awaited any caught engaging in espionage or sabotage. And yet, there were many who could not just stand by and passively watch their society and principles were ravaged a piece at a time. They were willing to put their bodies and lives on the line—potentially being betrayed by their own Nazi-sympathizing countrymen—to defy submission to a genocidal war machine.
One of the most harrowing accounts would have to be that of The Flight of the Hornet, which begins on page 47. It tells of Tommy Sneum’s daring escape from Denmark to Great Britain in an outdated little plane, which he had to secretly reassemble himself in a barn. The tension throughout this incident is palpable.
On the flip side, readers may have a bit of trouble keeping track of all of the characters followed throughout. Pictures of said persons are offered, but not up front. And while the linear chronological ordering of events makes perfect historical sense, it leaves large alternating gaps between character accounts—and thus time for readers to forget who they are being told about. For this reader, it caused distancing and disconnect from their individual plights.
This book has great bottom-line potential as a tool for bringing the tensions and conflict of WW2 to life in a whole new way; suitable for students as young as lower middle-grade, or for anyone who is simply interested in expanding their understanding on the subject.
December 13, 2015
“Only a drop in the ocean, that’s what they say. Well now, the ocean consists of drops.” – Mogens Fog
An emotionally affecting story based on a collection of survivors’ memoirs, this WWII account focuses on the resistance efforts in Denmark during the five years of German occupation. Readers are immediately drawn in with riveting action from the Danish spies and saboteurs—ordinary men and women who, instead of meekly surrendering their freedom and watching their fellow countrymen in danger, chose to covertly help the official resistance organizations by destroying German machinery and weaponry, disrupting their supply lines and secretly transporting the Jewish population to nearby neutral Sweden. At a great risk to their own lives—and in fact many of the Danes featured were eventually sent to concentration camps—these men and women were brave, admirable heroes of WWII and humbly represent the spirit of the Danish people in a time of great deprivation and strife.
Courage & Defiance easily garners interest in its subject, giving supporting information on the causes of the war succinctly, and age appropriate descriptions of Hitler’s rise without overwhelming details. Headings include a date, relevant quote or newspaper headline, and there are captioned photos throughout. A vocabulary list for young readers is included, as well as a prologue that is both informative and personal while anticipating any qualms readers may have, such as the timeline that skips around.
The author’s enthusiasm for these brave men and women shines with each new chapter, encouraging readers to further independent research. While recommended for ages 8 -12 years, it is suitable for both young adults and older readers as an indispensable reference for those interested specifically in the history of Denmark during World War II.
An emotionally affecting story based on a collection of survivors’ memoirs, this WWII account focuses on the resistance efforts in Denmark during the five years of German occupation. Readers are immediately drawn in with riveting action from the Danish spies and saboteurs—ordinary men and women who, instead of meekly surrendering their freedom and watching their fellow countrymen in danger, chose to covertly help the official resistance organizations by destroying German machinery and weaponry, disrupting their supply lines and secretly transporting the Jewish population to nearby neutral Sweden. At a great risk to their own lives—and in fact many of the Danes featured were eventually sent to concentration camps—these men and women were brave, admirable heroes of WWII and humbly represent the spirit of the Danish people in a time of great deprivation and strife.
Courage & Defiance easily garners interest in its subject, giving supporting information on the causes of the war succinctly, and age appropriate descriptions of Hitler’s rise without overwhelming details. Headings include a date, relevant quote or newspaper headline, and there are captioned photos throughout. A vocabulary list for young readers is included, as well as a prologue that is both informative and personal while anticipating any qualms readers may have, such as the timeline that skips around.
The author’s enthusiasm for these brave men and women shines with each new chapter, encouraging readers to further independent research. While recommended for ages 8 -12 years, it is suitable for both young adults and older readers as an indispensable reference for those interested specifically in the history of Denmark during World War II.
October 18, 2022
These are stories that need to be told and remembered; the world we live in was secured by such brave people and this book has an indispensable place. First, because it is based on the memoirs of those that fought to disrupt the Nazi machine and second, because it is written for a wide audience: teenagers to adults.
Those that lived through those terrible years are fast leaving us; as such, I commend this book. I see it as work that will be readily received by the younger generations.
A book for all and I feel honoured to read of those who refused to sit quietly as the world around them was torn apart.
Those that lived through those terrible years are fast leaving us; as such, I commend this book. I see it as work that will be readily received by the younger generations.
A book for all and I feel honoured to read of those who refused to sit quietly as the world around them was torn apart.
August 23, 2019
Wow, I have to love those Danes.
March 14, 2016
I purchased this as J since the YA nonfiction budget is basically nonexistent. It really fits the YA category a bit better. The first interesting item I noticed was how little attention Knud Pedersen, the main focus of the last book I read, got. It confirms my suspicion that likely he was among the first but not the first as recognized by other Danish groups. I also suspect one of the themes of that book was inaccurate too: plenty of Danish people were trying to work against the Nazis but they had to be careful and were more cautious than Pedersen's group and kept their secret better.
I checked and a juvenile title that came out in 2005, Darkness Over Denmark by Ellen Levine, was cited in the bibliography which I found commendable since I had been very impressed by that book. This had a slightly broader scope than that title but did cover similar material in part. This one covered the resistance movement in Denmark in general and followed a few people, mostly saboteurs but other resistance people as well, throughout the resistance period. Denmark was unusual in that it was not exactly a conquered country but one that had submitted to the Nazis threats of bombardment. This did protect the general populace and the Jews there for a fair amount of time. Although often condemned as cowardliness, it did its purpose of keeping more people from being killed directly. Indirectly, it may have failed in this aim since Denmark was milked extensively to help the Nazi war effort, so plenty of people died as a result of that. So that would remain a controversial decision.
I did not care for the layout design of the book. A lot of the print was not easy to read. I also do not think the author's decision to go by chronology was a wise one. It was hard to keep track of the people she was telling about. It did lead to a better understanding of what was going on in the broader picture, so was successful that way.
The author often felt rather removed from the people being written about. The word tragic was used too often, even if accurate. The repetition removed the drama from the word and events being written about. There was no follow up, no list of wives, or other family members left grieving. The account of that person just stopped.
Having said that, a lot of the story was very well told, with interesting details added. I found the photo showing some of the large number of underground newspapers fascinating. The vivid accounts of how the prisoners kept their spirits and physical conditioning up was intriguing. One person did chin ups using his window shelf in his cell after figuring out how to slip out of his handcuffs. It described some of the ways the prisoners were able to communicate with each other. I also found the description of the moral anguish the various resistance people had before and after their decision to start resisting very interesting. I appreciated it being less black and white and more realistically grey than the last book I read.
Recommended for units on war and the effects it has on the civilian population.
I checked and a juvenile title that came out in 2005, Darkness Over Denmark by Ellen Levine, was cited in the bibliography which I found commendable since I had been very impressed by that book. This had a slightly broader scope than that title but did cover similar material in part. This one covered the resistance movement in Denmark in general and followed a few people, mostly saboteurs but other resistance people as well, throughout the resistance period. Denmark was unusual in that it was not exactly a conquered country but one that had submitted to the Nazis threats of bombardment. This did protect the general populace and the Jews there for a fair amount of time. Although often condemned as cowardliness, it did its purpose of keeping more people from being killed directly. Indirectly, it may have failed in this aim since Denmark was milked extensively to help the Nazi war effort, so plenty of people died as a result of that. So that would remain a controversial decision.
I did not care for the layout design of the book. A lot of the print was not easy to read. I also do not think the author's decision to go by chronology was a wise one. It was hard to keep track of the people she was telling about. It did lead to a better understanding of what was going on in the broader picture, so was successful that way.
The author often felt rather removed from the people being written about. The word tragic was used too often, even if accurate. The repetition removed the drama from the word and events being written about. There was no follow up, no list of wives, or other family members left grieving. The account of that person just stopped.
Having said that, a lot of the story was very well told, with interesting details added. I found the photo showing some of the large number of underground newspapers fascinating. The vivid accounts of how the prisoners kept their spirits and physical conditioning up was intriguing. One person did chin ups using his window shelf in his cell after figuring out how to slip out of his handcuffs. It described some of the ways the prisoners were able to communicate with each other. I also found the description of the moral anguish the various resistance people had before and after their decision to start resisting very interesting. I appreciated it being less black and white and more realistically grey than the last book I read.
Recommended for units on war and the effects it has on the civilian population.
February 5, 2017
My 6th grade son gave me this book for Christmas. I was overwhelmed because I didn't think he paid much attention to my reading preferences. Distributed and sold through the American Scholastic book company—just about every American probably read many of their books in their youth, I remember reading biographies of Joe Namath and Stephen Foster—this is a collection of stories that forms a picture of the Danish resistance in WWII. Since it is aimed more for middle school readers, it focuses on personal recollections and experiences rather than larger historical trends and macro politics. Nevertheless, it provides some real adventure stories and doesn’t fail to point out how people sacrificed, suffered, and ultimately prevailed against Nazi tyranny.
I appreciated learning more about the Danish experience in WWII, mostly because it is one of my favorite places in the world and I have come to love and respect Danish people. Most WWII histories I’ve read say little, if anything, about Denmark. There were no great battles, mass atrocities, or widely publicized historical figures in the nation’s WWII experience.
But in true Danish style, this story is about regular people who love their country and anonymously go about their business to build a better society. They don’t beat their chests or try to tell the world how great they are; they just do the best they can. And the people Hopkinson chose to portray are among the best the nation had to offer.
I could quibble about little things that occasionally annoyed me, like the few times Hopkinson refers to something of the effect of “and this was before the era of cell phones and computers.” But I had to remind myself that the book’s intended audience is middle schoolers who likely know little or nothing about WWII or what it is like to live in a state of war with a totalitarian state.
All in all, if you have or know children in middle grades, this is a nice book to hopefully inspire them to learn more and understand the sacrifices that sometimes need to be made to achieve a better world, whether or not it is in times of war or crisis. Even getting through the day in the 21st century requires a sense of personal decency and social responsibility.
My rating of 3 stars is for adults. For the intended audience, it's probably closer to 4 to 5 stars.
I appreciated learning more about the Danish experience in WWII, mostly because it is one of my favorite places in the world and I have come to love and respect Danish people. Most WWII histories I’ve read say little, if anything, about Denmark. There were no great battles, mass atrocities, or widely publicized historical figures in the nation’s WWII experience.
But in true Danish style, this story is about regular people who love their country and anonymously go about their business to build a better society. They don’t beat their chests or try to tell the world how great they are; they just do the best they can. And the people Hopkinson chose to portray are among the best the nation had to offer.
I could quibble about little things that occasionally annoyed me, like the few times Hopkinson refers to something of the effect of “and this was before the era of cell phones and computers.” But I had to remind myself that the book’s intended audience is middle schoolers who likely know little or nothing about WWII or what it is like to live in a state of war with a totalitarian state.
All in all, if you have or know children in middle grades, this is a nice book to hopefully inspire them to learn more and understand the sacrifices that sometimes need to be made to achieve a better world, whether or not it is in times of war or crisis. Even getting through the day in the 21st century requires a sense of personal decency and social responsibility.
My rating of 3 stars is for adults. For the intended audience, it's probably closer to 4 to 5 stars.
December 18, 2015
Courage & Defiance by Deborah Hopkinson was a book about WW2 when Germany invaded Denmark. Some of the people that lived there didn't want to wait to what the Germans were going to do to them, so they did anything from printing illegal newspapers to destroying German vehicles. Those people knew that if they got caught doing acts of sabotage against the Germans they could get torchered for information and then killed. There was even a man who got pictures of a new radar system the Germans had and then he took a little plane along with a friend across the water into Allied territory. Since the plane couldn't hold enough fuel for the trip, they had to crawl out onto the wing of the plane to refuel. It also talked about what happened to some people that got captured in the war. They got sent to Concentration Camps just like the Jews. Although the conditions were a little better for the Danes, lots still died and they got very little food. There was also a story about a family that had all but the mother and a sister sent to different Concentration Camps but they all survived. Two of the brothers got freed on their mother's birthday and their mother said it was the best birthday she ever had.
I thought this was a really good book. I like reading about WW2 and other war books. I also think it's really cool that people risked their lives to try and free their country. One thing I didn't like about this book was that this stuff really happened. It's really hard to believe one person can start something that makes so many people lose their lives.
I thought this was a really good book. I like reading about WW2 and other war books. I also think it's really cool that people risked their lives to try and free their country. One thing I didn't like about this book was that this stuff really happened. It's really hard to believe one person can start something that makes so many people lose their lives.
February 16, 2016
I thought this was a really good book. I like reading about WW2 and other war books. I also think it's really cool that people risked their lives to try and free their country. One thing I didn't like about this book was that this stuff really happened. It's really hard to believe one person can start something that makes so many people lose their lives. These people were very brave an this book captured their sacrifice to help others to survive.
February 17, 2016
Courage and Defiance was a good book on the Holocaust. It told the stories of many different people that were involved in the Holocaust. It helped me to understand what the conditions were actually like. It also showed me how many people actually tried to help the Jews to escape to other countries or to hide. Some people even helped by sabotaging the Nazis. Overall, the book was good and it had a lot of information on the Holocaust.
November 12, 2022
This book was really well written about the true lives of those courageous people living, surviving, in the years of World War 2. Mainly taking place in Denmark, this book follows several stories of regular citizens becoming spies, saboteurs, and survivors when they decided to stand up for their fellow citizens and their country. While it's dark, it's the reality of what was happening. Nearing the end of the book when some of the people were losing hope and desperately trying to stick together with family members amongst all the horror of WW2, I did have to take a couple breaks. You have to highly respect these people (not characters, for they really led these lives); the bravery and courage each individual had and showed still blows me away. I'm not sure I would have reacted in the ways many of them did.
It was a very good informative read though depressing at times. I think anyone interested in WW2, spies, or anything similar would find this read interesting.
It was a very good informative read though depressing at times. I think anyone interested in WW2, spies, or anything similar would find this read interesting.
September 20, 2019
There are many great war and espionage stories currently out in this world. The book Courage and Defiance, by Deborah Hopkinson, is an enticing blend of these two genres. The events of the book take place in Denmark, at the start of WWII.
The Danish people are worried, as the terror of tyrannical Nazi regime looms over their head. Their politicians have promised that an invasion will not happen, and that if it does the military will be able to stop it. Suddenly, during the middle of the night, the Nazis marched north into Denmark, and the danish military was powerless to stop it.
The Danish citizens wake up, oblivious to the invasion. Children get ready for school, adults get ready for work. The morning was as normal and unchanged as ever. Then, out of the blue, citizens come running down the street away from something. The people go and see what they are running from, and what they see confirms their worst fears. The Nazis have invaded Denmark. No warning, no resistance, no retaliation. Powerless, trapped in their own land, with nothing to do but just let it happen. The Danish king assures the citizens that they are not in danger, and that they will be allowed to go on with their lives as they had been. Even though they are safe from attack, some residents are torn inside about the state their country is in. They know they have to do something, but what? What can do they all alone, one person, against the greatest army in the world? People like Niels Skov did not let this threat defeat them. He was one of many who hatched small acts of resistance against the Nazis. His acts of defiance included setting fire to Nazi cars and sabotaging factory equipment. Others, such as Tommy Snum, worked with the British to try and gather intelligence and perform acts of espionage against the Nazis.
The book is very interesting and captivating in the fact that I had never even heard of events that take place in it. It made me intrigued about this part of history, and made me want to learn more about it. The book also presented a strong, meaningful message that even when you think things are out of control, out of reach, and you feel powerless to get it, you can still take action to bring yourself closer to that goal.
Some minor criticisms I had with the book were that sometimes the author jumped around to different characters which did little to nothing to resist against the Nazis, and took time away from people that I was interested in. Overall the book was intriguing, fascinating, and a joy to read. I never felt bored when reading this book, and when I was done it felt like it had gone by incredibly quickly.
The Danish people are worried, as the terror of tyrannical Nazi regime looms over their head. Their politicians have promised that an invasion will not happen, and that if it does the military will be able to stop it. Suddenly, during the middle of the night, the Nazis marched north into Denmark, and the danish military was powerless to stop it.
The Danish citizens wake up, oblivious to the invasion. Children get ready for school, adults get ready for work. The morning was as normal and unchanged as ever. Then, out of the blue, citizens come running down the street away from something. The people go and see what they are running from, and what they see confirms their worst fears. The Nazis have invaded Denmark. No warning, no resistance, no retaliation. Powerless, trapped in their own land, with nothing to do but just let it happen. The Danish king assures the citizens that they are not in danger, and that they will be allowed to go on with their lives as they had been. Even though they are safe from attack, some residents are torn inside about the state their country is in. They know they have to do something, but what? What can do they all alone, one person, against the greatest army in the world? People like Niels Skov did not let this threat defeat them. He was one of many who hatched small acts of resistance against the Nazis. His acts of defiance included setting fire to Nazi cars and sabotaging factory equipment. Others, such as Tommy Snum, worked with the British to try and gather intelligence and perform acts of espionage against the Nazis.
The book is very interesting and captivating in the fact that I had never even heard of events that take place in it. It made me intrigued about this part of history, and made me want to learn more about it. The book also presented a strong, meaningful message that even when you think things are out of control, out of reach, and you feel powerless to get it, you can still take action to bring yourself closer to that goal.
Some minor criticisms I had with the book were that sometimes the author jumped around to different characters which did little to nothing to resist against the Nazis, and took time away from people that I was interested in. Overall the book was intriguing, fascinating, and a joy to read. I never felt bored when reading this book, and when I was done it felt like it had gone by incredibly quickly.
December 11, 2017
This book was a very interesting read that I thoroughly enjoyed as a big fan of danish country. The firsthand stories were so exiting I forgot it was a non-fiction book.
January 18, 2016
This nonfiction prose tells the true stories of various people who helped to undermine the German occupation of Denmark during WWII through defiance and sabatoge. Numerous photographs, a timeline, Danish alphabet, extensive bibliography, and more supplemental materials enhance the content of the book. Hopkinson does an excellent job writing to a middle school audience, telling the truth with enough details to hold interest but without getting too gritty or entrenched with the horrors of the era.
September 19, 2015
Not as dynamic a read as Phillip Hoose's book on a similar topic but very interesting. This provides an intriguingly different premise which makes me want to do some research and comparisons. Hopkinson's book has much more detail on the rescue of the Jewish population and on the two British intelligence organizations who seemed to be in competition with each other. A very worth while read and great to use in classrooms with the Hoose book.
June 3, 2016
Courage And Defiance by Deborah Hopkinson is a heart touching book that is a addictive page turner. This book is about the stories of spies, saboteurs, and survivors in World War 2 in Denmark. This book is full of stories that are told in the first person from the spies, saboteurs, and survivors. I really loved this book so much that I recommended it to my whole family and they all loved it. My dad is reading it right now. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a adventure.
April 10, 2016
I knew nothing about the Danish resistance so learned a lot while reading this. Reading the book makes me want to add Denmark to our next European visit. I believe this is rated for middle school readers but it was filled with intense WWII history and I'm wondering if it would be too detailed for some. I admire the courage of the resistance workers throughout Europe. This book has led me to further research on these workers and others in Denmark.
September 17, 2015
Profiles several people who worked alone or in groups during World War II against the Germans in Denmark. The book drives home the danger these people were in (most of them were captured and placed in camps at some point) and what the turning point for each person was to become personally involved.
January 10, 2020
Courage and Defiance by Deborah Hopkinson is a wonderful book about the real lives and saboteurs that lived through World War II. The stories are told in the saboteur’s perspectives. Each chapter hones in on a different life story, all consisting of completely different accounts. However, one similar throughline throughout the characters is that all characters fight back against the Nazis who took over their country, Denmark. Two main characters that are especially focused on by their entire stories being told are Tommy Sneum and Niels Skov.
Since Courage and Defiance takes place during World War II, setting and plot play a major role on the characters and how they act. The book starts off after World War II starts, however, before Denmark had been invaded. The author begins to describe how Denmark was a safe space for all since it had not been under Nazi rule yet. With time, the Nazis eventually invaded Denmark and chaos broke loose. This was a pivotal point for all characters because this is when they all took charge to fight back against the Nazi rule. For some characters, this included smaller things. Niels first broke open a Nazi Jeep’s gas tank and lit it on fire to burn. However, for other characters, this was a time for larger, more immediate actions. For Tommy, he first took notes of how the Nazi’s operated and what type of technology they would use for certain tasks. After collecting this information, Tommy used a neighbor’s plane to fly across the North Sea to inform the British. The idea behind this was that Tommy would inform the English military forces of the notes that he had taken and the things they had seen. Eventually, these independent deeds grew to massive plans involving multiple people, such as burning down whole factories.
I believe that Hopkinson did an amazing job, especially at the beginning of the novel explaining the character’s lives and the sacrifices that each of them made in order to regain control of their country. The way Hopkinson narrates every move and detail makes it feel that you are actually witnessing the events that are occurring. One writing technique that Hopkinson uses often is switching characters between every chapter. Though this can get confusing at some points, Hopkinson switches characters in a way that so stories in polar opposite circumstances are represented in back to back chapters. An example of this would be that when Tommy Sneum is collecting data and flying to Britain to report war secrets to the British army and Niels Skov is in Denmark setting Nazi motorcycles and storage facilities on fire.
Hopkinson’s intent of writing Courage and Defiance was to show that not everyone accepted and went along with the Nazi teachings and ideology. Though Tommy and Niels were heroes, there were many other people who were kind and helped those at odds along the way. One example of this kindness is shown by how Tommy’s landlady warned him about soldiers coming to arrest him: “Thinking fast, the landlady invited the police officers into her apartment to look for a duplicate key, speaking loudly enough that Tommy could hear from where he stood, heart pounding, on the other side of the door. She said ‘You can see the street from there, so you will be in a good position to notice when he comes home. Follow me” (Hopkinson 93). Though Tommy’s landlady is not friends with him, she still risks her life and leads the soldiers in the wrong direction so that Tommy can escape. Personally, I had never really heard of anyone independently fighting back against the Nazi’s, and the few that I did learn about, did not end well. However, that is no exception for many of the characters and their stories in the book. Though towards the end of the book Niels gets caught and is taken to prison and concentration camps for the crimes he had committed, he was able to live through them. Both Tommy Sneum and Niels Skov survived the life or death risks that they both took during World War II and lived well into old age. This brings the perfect ending to Courage and Defiance and brings all the stories and lives to a close to show the impacts that many people made in World War II.
Since Courage and Defiance takes place during World War II, setting and plot play a major role on the characters and how they act. The book starts off after World War II starts, however, before Denmark had been invaded. The author begins to describe how Denmark was a safe space for all since it had not been under Nazi rule yet. With time, the Nazis eventually invaded Denmark and chaos broke loose. This was a pivotal point for all characters because this is when they all took charge to fight back against the Nazi rule. For some characters, this included smaller things. Niels first broke open a Nazi Jeep’s gas tank and lit it on fire to burn. However, for other characters, this was a time for larger, more immediate actions. For Tommy, he first took notes of how the Nazi’s operated and what type of technology they would use for certain tasks. After collecting this information, Tommy used a neighbor’s plane to fly across the North Sea to inform the British. The idea behind this was that Tommy would inform the English military forces of the notes that he had taken and the things they had seen. Eventually, these independent deeds grew to massive plans involving multiple people, such as burning down whole factories.
I believe that Hopkinson did an amazing job, especially at the beginning of the novel explaining the character’s lives and the sacrifices that each of them made in order to regain control of their country. The way Hopkinson narrates every move and detail makes it feel that you are actually witnessing the events that are occurring. One writing technique that Hopkinson uses often is switching characters between every chapter. Though this can get confusing at some points, Hopkinson switches characters in a way that so stories in polar opposite circumstances are represented in back to back chapters. An example of this would be that when Tommy Sneum is collecting data and flying to Britain to report war secrets to the British army and Niels Skov is in Denmark setting Nazi motorcycles and storage facilities on fire.
Hopkinson’s intent of writing Courage and Defiance was to show that not everyone accepted and went along with the Nazi teachings and ideology. Though Tommy and Niels were heroes, there were many other people who were kind and helped those at odds along the way. One example of this kindness is shown by how Tommy’s landlady warned him about soldiers coming to arrest him: “Thinking fast, the landlady invited the police officers into her apartment to look for a duplicate key, speaking loudly enough that Tommy could hear from where he stood, heart pounding, on the other side of the door. She said ‘You can see the street from there, so you will be in a good position to notice when he comes home. Follow me” (Hopkinson 93). Though Tommy’s landlady is not friends with him, she still risks her life and leads the soldiers in the wrong direction so that Tommy can escape. Personally, I had never really heard of anyone independently fighting back against the Nazi’s, and the few that I did learn about, did not end well. However, that is no exception for many of the characters and their stories in the book. Though towards the end of the book Niels gets caught and is taken to prison and concentration camps for the crimes he had committed, he was able to live through them. Both Tommy Sneum and Niels Skov survived the life or death risks that they both took during World War II and lived well into old age. This brings the perfect ending to Courage and Defiance and brings all the stories and lives to a close to show the impacts that many people made in World War II.
October 17, 2022
Personal Response:
While I knew this book was about the spies, saboteurs, and survivors of WWII, I must have glossed over the subtitle too quickly because I somehow didn’t realize it was set in Denmark before getting started. Thus, when the author mentioned how affected she’d been as a girl when reading Lois Lowry’s Number the Stars, my interest was immediately heightened to a new level.
I loved that book as a girl and still vividly remember the intense feelings of fear and suspense permeating through its pages when the German officer confronts the main character’s mother in their home demanding proof that the Jewish friend they were harboring was actually her non-Jewish daughter. That scene still gives me goosebumps, so it was really heartening to realize now as an adult just how many Jewish lives truly were saved by the incredibly brave and remarkably united underground efforts of the Danes during this period. I was especially touched by Hopkinson’s mention of how many Danes took care of Jewish families’ homes and businesses while they sought refuge in other countries so that they would still have a life to return to once the war was over. That is such a different attitude toward the Jewish people than many of them received elsewhere in Europe (and around the world).
Hopkinson also mentioned how many Jews were snuck out by boat and this brought to mind the same scene in Number the Stars where a brave fisherman uses a rag drenched in some chemical to temporarily deaden the senses of smell of the German’s search dogs patrolling the dock. (A similarly terrifying moment!) I am just in awe of the Danes’ bravery. And I’m now so glad I had the chance to read this non-fiction take on the story because it fleshed out so many of the factual details of the setting for the story I so loved as a girl. (It’s about twenty-five years later, but I need to go back and reread Lowry’s brilliant book again!)
Critical Response:
This book is truly excellent. I borrowed my copy from the library, but I can’t wait to add a copy to my own personal collection, as I want my children to grow up reading it and leafing through it. The visuals accompanying the text are well-chosen and Hopkinson is a skilled writer as she deftly balances conveying the facts in an unbiased, well-paced style that also carries the readers forward in a compelling informational narrative.
Using short little vignettes of scenes from a smattering of different characters’ lives and personal recollections years later, she weaves together a well-rounded picture of many of the events going on throughout Denmark from the beginning of the German occupation to the end of the war. Over time, you get to know the characters more and more, and very quickly find yourself rooting for them and their exploits… however daft or daring. Even the subtler, less explosive efforts—going from house to house to raise money to pay for gas for the fisherman’s boats, designing leaflets to print off by the hundreds, etc.—are filled with the titular courage and defiance that buoy the heart with hope and energy to carry on pursuing justice in the world. Even though it’s an informational text, Hopkinson’s descriptions of every effort to undermine the Nazi war machine are exciting (and absolutely thrilling when the saboteurs are victorious).
I would highly recommend including this text in both an elementary and middle school library and classroom as I think students will find it both riveting and informative.
While I knew this book was about the spies, saboteurs, and survivors of WWII, I must have glossed over the subtitle too quickly because I somehow didn’t realize it was set in Denmark before getting started. Thus, when the author mentioned how affected she’d been as a girl when reading Lois Lowry’s Number the Stars, my interest was immediately heightened to a new level.
I loved that book as a girl and still vividly remember the intense feelings of fear and suspense permeating through its pages when the German officer confronts the main character’s mother in their home demanding proof that the Jewish friend they were harboring was actually her non-Jewish daughter. That scene still gives me goosebumps, so it was really heartening to realize now as an adult just how many Jewish lives truly were saved by the incredibly brave and remarkably united underground efforts of the Danes during this period. I was especially touched by Hopkinson’s mention of how many Danes took care of Jewish families’ homes and businesses while they sought refuge in other countries so that they would still have a life to return to once the war was over. That is such a different attitude toward the Jewish people than many of them received elsewhere in Europe (and around the world).
Hopkinson also mentioned how many Jews were snuck out by boat and this brought to mind the same scene in Number the Stars where a brave fisherman uses a rag drenched in some chemical to temporarily deaden the senses of smell of the German’s search dogs patrolling the dock. (A similarly terrifying moment!) I am just in awe of the Danes’ bravery. And I’m now so glad I had the chance to read this non-fiction take on the story because it fleshed out so many of the factual details of the setting for the story I so loved as a girl. (It’s about twenty-five years later, but I need to go back and reread Lowry’s brilliant book again!)
Critical Response:
This book is truly excellent. I borrowed my copy from the library, but I can’t wait to add a copy to my own personal collection, as I want my children to grow up reading it and leafing through it. The visuals accompanying the text are well-chosen and Hopkinson is a skilled writer as she deftly balances conveying the facts in an unbiased, well-paced style that also carries the readers forward in a compelling informational narrative.
Using short little vignettes of scenes from a smattering of different characters’ lives and personal recollections years later, she weaves together a well-rounded picture of many of the events going on throughout Denmark from the beginning of the German occupation to the end of the war. Over time, you get to know the characters more and more, and very quickly find yourself rooting for them and their exploits… however daft or daring. Even the subtler, less explosive efforts—going from house to house to raise money to pay for gas for the fisherman’s boats, designing leaflets to print off by the hundreds, etc.—are filled with the titular courage and defiance that buoy the heart with hope and energy to carry on pursuing justice in the world. Even though it’s an informational text, Hopkinson’s descriptions of every effort to undermine the Nazi war machine are exciting (and absolutely thrilling when the saboteurs are victorious).
I would highly recommend including this text in both an elementary and middle school library and classroom as I think students will find it both riveting and informative.
March 19, 2020
3.5/4
Informative & a quick read on the small but impactful Danish resistance against the Nazis during WWII.
This book actually reminded me a lot of "The President Has Been Shot!": The Assassination of John F. Kennedy stylistically; they both include b/w pictures and are written in a narrative non-fiction, easily digestible, style for teens and (mature) young audiences.
I really liked both books (as non-fiction history YA books), but I happened to like "The President Has Been Shot!" over Courage & Defiance just because the former is a concise story about one man really (Lee Harvey Oswald), and one event (and the short time leading up to it); whereas this book spans five years and involves many resistance fighters and important figures. It's a lot of information for such a short/small book.
(My thinking here is that I'm not the intended audience, so maybe it reads better for a younger reader who is learning more about WWII & the Holocaust instead of an adult reader who finds this a little too short...)
I did really enjoy learning about the Dutch resistance. Their bravery, sense of morality, national pride, and ideas of what is right, was really strengthening.
Some facts that struck me: In the begging of the Dutch resistance, the whole core of the movement was just two men (Ralph Hollingworth in London & Ronald Turnbull in Stockholm). Only two!
These were the early days of global intelligence and foreign spying. It was crazy (and frustrating!) to read about the disorganization & mishandling of information.
Especially the story of Tommy Sneum and his film of Germany's Freya radar system. Tommy risked his life a hundred times over taking that film, and then flying it over to England (building the tiny short-range plane, escaping Denmark & refueling over the North Sea by climbing the plane's wings!) to show the Allies what the Germans had. And when he landed in England he was "arrested", questioned (that part makes sense) and his film was mishandled, destroying most of it (that's the part that kills me!). It worked out in the end, but still, the mismanagement was staggering. (Of course, including, the information that was smuggled out of and survived Nazi Concentration Camps, that made its way all around the world (all the way to FDR in the White House) that were too awful to be believed as real...)
I didn't know much about the Danish occupation and resistance during WWII before reading this book. I did know that the very small Jewish Danish population was mostly saved by the Danish resistance during the war... Most were warned before the Germans came to round them up, and they were hidden and smuggled into Sweden by the Danes. <3
Informative & a quick read on the small but impactful Danish resistance against the Nazis during WWII.
This book actually reminded me a lot of "The President Has Been Shot!": The Assassination of John F. Kennedy stylistically; they both include b/w pictures and are written in a narrative non-fiction, easily digestible, style for teens and (mature) young audiences.
I really liked both books (as non-fiction history YA books), but I happened to like "The President Has Been Shot!" over Courage & Defiance just because the former is a concise story about one man really (Lee Harvey Oswald), and one event (and the short time leading up to it); whereas this book spans five years and involves many resistance fighters and important figures. It's a lot of information for such a short/small book.
(My thinking here is that I'm not the intended audience, so maybe it reads better for a younger reader who is learning more about WWII & the Holocaust instead of an adult reader who finds this a little too short...)
I did really enjoy learning about the Dutch resistance. Their bravery, sense of morality, national pride, and ideas of what is right, was really strengthening.
Some facts that struck me: In the begging of the Dutch resistance, the whole core of the movement was just two men (Ralph Hollingworth in London & Ronald Turnbull in Stockholm). Only two!
These were the early days of global intelligence and foreign spying. It was crazy (and frustrating!) to read about the disorganization & mishandling of information.
Especially the story of Tommy Sneum and his film of Germany's Freya radar system. Tommy risked his life a hundred times over taking that film, and then flying it over to England (building the tiny short-range plane, escaping Denmark & refueling over the North Sea by climbing the plane's wings!) to show the Allies what the Germans had. And when he landed in England he was "arrested", questioned (that part makes sense) and his film was mishandled, destroying most of it (that's the part that kills me!). It worked out in the end, but still, the mismanagement was staggering. (Of course, including, the information that was smuggled out of and survived Nazi Concentration Camps, that made its way all around the world (all the way to FDR in the White House) that were too awful to be believed as real...)
I didn't know much about the Danish occupation and resistance during WWII before reading this book. I did know that the very small Jewish Danish population was mostly saved by the Danish resistance during the war... Most were warned before the Germans came to round them up, and they were hidden and smuggled into Sweden by the Danes. <3
January 14, 2023
I have read lots of books about WW2 on just about every topic, but there's always another angle or tiny overlooked fact. There's always more to know. What I know about the Danish resistance comes from Phillip Hoose's book The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club. I actually preferred that book to this one, but Hopkinson has clearly done exhaustive research on the resistance movement in Denmark beginning with German occupation in April 1940 to Germany's surrender in May 1945.
Hopkinson tells this story in much the same way she did her book on D-Day. It's chronological, semi-narrative, involving many different perspectives, using lots of quotes. The beginning and ending are the best parts. The beginning describes the dismayed reaction of the Danish people to their government's quick surrender to Germany, which leads to the formation of a strong grassroots resistance movement. Some people resist quietly and individually, while others join with Great Britain's Secret Operations organization to carry out sabotage missions against the Germans. Hopkinson goes into great detail about the people involved and the circumstances surrounding their involvement. Unfortunately, it drags a little in the middle from too much detail. The excitement picks up again when the Jewish persecution begins and remains steady to the end.
Although Jews in Denmark faired better than those in other occupied countries, once Danish authorities refuse to execute their own saboteurs, the Germans are done being nice. Hopkinson's description of the Danes reaction to the rounding up of Jews is well done. Equally engaging is her depiction of the imprisonment and deportation of captured resisters. Those who survived did so only through luck and miracles. They endured starvation and unimaginable living conditions right alongside the Jews.
This is definitely a worthy read, but I personally did not find it as exciting as D-Day: The World War II Invasion that Changed History. D-day is a specific, tragic event that happened over a very short span of time. Because of that she could really dig down into the details and craft an emotional story. This book on Denmark had too much going on and consequently it veers into a dry writing style at times. Still, anyone who craves to know more about WW2 will appreciate this one.
Hopkinson tells this story in much the same way she did her book on D-Day. It's chronological, semi-narrative, involving many different perspectives, using lots of quotes. The beginning and ending are the best parts. The beginning describes the dismayed reaction of the Danish people to their government's quick surrender to Germany, which leads to the formation of a strong grassroots resistance movement. Some people resist quietly and individually, while others join with Great Britain's Secret Operations organization to carry out sabotage missions against the Germans. Hopkinson goes into great detail about the people involved and the circumstances surrounding their involvement. Unfortunately, it drags a little in the middle from too much detail. The excitement picks up again when the Jewish persecution begins and remains steady to the end.
Although Jews in Denmark faired better than those in other occupied countries, once Danish authorities refuse to execute their own saboteurs, the Germans are done being nice. Hopkinson's description of the Danes reaction to the rounding up of Jews is well done. Equally engaging is her depiction of the imprisonment and deportation of captured resisters. Those who survived did so only through luck and miracles. They endured starvation and unimaginable living conditions right alongside the Jews.
This is definitely a worthy read, but I personally did not find it as exciting as D-Day: The World War II Invasion that Changed History. D-day is a specific, tragic event that happened over a very short span of time. Because of that she could really dig down into the details and craft an emotional story. This book on Denmark had too much going on and consequently it veers into a dry writing style at times. Still, anyone who craves to know more about WW2 will appreciate this one.
March 18, 2018
-PLEASE DO NOT TAKE JUST MY RATING INTO ACCOUNT
-Rating is only my personal experience and doesn’t reflect on the excellence of the book’s content that which you may enjoy
Sadly, this nonfiction was a little hard for me to review than others. The fact that I was listening to an ebook made it hard for me put together my usual review. This is a shame because I love to dissect the book, look into its research and analyze the chosen illustrations and I wasn’t particularly captivated or interested in the voice(s) and tone(s) read the book that I borrowed from Anytime Library, narrated by Deborah Hopkinson and David de Vries. This may come from my bias to favoring my own voice, when reading.
Courage & Defiance: Stories of Spies, Saboteurs, and Survivors in World War II Denmark By Deborah Hopkinson is about non-fiction chapter book about the Danish resistance in World War II. The book really points out that most of the resistance was carried out by regular Danish citizens and not a government/military. Starting when the Nazis invaded Denmark in the morning of April 9th, 1940, up until the Allied victory on the 5th of May, 1945, the book gives stories of young heroic men and women who not only defied Germany, but had to go against their own. The Nazi’s hadn’t aggressively interfered with Danish everyday living but, pressured the Danish officials and to have their own government support the infiltrated government. The Danish citizens had disbelief and anger. Tension grew and the citizens gave passive resistance: cold shoulder to police officers, anti-German slogans on streets, spitting at German soldiers.
The leaflets, pins, graffiti, all of these acts brought down frustration and isolation that the individuals held. Some of these acts weren’t enough for some civilians. The few determined heroes could not stand an enemy occupying their country and had asked themselves what can one person can do to make a difference. From the thought and reflection of these ordinary citizens they had become, not only survivors, but, saboteurs, spies, and heroes.
-Rating is only my personal experience and doesn’t reflect on the excellence of the book’s content that which you may enjoy
Sadly, this nonfiction was a little hard for me to review than others. The fact that I was listening to an ebook made it hard for me put together my usual review. This is a shame because I love to dissect the book, look into its research and analyze the chosen illustrations and I wasn’t particularly captivated or interested in the voice(s) and tone(s) read the book that I borrowed from Anytime Library, narrated by Deborah Hopkinson and David de Vries. This may come from my bias to favoring my own voice, when reading.
Courage & Defiance: Stories of Spies, Saboteurs, and Survivors in World War II Denmark By Deborah Hopkinson is about non-fiction chapter book about the Danish resistance in World War II. The book really points out that most of the resistance was carried out by regular Danish citizens and not a government/military. Starting when the Nazis invaded Denmark in the morning of April 9th, 1940, up until the Allied victory on the 5th of May, 1945, the book gives stories of young heroic men and women who not only defied Germany, but had to go against their own. The Nazi’s hadn’t aggressively interfered with Danish everyday living but, pressured the Danish officials and to have their own government support the infiltrated government. The Danish citizens had disbelief and anger. Tension grew and the citizens gave passive resistance: cold shoulder to police officers, anti-German slogans on streets, spitting at German soldiers.
The leaflets, pins, graffiti, all of these acts brought down frustration and isolation that the individuals held. Some of these acts weren’t enough for some civilians. The few determined heroes could not stand an enemy occupying their country and had asked themselves what can one person can do to make a difference. From the thought and reflection of these ordinary citizens they had become, not only survivors, but, saboteurs, spies, and heroes.
March 13, 2019
Summary:“This is an extraordinary time we’re living in, an dis has brought forth many extraordinary people….Never has the world been exposed to such suffering, but never has the feeling of life been as strong or as intense as now.-Kim Malthe-Bruun, November 28, 1944. One early morning in Copenhagen Denmark, the people of the town where awoken to Germans on there land, and theses Germans were soldiers that came to invade Denmark because the wanted to get to Norway, we follow the journey of some of the many people who fought for there freedom like Niels Skov, Jørgen Kieler and Thomas Sneum.
Characters: Neils Scov Did one of the first resistance acts towards the Germans by drilling holes into patrol cars gas tanks and the lighting it on fire. Jørgen Kieler made secret new stories without the Germans knowing.Thomas Sneum was a spy for Briton’s SOE & SIS, and also flew across the ocean in a small raggedy plain to give important information to the British about the new German technology
Positive aspects: One positive aspect the I noticed through reading “Courage & Defiance” is that they made it to where the book is very interesting and has some very action packed moments to the point to where I actually wanted to keep on reading and I think that it is really hard to get those qualities into a book that is nonfiction and based around history. Another positive aspect about this book is how in pages 303-309 they gave information about all the people in this book and how they also sighted their sources and that just proves to me that even a professional author needs to use sources.
Negative aspects: One negative aspect about “Courage & Defiance” is that some parts of the book where confusing and hard to understand so I had to read some part over again in order to get a better understanding of the book and its dialogue
Characters: Neils Scov Did one of the first resistance acts towards the Germans by drilling holes into patrol cars gas tanks and the lighting it on fire. Jørgen Kieler made secret new stories without the Germans knowing.Thomas Sneum was a spy for Briton’s SOE & SIS, and also flew across the ocean in a small raggedy plain to give important information to the British about the new German technology
Positive aspects: One positive aspect the I noticed through reading “Courage & Defiance” is that they made it to where the book is very interesting and has some very action packed moments to the point to where I actually wanted to keep on reading and I think that it is really hard to get those qualities into a book that is nonfiction and based around history. Another positive aspect about this book is how in pages 303-309 they gave information about all the people in this book and how they also sighted their sources and that just proves to me that even a professional author needs to use sources.
Negative aspects: One negative aspect about “Courage & Defiance” is that some parts of the book where confusing and hard to understand so I had to read some part over again in order to get a better understanding of the book and its dialogue
December 10, 2021
Courage & Defiance is a Nonfiction book about the Danish Resistance in Nazi Occupied Denmark written by Deborah Hopkinson, and published by Scholastic Press in Fall 2015.
April 9,1940: Rested people who went to sleep in Denmark, woke in Nazi Germany. The Danes found themselves in a situation similar to that of the Poles and the French, who had been steamrolled by the German war machine. However, Copenhagen felt as if the conflict with The Third Reich wouldn't achieve anything other than many deaths. On the flip side, some individuals, like a certain Jorgen Kieler or Tommy Müller, would say otherwise...
Courage & Defiance offers the stories of British spies and the Danish espionage/sabotage network. As well as the ordinary people who under these circumstances committed brilliant acts of courage and resilience such as helping innocent Jews escape to Sweden, surviving under the harsh conditions of concentration camps, and risking everything to hinder the German war effort. All round, this book is a thrilling experience. It makes you feel like you are alongside those brave men and women while they live those moments of resistance, fear, anger, joy, pain and relief. I would recommend this book to people who are interested in the topic of the Second World War. It gives credible information from government documents, and even from the very mouths of those who lived those tough times. I think that Courage & Defiance is among the better WWII books, as it is unbiased, thoroughly researched and brings light to a front of the war that not many speak about. It is a good introduction piece to the larger scale of the war because although it is heavily centered on Denmark, Deborah Hopkinson doesn't fail to emphasize that this is in fact the Second World War. Once again I highly encourage you to read this book, it is quite enticing and I could not put it down while I was reading it.
April 9,1940: Rested people who went to sleep in Denmark, woke in Nazi Germany. The Danes found themselves in a situation similar to that of the Poles and the French, who had been steamrolled by the German war machine. However, Copenhagen felt as if the conflict with The Third Reich wouldn't achieve anything other than many deaths. On the flip side, some individuals, like a certain Jorgen Kieler or Tommy Müller, would say otherwise...
Courage & Defiance offers the stories of British spies and the Danish espionage/sabotage network. As well as the ordinary people who under these circumstances committed brilliant acts of courage and resilience such as helping innocent Jews escape to Sweden, surviving under the harsh conditions of concentration camps, and risking everything to hinder the German war effort. All round, this book is a thrilling experience. It makes you feel like you are alongside those brave men and women while they live those moments of resistance, fear, anger, joy, pain and relief. I would recommend this book to people who are interested in the topic of the Second World War. It gives credible information from government documents, and even from the very mouths of those who lived those tough times. I think that Courage & Defiance is among the better WWII books, as it is unbiased, thoroughly researched and brings light to a front of the war that not many speak about. It is a good introduction piece to the larger scale of the war because although it is heavily centered on Denmark, Deborah Hopkinson doesn't fail to emphasize that this is in fact the Second World War. Once again I highly encourage you to read this book, it is quite enticing and I could not put it down while I was reading it.
May 17, 2021
The book “Courage & Defiance '' is a novel by Deborah Hopkinson she talks about the spies, saboteurs, and survivors in World War 2 in Denmark. The book is a true story about how the Nazi destroyed Denmark and other countries around Denmark. But it also talks about how these groups, the SIS and SOE from Great Britain, are organizations that the government made so they can try to help Denmark the most that they can. Niels Skov and his brother Theis, lived in Denmark where this book starts. Denmark gets attacked by Germany where the Denmark government surrendered and after that Germany made Denmark as where they have their supplies held. Niels and Theis made a big impact on Germany by what they did best , sabotaging and that made a great hole in Germany's army. The main characters are Niels Skov and Thies. After the war started, they began sabotaging the Germany bases. After they round up people you feel the same way about Germany. Later in the book Niels had made an organization by himself which was called HD2 so they could sabotage the Germans. After they have committed these crimes some of them went to prison or went to concentration camps. She told how people tried to save Denmark from the war. How the author wrote the book is fantastic. She told the story of real people who suffered the most terrible event in history by using their lives and describing the events that they faced. The book is great because she talks about people who were affected. This book goes in more detail than a lot of other World War 2 books because the author went into people 's on how they were affected by the war. She showed us how the people in Denmark were affected the most by going into people's lives and telling us what had happened to them and to show us what happened to them.
August 5, 2023
Before it was quiet in Denmark, but on April 9, 1940, the buzz of German planes overhead marked the beginning of World War 2 for the Danes. Courage and Defiance by Deborah Hopkinson tells the heroic tale of saboteurs and survivors of Denmark and their commendable bravery in the midst of evil. The Sibert honor author's ability to understand multiple points of perception at once helped to evoke emotion and empathy into the character's stories. She artfully paints the joy of three Danish escapees from a concentration camp devouring a long-awaited meal after months of starvation and malnutrition. This book includes memorable characters from different backgrounds. Niel Skov was a young apprentice toolmaker who took sabotage into his own hands; Tommy Sneum left the military to make a plan of his own; and Jorgen Kieler sacrificed his career as a doctor to join a sabotage group and became more than a concerned college student. Courage and Defiance has foreshadowing cliffhangers at the end of each chapter that will keep you on the edge of your seat! The text states, "What can one person-or even a few together- do to make a difference against a powerful invading force? As it happens it wasn't too long before Niel Skov came up with an answer." (Hopkinson 23) This book is an inspiring, patriotic story for history buffs or anyone who wants to learn more about World War 2. Enjoy the riveting tale of spies, saboteurs, and survivors by Deborah Hopkinson.
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March 9, 2020Courage and Defiance follows two Danish citizens, Niels Skov and Tommy Sneum, throughout the course of World War II as they try to have an impact on the war. Niels Skov did so as a saboteur, while Tommy Sneum acted as a spy. Skov begins working by himself and setting fire to single cars, but eventually becomes involved in large scale sabotage operations with a group called HD2. He also is involved with a group that prints illegal newspapers to spread anti-nazi ideals across Denmark. Meanwhile Sneum escapes Denmark to England with important information about new technology and is then sent back in to Denmark to work as a spy. Each of the two along with millions of others are forced to decide what is more important to them, either their livelihood and the way that they live, or their own life, because if they are caught they will likely be questioned and killed. The book focuses on the impact that ordinary citizens in Denmark had on the outcome of the war. Eventually each of the two main characters is caught and is sent to a concentration camp. The book shows how the conditions were in the camps the two went to, and how they eventually came to be freed. I would recommend this book to people because it shows a part of World War II that is often overlooked, which is the lives of normal people and how they were affected by the war.
February 21, 2020
This wasn't what I expected. I grew up thinking of Denmark as one of the countries that rescued the Jews during WWII (true, by hiding them and sailing them to Sweden), and the story that when the Germans wanted Jews to wear yellow stars the King of Denmark said he would wear one and encouraged all Danes to do likewise (apocryphal, not true according to Snopes.com). So I was surprised to find out that the Danish government encouraged their citizens to co-operate with the German occupation and that for most of the war the Danish police force was tasked with arresting anti-German protesters and saboteurs.
This book focuses on individual men, mostly young, who take on the Germans despite the position of the Danish government and police. One man decided to blow up Nazi cars and trucks by puncturing the gas tank with a screwdriver and then lighting the leaking gas with a match (not high-tech, even for the 1940s). Another decided to take pictures of an anti-aircraft machine and then stole a plane to fly to England with the pictures.
There was very little mention of women in the Resistance other than the sisters of one of the saboteurs who joined him in printing an underground newspaper.
This book focuses on individual men, mostly young, who take on the Germans despite the position of the Danish government and police. One man decided to blow up Nazi cars and trucks by puncturing the gas tank with a screwdriver and then lighting the leaking gas with a match (not high-tech, even for the 1940s). Another decided to take pictures of an anti-aircraft machine and then stole a plane to fly to England with the pictures.
There was very little mention of women in the Resistance other than the sisters of one of the saboteurs who joined him in printing an underground newspaper.
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