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Allies #0.5
Resist: A Story of D-Day
Back flap copy:
An exclusive, action-packed story about one girl's daring rescue mission during World War II.
Can Samira survive the dangers of D-Day and find her mother in time?
This book was created exclusively for Scholastic Book Clubs Classrooms.
From a paper accompanying this book pack:
Dear Teacher,
June 6, 1944 -- D-Day-- was one of the most important events in human history. My newest book, Allies, tells the story of that momentous day from the viewpoint of six different young people involved in the Normandy invasion, from soldiers landing on the beaches to French citizens living under Nazi occupation.
One of those characters, Samira Zidane, is a French Algerian girl who is part of the Resistance. She plays a big role in Allies, but there was more to her story that I couldn't fit in the book. The free book you hold in your hands, Resist, is the rest of Samira's story! Samira is one of my favorite characters from Allies, and I loved the chance to dive back into her life and her adventures on D-Day as she goes on a daring rescue mission to find her mom.
Resist is a companion story to Allies. You and your students can read it before or after Allies, or all by itself. And don't worry, it doesn't have any Allies spoilers!
Allies and Resist are both action-packed stories of courage and defiance set against the backdrop of real historical events. And both stories are testaments to the idea, perhaps never proven more definitively than on D-Day, that we are stronger when we work together.
Sincerely,
Alan Gratz
An exclusive, action-packed story about one girl's daring rescue mission during World War II.
Can Samira survive the dangers of D-Day and find her mother in time?
This book was created exclusively for Scholastic Book Clubs Classrooms.
From a paper accompanying this book pack:
Dear Teacher,
June 6, 1944 -- D-Day-- was one of the most important events in human history. My newest book, Allies, tells the story of that momentous day from the viewpoint of six different young people involved in the Normandy invasion, from soldiers landing on the beaches to French citizens living under Nazi occupation.
One of those characters, Samira Zidane, is a French Algerian girl who is part of the Resistance. She plays a big role in Allies, but there was more to her story that I couldn't fit in the book. The free book you hold in your hands, Resist, is the rest of Samira's story! Samira is one of my favorite characters from Allies, and I loved the chance to dive back into her life and her adventures on D-Day as she goes on a daring rescue mission to find her mom.
Resist is a companion story to Allies. You and your students can read it before or after Allies, or all by itself. And don't worry, it doesn't have any Allies spoilers!
Allies and Resist are both action-packed stories of courage and defiance set against the backdrop of real historical events. And both stories are testaments to the idea, perhaps never proven more definitively than on D-Day, that we are stronger when we work together.
Sincerely,
Alan Gratz
59 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
432 people are currently reading
3572 people want to read
About the author
Alan Gratz
48 books4,783 followersAlan Gratz is the bestselling author of a number of novels for young readers. His 2017 novel Refugee has spent more than two years on the New York Times bestseller list, and is the winner of 14 state awards. Its other accolades include the Sydney Taylor Book Award, the National Jewish Book Award, the Cybils Middle Grade Fiction Award, a Charlotte Huck Award Honor, and a Malka Penn Award for Human Rights Honor. Refugee was also a Global Read Aloud Book for 2018.
Alan’s novel Grenade debuted at number three on the New York Times bestseller list, and his most recent book, Allies, debuted at number two on the list and received four starred reviews. His other books include Prisoner B-3087, which was a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Readers pick and winner of eight state awards; Projekt 1065, a Kirkus Best Middle Grade Book of 2016 and winner of five state awards; Code of Honor, a YALSA Quick Pick for Young Readers; and Ban This Book, which was featured by Whoopi Goldberg on The View.
Alan has traveled extensively to talk about his books, appearing at schools and book festivals in 39 states and a half-dozen countries, including Brazil, Canada, China, Indonesia, Japan, and Switzerland, and has been a Writer in Residence at Tokyo’s American School in Japan, the James Thurber House in Columbus, Ohio, and the Jakarta Intercultural School in Indonesia.
Alan was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, home of the 1982 World’s Fair. After a carefree but humid childhood, Alan attended the University of Tennessee, where he earned a College Scholars degree with a specialization in creative writing, and, later, a Master’s degree in English education. He now lives with his family in Asheville, North Carolina, where he enjoys playing games, eating pizza, and, perhaps not too surprisingly, reading books.
Alan’s novel Grenade debuted at number three on the New York Times bestseller list, and his most recent book, Allies, debuted at number two on the list and received four starred reviews. His other books include Prisoner B-3087, which was a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Readers pick and winner of eight state awards; Projekt 1065, a Kirkus Best Middle Grade Book of 2016 and winner of five state awards; Code of Honor, a YALSA Quick Pick for Young Readers; and Ban This Book, which was featured by Whoopi Goldberg on The View.
Alan has traveled extensively to talk about his books, appearing at schools and book festivals in 39 states and a half-dozen countries, including Brazil, Canada, China, Indonesia, Japan, and Switzerland, and has been a Writer in Residence at Tokyo’s American School in Japan, the James Thurber House in Columbus, Ohio, and the Jakarta Intercultural School in Indonesia.
Alan was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, home of the 1982 World’s Fair. After a carefree but humid childhood, Alan attended the University of Tennessee, where he earned a College Scholars degree with a specialization in creative writing, and, later, a Master’s degree in English education. He now lives with his family in Asheville, North Carolina, where he enjoys playing games, eating pizza, and, perhaps not too surprisingly, reading books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 300 reviews
February 20, 2020
This was an amazing book all about world war II. And it was about this girl named Samira who works for the French Resistance. She is trying to save her mom and the other prisoners but she won't be able to until allied attack carries out successfully. I think this book will really get people interested in world war II.
July 8, 2025
Oh this episode of listening to books I own 👍🏼:
*Libby app, Overdrive was better *
----
Well done and powerful story. Kept me gripping my steering wheel on and off throughout the whole thing:).
The narrator did a wonderful job 👏 🙌.
Glad I found a new favorite author ❤️
*Libby app, Overdrive was better *
----
Well done and powerful story. Kept me gripping my steering wheel on and off throughout the whole thing:).
The narrator did a wonderful job 👏 🙌.
Glad I found a new favorite author ❤️
December 21, 2019
It was amazing and action-packed causing me to go WAY past my bedtime to finish this book.
January 4, 2021
It was really good!
😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜
😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜
May 22, 2025
A short but enjoyable, fast-paced World War Two novella.
✏️ Review ✏️
Although it's a short WWII novella, Resist delivers a fast-paced and engaging storyline. Granted, the plot is short, so it's focus isn't on deep construction but rather on an action-packed storyline. I wouldn't necessarily say that the characters are stellar either (although they do serve the purpose of piloting the action), but this is a novella after all; so, yeah, enough said about that.
I've always liked Alan Gratz's writing style, and this novella is no exception. Gratz's use of many onomatopoeic words does a great job at depicting the commotion-filled war setting.
For a WWII novella, Resist makes for a quick and enjoyable read. Signing off 'til next time....
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📊 A Quick Overview 📊
👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The fast-paced plot.
• The writing style — especially the sensory details like onomatopoeic words.
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• Not necessarily a major dislike/complaint: The characters aren't the greatest.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓
— Would I recommend this book? Yes.*
— To whom? To those who enjoy short but enjoyable WWII stories that don't necessarily have stellar characters.
*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 3/5)
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 3/5
— 📝 Writing: 4/5
— 👥 Characters: 2/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
— 🤬 Language: 0/5
— ⚔️ Violence: 1/5
• A few brief scenes of mild war violence, including one or two descriptions of mild brutality.
— ⚠️ Sexual: 0/5
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📣 Random Comments 📣
• (None)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
• (None)
✏️ Review ✏️
Although it's a short WWII novella, Resist delivers a fast-paced and engaging storyline. Granted, the plot is short, so it's focus isn't on deep construction but rather on an action-packed storyline. I wouldn't necessarily say that the characters are stellar either (although they do serve the purpose of piloting the action), but this is a novella after all; so, yeah, enough said about that.
I've always liked Alan Gratz's writing style, and this novella is no exception. Gratz's use of many onomatopoeic words does a great job at depicting the commotion-filled war setting.
For a WWII novella, Resist makes for a quick and enjoyable read. Signing off 'til next time....
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📊 A Quick Overview 📊
👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The fast-paced plot.
• The writing style — especially the sensory details like onomatopoeic words.
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• Not necessarily a major dislike/complaint: The characters aren't the greatest.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓
— Would I recommend this book? Yes.*
— To whom? To those who enjoy short but enjoyable WWII stories that don't necessarily have stellar characters.
*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 3/5)
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 3/5
— 📝 Writing: 4/5
— 👥 Characters: 2/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
— 🤬 Language: 0/5
— ⚔️ Violence: 1/5
• A few brief scenes of mild war violence, including one or two descriptions of mild brutality.
— ⚠️ Sexual: 0/5
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📣 Random Comments 📣
• (None)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
• (None)
January 9, 2026
The book I’m reading is called “ Resist” by Alan Gratz. It is a D-Day story. What an adorable little book! It was a quick, simple, engaging, and fast-paced read. I would recommend reading his books to people of any age. In this book, he tells the story of Samira, a young Algerian French girl. Her father was murdered by Nazis. In Normandy, she and her mother, Kenya, are part of the Resistance. She had gone to investigate the place where the Nazis had taken her mother and other prisoners who had been picked up for deportation or potentially execution. Samira journeys with her dog, Cyrano, in towards the town of Bayeux, an ordinary prison. A glider plane carrying English soldiers and paratrooper dummies come across by her. The invasion on D-day has started. Will Samira arrive in time to save her mother and the other prisoners? Has she found her mother? You can decide.
January 23, 2021
Resist: A Story of D-Day by Alan Gratz is the continuation of his book Allies that introduced the character of Samira, a French Algerian girl, who became inadvertently involved in the June 6, 1944 D-Day invasion. She had gone out to find where the Nazis had taken her mother and others who were rounded up to be deported or possibly shot when she stumbled on Allied soldiers who had arrived by parachute to take and hold strategic points behind enemy lines. In Resist Samira is still trying to help the allied soldiers as they tried to consolidate their positions to hold until the main landing forces have taken the beaches and begun to move inland to join up with them. Samira's primary focus is still to find and hopefully free her mother while avoiding the heavy combat going on all around her. Can she survive the war going on all around her and find her mother in time? In a similar style from Allies, the author tells the continued story of the D-Day invasion from the viewpoint experienced by different young people involved in the Normandy invasion, from soldiers landing on the beaches to French citizens living under Nazi occupation. Resist, is the rest of Samira's story of courage and defiance set against the backdrop of real historical events.
April 26, 2023
It is tough for me to say I am disappointed in this book, not only because the author is so well-respected but because the era (WW2) is a favorite. Resist is a middle-grade book (ages 8-12) that all should read. But there isn't a lot to it.
Resist follows Samira on her hunt to find and save her mother from certain death at the hands of the Nazis. Along her travels, she runs into a "3 or 4-year-old boy" who not only carries a gun and has the understanding and patience not to shoot it at the Nazis as he and Samira wait for them to pass by, but he then goes on to direct Samira on how to get out of the city and tells her he will be going on by himself to cut communication wires. Sorry - way too far of a stretch there. There are other snippets equally as far-fetched, which have nothing to do with knowledge of the war.
The book is good as it has an appropriate moral ending, and the reader will enjoy it because it is super quick. But, it will fall flat for older youths as there isn't much to sink one's teeth into, even for an 8-year-old, but especially for a 12-year-old.
Resist follows Samira on her hunt to find and save her mother from certain death at the hands of the Nazis. Along her travels, she runs into a "3 or 4-year-old boy" who not only carries a gun and has the understanding and patience not to shoot it at the Nazis as he and Samira wait for them to pass by, but he then goes on to direct Samira on how to get out of the city and tells her he will be going on by himself to cut communication wires. Sorry - way too far of a stretch there. There are other snippets equally as far-fetched, which have nothing to do with knowledge of the war.
The book is good as it has an appropriate moral ending, and the reader will enjoy it because it is super quick. But, it will fall flat for older youths as there isn't much to sink one's teeth into, even for an 8-year-old, but especially for a 12-year-old.
January 19, 2025
This was a very good book 👏👏😃😃😃 but one thing I think the author didn’t need to add were all the parts about people’s skin color…like, for instance; the soldier was white blah blah or; two black soldiers and “the white elderly woman” I mean, nobody cares if someone’s skin is white or black!! I mean, seriously? I don’t sum up a character by his skin color, and I don’t care- no one cares about people’s skin color, it doesn’t matter! People always have to include skin color in everything- no one cares if somebody is black or white- Another thing is…why on earth was there a “three to four year old “ boy with a gun in the resistance?…what? Where is that kids mom anyway? So, that was one ridiculous thing…anyway , it was a fine book but those two things were really ridiculous.
September 4, 2020
Quick read. I need to check out Allies.
September 5, 2020
It’s only a short story that is meant as a companion to Gratz’s Allies, but it was a great read and an even better listen!
July 28, 2024
I read this to my nine year old who is very into military history. It is basically the length of a short story that takes place on D-Day as a French girl in the resistance rescues her mother who is also in the resistance. It is thin and implausible. And it did not seem to especially capture my son's imagination either.
December 28, 2025
It was a good a good short read!
May 29, 2025
The story is okay and includes some interesting details, but it feels implausible. I really like the idea of a novella telling a single part (Samira's search for her mother, a member of the resistance) of a much bigger story (D-Day) and can imagine a whole collection of such stories. Side note: loved Cyrano. What a great dog!
September 3, 2021
Resist, written by Alan Gratz is a historical fiction novel about the D-Day invasion in France. The theme of this novel is take risks and do whatever it takes to contribute to a cause. I know this is the theme because of the amount of setbacks the Protagonist encounters, and how she keeps going on.
Samira, a 13 year old girl, accompanied by her stray dog she found, Cyrano, trudge through obstacles and challenges during the second world war in Normandy France. Samira and her mother, for as long as they can remember, were part of the French resistance fighting against the Germans in secret. Samira’s mother gets seized by the Nazis and is sent to camp in Bayeux, which keeps Samira going on her journey because she is bound to save her mother before it is too late. Along the way she encounters Germans, Fake allied airplanes, a glider filled with soldiers, a parade of Nazis and much more. With the help of Cyrano, Samira wouldn't be alive to do what she was meant to do, save France and the rest of the world.
Resist is an action-packed, thrilling, and engaging Novel to Read. The end of each chapter left me on a cliffhanger, no matter the situation, which is a unique and creative way the author writes. For instance in the book, Samira and a boy were hiding in a doorway, with Nazis right outside the street. One of the Nazis began walking towards the door where Samira and the boy were hiding, and then the chapter ends. The cliffhanger that chapter shows is the reason I kept on reading the book. Another reason why this book is highly rated is the action throughout the book. I didn't really come across any part of the book where it got dry and boring. The fast paced action, the thrill, makes this book a better reading experience. An example of fast paced action is when Samira has been walking all day. Dazed by fighting Nazis and witnessing battles, she keeps moving to the next challenge. The fact the character gets barely any rest and a break from action makes the book intriguing and captivating. I like these type of books, and I have a hard time finding similar books to this one. However, Alan Gratz never disappoints, especially with Resist..
Overall, Resist was a wonderful book to read, truly a one of a kind experience. If you like Alan Gratz or enjoy reading about World War 2, Resist is a perfect read for you. I really enjoyed this read and I am certain that you will too.
Samira, a 13 year old girl, accompanied by her stray dog she found, Cyrano, trudge through obstacles and challenges during the second world war in Normandy France. Samira and her mother, for as long as they can remember, were part of the French resistance fighting against the Germans in secret. Samira’s mother gets seized by the Nazis and is sent to camp in Bayeux, which keeps Samira going on her journey because she is bound to save her mother before it is too late. Along the way she encounters Germans, Fake allied airplanes, a glider filled with soldiers, a parade of Nazis and much more. With the help of Cyrano, Samira wouldn't be alive to do what she was meant to do, save France and the rest of the world.
Resist is an action-packed, thrilling, and engaging Novel to Read. The end of each chapter left me on a cliffhanger, no matter the situation, which is a unique and creative way the author writes. For instance in the book, Samira and a boy were hiding in a doorway, with Nazis right outside the street. One of the Nazis began walking towards the door where Samira and the boy were hiding, and then the chapter ends. The cliffhanger that chapter shows is the reason I kept on reading the book. Another reason why this book is highly rated is the action throughout the book. I didn't really come across any part of the book where it got dry and boring. The fast paced action, the thrill, makes this book a better reading experience. An example of fast paced action is when Samira has been walking all day. Dazed by fighting Nazis and witnessing battles, she keeps moving to the next challenge. The fact the character gets barely any rest and a break from action makes the book intriguing and captivating. I like these type of books, and I have a hard time finding similar books to this one. However, Alan Gratz never disappoints, especially with Resist..
Overall, Resist was a wonderful book to read, truly a one of a kind experience. If you like Alan Gratz or enjoy reading about World War 2, Resist is a perfect read for you. I really enjoyed this read and I am certain that you will too.
May 7, 2025
I have seen the future of children's literature - and somewhat sadly, it is 59 pages!
This was an affecting and effective little story about a young girl braving the Nazis in a bid to help her mother.
Alan Gratz is a fab writer for kids ... I just feel it is a sad world when authors have to limit themselves to such a short story, simply to get readers. Why don't most kids want to read any more? (Don't answer that).
This was an affecting and effective little story about a young girl braving the Nazis in a bid to help her mother.
Alan Gratz is a fab writer for kids ... I just feel it is a sad world when authors have to limit themselves to such a short story, simply to get readers. Why don't most kids want to read any more? (Don't answer that).
March 27, 2025
Stars: 3.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cover design: 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I liked this book, but for some reason I had to reread some parts multiple times or read it at a really slow pace. Historical fiction isn’t my favorite, so that could be the reason. I liked how the chapters were all really short, with the longest being about 5 pages.
✨A Quote I Liked✨:
“But everything in its own time, as her mother would say. No sense in crying before you were hurt.”
Cover design: 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I liked this book, but for some reason I had to reread some parts multiple times or read it at a really slow pace. Historical fiction isn’t my favorite, so that could be the reason. I liked how the chapters were all really short, with the longest being about 5 pages.
✨A Quote I Liked✨:
“But everything in its own time, as her mother would say. No sense in crying before you were hurt.”
April 3, 2025
I decided to start my Alan Gratz journey with this short story. I am a huge fan of historical fiction; it's what really ignited my love of reading as a child. WWII was always a subject I found equal parts fascinating and heartbreaking. Samira's bravery as she fights to save her mother was admirable. Her youth made it even more so. This was a fantastic short story that has me running off to purchase Allies next.
October 12, 2025
4 stars easily for this D-Day novella by Gratz. I loved this additional story. It’s action packed, like Gratz always does, and follows strong characters. It takes place in France during D-Day but it isn’t on the beaches. The history aspect has you learning about decoys and other resistance fighters.
Fabulous book; I only wish the story was longer.
Fabulous book; I only wish the story was longer.
April 29, 2025
I could not put this book down it was amazing I wish it was a little longer though highly recommend for anyone who just what’s a little great exiting book I think this book is for like 8-14 year olds. (but amazing>4)
June 30, 2025
A gripping story from beginning to the end, this short read is a terrific story of a teenage girl, fighting alongside the French Resistance, to save her captured mother. Samira and her side-kick dog, Cyrano, are brave and clever and inspiring, pushing through pain and fatigue in the most difficult of situations.
April 28, 2021
Samira showed courage during this book, but it was boring at times.
February 7, 2024
Libby: Adorable. And short. Lol. Loved the narrator's voice, too. This is a little novella about WW2.
Read by Vaneh Assadourian. #booksin24
Read by Vaneh Assadourian. #booksin24
September 4, 2024
Even though this is a short story, I know that there were children like her throughout WWI and WWII. True bravery.
December 31, 2024
This was good but could've been a lot longer.
June 5, 2025
It’s Alan Gratz. It’ll always be the best no matter how old you are
June 16, 2025
Read this novella with my kids to see if we wanted to read the larger book, 'Allies' and we do!
August 9, 2025
I wish it was longer
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January 6, 2026good
Displaying 1 - 30 of 300 reviews