Resistance

by Janet Graber

Marianne, a French 15-year-old, is reluctantly working for the Resistance during World War II. The fear and pressure are getting to be too much for her, and she is angry with her mother for continuing to participate in the movement despite the mounting danger to the family. Marianne promised her father, who died while fighting, that she would care for her deaf brother and keep him from harm. Now a German officer has been billeted with the family, and a sickly British officer is hidden in the woodshed. Marianne never knows who is a fellow Resistance worker and who is colluding with the Nazis. Compounding her escalating terror is the predatory Nazi commanding officer who left one girl in a nearby town pregnant. The taut story line builds tension from the first page. Marianne's confusion and fear are realistically rendered. Yet she is a typical teenager who dreams of being a clothes designer someday, and only wants her family to be safe. This leads her to do something terrible that imperils all of them. Ultimately, she is forced to look beyond the war with its established enemies and allies to see real people and judge them as individuals. With winning characterization and a compelling plot, this quick read will appeal to reluctant readers as well as voracious ones.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, World War II, Young Adult

138 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Janet Graber is an author who has received a McKnight Award given by the Minnesota Literary Loft. She lives in Minnesota.

Reviews

[Anna Hardesty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read previous reviews and I noticed how one woman pointed out that the "rape scene was unnecessary and disturbing" or whatever she said. Honestly, I disagree with her 100%. German soldiers DID take advantage of younger French women and Jewish women back then, and it wasn't uncommon at all. That DID happen. I'm glad that this novel did not go into EXTREME details about anything, but it did refer to it in the smallest way. I loved this book. I'm used to hearing about how mistreated the Jews were by the German, but I haven't heard much about the French, which is why this book appealed to me so much. Great read!

[Marlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marianne and her family are working with the Resistance to move English airmen out of occupied France. However, Marianne is 15 and worried about too many things a girl her age shouldn't worry about. She wants her mother to stop. She wants to protect her brother. She wants to be safely out of the Resistance. A heart wrenching story told from Marianne's perspective. Filled with the troubles and serious lack of understanding most 15 year old's have. I was deeply moved by the last few chapters of the book but have to admit, I nearly gave up after chapter 3. It's a short read so bear it out and you will be glad you did.

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to finish this book before the new year but I’m glad I finished it in general.
As someone who loves to learn about the different perspectives of WW2 this book did an amazing job on explaining what life was like being involved in the Resistance movement. Although I don’t understand what it felt like I can feel the feelings Marianne was feeling during each moment in the book. The ending was a roller coaster of emotions but it was a good story that had a good end

[Rodney Robinson]

Not quite what I was expecting when I read the overview, but enjoyed the book none the less. It is filled with some interesting plot twists some that were expected, others that were not. It is a very easy read and the only reason why it took me 5 days to read it is because of the last two days before break at school and getting ready for Thanksgiving over the weekend.

[Sneha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Resistance was written by Janet Graber. This is a story that is set during World War 2 in 1942 in Paris, France. Marianne Labiche a 15 years old girl who is taking care for her deaf brother Micheal ever since her father died in war. Marianne is a caring for her brother, is very impulsive when they are hiding a Jew in their shed and is very hardcore when it comes to love. (pg.13 and pg.138). After Marianne's father died in the war, Marianne is worried about her deaf brother Micheal when he is doing very dangerous assignments for a secret organization called the Resistance although, her mother Maman does not worry about the danger Micheal is getting into. One of the tasks the Resistance assigned was to hide a Jew until they can find him a way home. Later throughout the book the leader of the Nazis in France, Colonel Bloch starts to get really suspicious about Marianne's family so he sends a soldier by the name of Sergeant Mueller to live with them for a few weeks. (pg . 35)Throughout the book they handle tough times dealing with the soldier and the Jew hiding in there shed. " Five days later at precisely five o' clock in the afternoon, I answer a timid knock on the parlor door. And there stands Sergeant Mueller, come to live in our house..........."
(pg.35).

The novel is written in first person point of view, with Marianne as the narrator of the story. This helps the readers of the book notice the thoughts going through her mind and how her moods start change throughout the book. The themes in this book are family should never let each other go and trust on another. The mood changes throughout book because of the struggle living with a random Nazi solider while hiding a Jew right under his nose. Marianne learned to trust the solider she was living with because he didn't tell his boss that they were hiding a Jew in there shed. Also, Marianne knew to not report Captain Crossland (Jew in the shed) to colonel Bloch because she knows that he has family out there waiting for him to come home. The most important quote in the was spoken by Marianne " With every stitch I will sew a seed of hope. Hope for us all." (pg.139). This quote shows that even though there is bad things happening right now there is still a chance of good out there. With these words Marianne knew there is still hope that the war will end.

The way Marianne and I are alike is that we can learn to trust other people. Marianne knows how to trust Captain Crossland (pg.9), her mom (pg.13), and Sergeant Mueller (pg.138). Even though I am hiding a Jew or living with a solider trusting others in my house is the key to family and friendship. Overall, this book was really unique. Like on page 139 when Marianne already started to hate Sergeant Mueller just because he was a Nazi solider. It started out to be really boring for me in the beginning when it got close to the end there were conflicts between the characters which started to make it really interesting. I would recommend this book for people who are interested in wars and relationships with family. I would rate this book a 8/10 because of the interesting but unique personality of Marianne.

*SPOILER ALERT*
The climax of the novel is when Sergeant Mueller finds out about the Jew that is hiding in there shed. Marianne and her family must be cautious around Sergeant Mueller. On pg. 132 " Believe me Madame, I a not a monster. I did not report the fugitive in your woodshed." This is the climax because the trust throughout the family starts to fall apart. Unfortunately, Micheal dies after taking a bullet for Marianne that was shot by Colonel Bloch. Marianne and her family couldn't trust him anymore. Towards the end of the book Sergeant Mueller returns home late that night with Captain Crossland who was found lonely at the train station, and Marianne and her family trusted him. At the end of the book, Sergeant Mueller told how he felt to Marianne and left there family forever." And I kissed his Lips." page 138.

[Sandra McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fifteen-year-old Marianne can't understand why her mother has put Marianne and her brother at risk by joining the Resistance, an underground movement organized to fight the German occupation of France. There is plenty of emotional conflict as she has to deal with the English soldier her mother is concealing, a German commandant who attempts to molest her, and the young German soldier who is temporarily billeted in her home. It is a story of war but also a story of inner conflicts and struggles as Marianne works through issues of trust and loss and the realization that people are individuals and can not always be easily categorized as "enemy" or “friend.”

[Maryn · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book started out good, but turned bad toward the end. First, there is an almost rape scene that is not needed. Also, the plot starts out well, but there is no resolve for any of the characters in the end. The author just ends the story...there's not even a hint as to what might happen to them. I don't recommend this book.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Looking for a good WWII novel that takes place in France- this wasn't it.

[Natalie]

This book deserves no star. None at all. I couldn't believe how awful and inappropriate and ridiculous it is. I hate this book.