I love a good middle grade World War 2 story but I really enjoyed this one because it wasn’t from the usual perspective of British, American or German characters. Added to the fact that it was loosely based on the childhood of Audrey Hepburn I found the story fascinating. Poignant and emotional, a great read for anyone who is a fan of historical fiction.

Another masterpiece of relatable historical fiction for Tom Palmer! It's so hard to find WW2 fiction that doesn't repeat the same ground, and is suitable for younger children. This book doesn't shy away from the difficulties experienced by the Dutch under Nazi occupation, and has you rooting for Edda and her work for the resistance. However, it is totally suitable for primary school aged children. A chapter that is less often told in the UK, and gives another perspective on the war. It also made me appreciate Audrey Hepburn even more!

This author is achieving deserved attention and plaudits with a number of wartime stories he's written recently, this time for the fabulous publishing house Barrington Stoke.

The book is aimed at children aged 10 upwards. It's certainly a challenging subject, but beautifully told and no less powerful through the simplicity of the writing.

Edda is living in the Netherlands in the time of the Second World War. Her uncle has been killed and her brother has been captured by the Germans. She is determined to do what she can for the resistance, but what can a teenage girl contribute?

Life for Dutch people is dangerous and hard, and the sense of fear and foreboding, hunger and loss is very real in this account. But Edda is strong and resourceful, and the book is ultimately a tale of hope and courage.

It's a rather wonderful book which quietly and thoughtfully tells Edda's story - which is inspired by the childhood of the Hollywood star Audrey Hepburn!

1943; war rages across Europe. In the Netherlands, the Dutch people live in fear under the ever watchful eyes of German soldiers who seek out Jews and others deemed ‘undesirable’ by the Nazi regime. In the small town of Velp, Edda and her family do their best to live under the radar. With little food, no fuel for fires and with the constant threat of capture, or worse, life is grim.

Stirring quietly, a brave group of people are doing what they can to resist the Nazis and aid the Allied war efforts. The Dutch resistance are fighting back and after her uncle is savagely murdered and her brother is sent to a labour camp, Edda is determined to fight too. Risking everything, she will do whatever she can to stop the Nazis and to help liberate her town and country…

Inspired by the childhood of Edda, better known as Hollywood royalty Audrey Hepburn, Resist is an incredibly powerful and moving read that centres around the brave and courageous work of the Dutch resistance and their wartime efforts.

Meticulously researched and written with clarity and a directness that I really appreciate, it is a compelling read that showcases the strength and courage found in the face of overwhelming adversity when it would have been easier to become one of the dust covered bodies lying on the side of the road or simply fall asleep in the cellar and never wake up. Wartime was, and is, grim, and Palmer’s portrayal of life in Nazi occupied Netherlands is without exception as he precisely describes the hardships, daily suffering, the unimaginable risks taken, the daring deeds and heroic acts of bravery.

This is another masterclass in historical storytelling from an award-winning author who is at the peak of his powers. Like many of his books, he give readers the opportunity to understand, experience and appreciate the events of war through an absorbing, authentic and gripping narrative that places a main character and, thus, the reader, right at the heart of the action.

Tom’s growing catalogue of wartime reads really are something rather special. I have a niece in year two and I look forward to being able to share his stories with her when she is a little bit older. I already have a nice stack of Tom’s books and this one will most definitely be added to that collection. Resist is irresistible.

As with all Barrington Stoke titles the book is published using dyslexic friendly font and colours so everyone can access this read. With huge thanks to the publisher for the copy I received in exchange for an honest review.

Recommended for 9+.

Tom Palmer knocks it out of the park again! I adored this book and read it one sitting. Telling the story of young Edda/Audrey and her fears and courage during World War II in the Netherlands this was an engaging and slightly tense read. Edda is a young girl who volunteers for the resistance, delivering letters and dancing to raise money. With her eldest brother in hiding, and her other brother taken away to work in Germany, she becomes more determined than ever to help the resistance, carrying out yet more daring acts that could get her and her family killed. Palmer writes in a way that really allows a reader to understand how the main character is feeling, and soon gets you hooked into the story. I would have no hesitation in recommending this book to our Year 6 teachers as part of their World War II topic, or to students who have shown an interest in learning about the war.

Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for granting me access to an eARC of this book.

Tom Palmer really is a master storyteller of Middle Grade World War 2 historical fiction and continues to find new, innovative aspects of this period to explore.

Resist shines a light on the work of the Dutch resistance, a movement I knew little about before reading this book. It follows the story of teenage girl Edda, who after the murder of her beloved uncle and the capture of her brother by the Germans, is determined to do anything she can to help the resistance fight back against their oppressors.

Often teaching about WW2 focuses solely on the experiences of British citizens, either in the cities during the Blitz or evacuees in the countryside or a combination of the two, so it was refreshing to read a story that took place in another European country.

I have to say I was shamefully unaware of the plight of ordinary Dutch people in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands and the severe hardship they faced. With barely any food to eat, the population lived under the constant threat of arrest and enslavement. For reasons that will become clear when reading the book, Edda's family are forced to hide out in a cellar for months on end and it is shocking to read how emaciated they become due to the extreme hunger, bordering on starvation they suffer.

Yet however weak and desperate Edda and her family become, the embers of hope continue to glow in the hearts and they cling on to their dreams of a day when war will be declared over.

Edda is such a courageous and inspirational protagonist who demonstrates the most immense bravery and resilience. The lengths she goes to in order to assist the Resistance and the risks she takes along the way are absolutely astounding. Resist is a truly remarkable tale that needs to be in every Middle Grade WW2 collection.

I am a huge fan of Tom Palmer books anyway and have used both Armistice Runner and After the War in the classroom to support history topics. They have always gone down so well with the children and I have no doubt this one will be the same. Well-written, accessible and a fascinating story that has clearly been well-researched. I have previously participated in online events with Tom Palmer as well and he always delivers exceptional workshops!

An absolute delight of a book, a triumph. This sort of historically based book should be on the curriculum.

The setting for this latest historical novel by Tom Palmer is the village of Velp, which is near to Arnhem in The Netherlands. It is 1943 and Velp is occupied by the Nazis. The villagers are hungry and scared. As they wait for liberation, their German occupiers steal their food and abduct men to work in German factories. The people of Velp know that it is now only a matter of time before the Allies arrive, but with with hardships increasing every day, their ability to resist is all that they have left.

Loosely on the childhood of Audrey Hepburn, 'Resist' is a poignant tale that highlights the courage and compassion of the Dutch Reistance movement during the Second World War. 15 year old Edda has already faced the loss of her uncle, one older brother is in hiding, and another brother lives in fear of being sent to Germany. Yet Edda wants to do her bit, risking her own life to distribute illegal newsletters.

I was delighted to receive a copy of 'Resist' a week before my trip to The Netherlands. I took the book with me to Amsterdam and, although written for children and younger teenagers, it certainly held it's own as a historical novel. Palmer's keenly-researched narrative ensures that it stands up as a historical novel of the highest standard, whilst his succinct language to conveys a character-driven empathatic tale.

With my teacher's head on, I'd say that this novel is most suited to readers of 10 to 13 years old. Personally, I'd very much like to introduce my Key Stage 3 pupils to this novel along with poetry from the Second World War and extracts from The Diary of Anne Frank. This novel has been written for Barrington Stoke, which means that it's in a dyslexia-friendly format and is accessible to less confident readers.

Thank you to NetGalley UK, Tom Palmer and Barrington Stoke for this ARC in return for my honest review.

Another cracking historical fiction from Tom Palmer.
A well written, gripping adventure that really brings the time to life and plenty of characters you care about.
The fact that Tom's books are so thoroughly researched and based on true stories just adds to my enjoyment of them and I always learn lots as well as being entertained. Hopefully there will be his usual author's note in the final version too.

For someone who thinks they’re pretty smart, I am constantly amazed at the things I don’t know! Take this book, Resist. This book is based on the childhood of Audrey Hepburn, and her life during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam during WW2. What a story! Audrey, or Edda, as she’s known to her family, wants to do whatever she can to help the resistance against the Nazi occupation, so part of the story shows he courage and bravery in that regard. Then there’s the tragedy of families being separated, and the struggle that people went through finding enough to eat, all while living with the fear of what the Germans had in store for them. An eye-opening look into this time in history, and the history of someone we all know from the screen, but maybe not as many know about her life before that.

Thank you to NetGalley and Barrington Stoke for the opportunity to review this title.

Tom Palmer writes so beautifully about historical events and in resist he portrays Edda’s life in such a realistic manner. I was immediate immersed into her world and felt her plight as I read through the story. Even in a short story such as this, she was well developed and I loved the sense of hope as we followed her journey under German occupation. She’s fierce and brave and many young girls will feel like she is a role model. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this fantastic story.

A great read. Knowing this is based on Audrey Hepburn’s life I was keen to read it. It was quick moving, but I also thought there were times when I wanted to know know more, why had things happened. I’m sure it will encourage children to read and maybe even look for those answers. Not too long to put a child off.

What a fabulous historical read. Tom Palmer is such a reliable narrator for young people as he gets straight to the heart of the characters, He meticulously researches every book he produces and you feel reassured by his knowledge of the time period. Highly recommend

Living in a small village in the Netherlands during the German occupation, a family struggles to know how to fight the occupying force without getting killed. All the members of the family including the brothers, sister, grandfather and mother play their part risking their lives for the resistance.

A truly enjoyable book, that informs and enlightens. Knowing the role of other countries in WW2 gives a more nuanced account of how people fought all over Europe.

Clear, succinct writing that can be used as an exemplar. This book is full of discussion starters for a number of subjects including resilience and freedom.

Resist
By Tom Palmer
Published by Barrington Stoke

Tom Palmer returns with another fantastic historical story set in the Natzi-occupied Netherlands. Told through the eyes of Edda, a brave and selfless 15 year old who goes above and beyond for her friends, family and the country she loves. Palmer weaves heart-felt fear with strength and determination to retell what Edda and her family puts themselves through day after day. But working as a secret messenger for the resistance brings its own trials, secrets and fears. Shivers and tingles of fear ran through me as I read Palmers descriptions of how hard life was both physically, mentally and emotionally when the Germans were in control.

Palmer never fails to deliver an amazing, gritty historical novel to both educate and remind us of how much our previous generations went without, in contrast to what we have today. Edda’s story is powerful, poignant and heart-felt brave.

Joanne Bardgett - Year 3 teacher of littlies, lover of books
#Tompalmer
#Netgallery
#Barringtonstokes

I have wanted to read a Tom Palmer book for ages and was excited to see this Barrington Stoke book on #netgalley.

It is based on real life events, the real life events of Audrey Hepburn - which is something I never knew. It's not necessary to know this before you start, but it's a wonderful extra to discover after reading.

It's set during World War II in the Netherlands. I always hear of people looking for books connected to the west to share in school - this is a definite must! It feels so real, so haunting but not too traumatic meaning it can be shared with younger readers.

My lasting impression is of one scene. A scene in which flowers remind a German soldier of their mother. This image has stuck with me.

A must read! I suspect as it's Barrington Stoke the paper copy will be even better and accessible to all!

Resist is the latest offering from Tom Palmer for Barrington Stoke. Inspired by the childhood of Audrey Hepburn, Resist transports the reader to the Nazi-occupied Netherlands, where we follow the life of Edda, a teenage girl determined to do everything she can to fight her opposers. What follows is a harrowing tale of courage and adversity.

Resist is an utterly gripping story. It’s a Barrington Stoke publication, perfect for reluctant or dyslexic readers, and Tom Palmer packs a mighty punch in just over 200 pages. It feels well researched, frightening unsensationalist and it’s very immersive. I would highly recommend it’s added to any Year 6 classroom bookshelf. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

It’s an accessible

Inspired by the childhood of Audrey Hepburn, Resist tells the story of Edda, a 15 year old living in Velp near Arnhem. Edda's family has suffered during the war - her uncle was killed and her brother is in hiding. Edda gradually starts running small errands for the resistance, despite the danger that it could put her and her family in. With food supplies running out and the German army increasing their presence, can Edda and her family continue to survive?

This is an excellent book that offers a different perspective to WWII. It would be a great addition to any year 5 / 6 bookshelf and I will certainly be buying a copy once it is published.

As this is a Barrington Stoke book, it is easily accessible to all.

Resist is a very well researched historical fiction that centers around Edda who is a young girl in the Dutch Resistance. The novel is a compelling read that draws the reader in immediately. While the novel is extremely well-paced, I found myself wanting more. Edda is a character that readers will want to spend more time with as she is very easy to root.
Palmer does an incredible job describing the deprivations of war and the devastating toll they have on all civilians. Ultimately it is a novel about strength and hope and the capacity of people to display courage and sacrifice their own safety in order to secure the safety of others.
I didn’t realize until after I had finished reading Resistance is that it is loosely based on life of Audrey Hepburn.
Fans of history and historical fiction will find themselves unable to put this book down and thinking about many of the characters after the put the book down.
I admittedly tend to shy away from historical fiction set in Europe during the Holocaust, but this book did an excellent job of telling a story that readers likely would not have been exposed to before.
I plan to search for other titles by this author to read as well.