Resist

This is historical fiction at its best, set during World War II in the village of Velp near Arnhem. 15 year old Edda is frightened and increasingly hungry, but she shows immense courage in undertaking small actions of resistance against the Nazi occupiers. Like most Dutch families, Edda’s has been traumatised by the war: her uncle was killed by the Germans as retribution for the actions of saboteurs; her brother Alex is in hiding because Dutch young men were abducted and sent to work as virtual slave labour in Germany; her other brother Ian is 17 so should be safe – but is he? And why is Edda’s mother on a list of locals that are ‘not to be trusted’? This is a story of resistance in the face of occupation which seems especially timely given recent events in Ukraine.

My husband is Dutch and we lived on the outskirts of Arnhem for 2 years in the 1990’s. I heard stories about the war years which match closely with events in the book. My mother-in-law was 12 years old in early 1945 and during the ‘Hongerwinter’ (Winter of Hunger), she walked miles to a farm to get some eggs for the family. On the way back, she dropped one. She was so hungry that she licked it from the pavement. Her younger brother died of malnutrition that winter. My father-in-law’s mother was a German living in the Netherlands, and when the Nazis came on raids, she invited them in for ‘kaffee und kuchen’, pretending to be welcoming so that the neighbours would have time to hide their ‘onderduikers’ (people in hiding). I also knew the term ‘moffen’ (a derogatory term for a German soldier occupying the Netherlands) and heard repeatedly – even 50 years after the war! – that ‘moffen’ stole Dutch people’s bikes. Because we lived in Arnhem and are keen historians, I am very familiar with the Battle for Arnhem, having visited the Airborne Museum at Hartenstein many times (on a side note, the movie ‘A Bridge Too Far’ would be an excellent supplement to this novel for secondary school age students). All this is to say that the novel ‘speaks true’ to me, and shows evidence of meticulous research.
One thing I didn’t realise while reading (as I hadn’t read the blurb in advance) is that this novel is loosely based on the childhood story of Audrey Hepburn! After reading, I looked up Velp on Wikipedia and saw that the famous people from Velp included Hepburn; it was only then that I put two and two together, as Edda is the character’s Dutch name, with Audrey as her English name. This added bonus to the story makes me want to read the novel over again after doing some additional research into Hepburn’s family.

I am an English and History teacher at a secondary school, and also the Literacy Coordinator and a Reading Intervention Specialist working with struggling and reluctant readers. In every facet of my work, Resist is incredibly useful. Not only does it subtly teach history, it is also a Barrington Stoke novel, meaning that it is accessible for the reluctant and struggling readers I work with. Palmer is a genius at using crisp, clear language to create vivid scenes and evoke tension, so with my English teacher’s hat on, it is also top-notch.

Highly recommended.

As always, it is clear from the onset that Tom has researched the topic/context that his story is going to immerse the reader in. He is without doubt the Master of Historical Fiction for children. He knows how to engage the audience and in Resist he works his magic once again. The fear that Edda our main protagonist feels is palpable; the sense of foreboding stalks the pages. Edda dislikes the Nazis especially since the events surrounding the death of her uncle and they are the reason her older brother is in hiding. They are occupying her home country and stiffling lives of ordinary folk. She becomes part of the Dutch resistance. She will not succumb to the overbearing malevolence of the German soldiers and their constant threat of enslavement, arrest or worse - death. Tom does not shy away from the horrors of WW2 and the inhuman way that German soldiers treat those they considered to be worthless.
Once again Tom has brought events from WW2 alive and ensured that another piece of history will not be forgotten. Inspired by the childhood of Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn this is going to be another hugely successful publication.

Barrington Stoke have again published a sensational read with a stunning cover. The art work is a delight & this book should be on the ks2 and ks3 list of must reads. A triumphant 5 star read.

Huge thank you to Barrington Stoke and NetGalley for this early review opportunity.

Another triumph for Tom Palmer. Anyone who is a fan of Tom's other historically based books will not be disappointed by this extremely fantastic story of bravery, compassion and determination. Edda is a wonderful protagonist who's highs and lows you feel as the story unfolds. Based in occupied Netherlands in World War II you follow the story of Edda and her family as they battle through life under German occupation. Wishing to show resistance against the enemy, brave Edda takes in a never of secret tasks, which could at any moment backfire and plunge Edda and a family into danger. This is a must read for anyone interested in World War II or teaching World War II as a topic in school