Resistance Book 1

Resistance, Book 1

Jablonski, C. (2010). Resistance Book 1. New York: First Second.

Paul Tessier, whose father is a German prisoner of war, lives in what has been until now, peaceful, southern occupied France where he, his mother and siblings, run a hotel until the Germans commandeer it for their own use.  After this happens, Paul’s best friend, Henri’s parents, who are Jewish, are missing and Henri is forced to go into hiding.  Already angry and rebellious toward the Germans and their occupation, Paul, who loves to draw and has already been posting anti-Nazi posters, and his sister, Marie, decide to join the French Resistance in order to smuggle Henri to safety.  The children are successful in their mission and Henri is reunited with his parents in Paris.  Written and illustrated as a graphic novel, Resistance, as is the case with many graphic novels, presents valuable information in a format that is excellent to use with struggling and/or reluctant readers.  This particular novel, however, includes factual information about World War II, both before the story begins as well as in the back of the book that helps establish to the reader that the information is based on true and accurate facts.  This novel would be great to use with lower high school students in a World History lesson.  Further reading could include Defiance and Victory, the other two books in the trilogy.