Resistance by
Carla Jablonski & Leland Purvis is a very realistic story about the French Resistance against Germany in WWII. It’s about a boy named Paul and his little sister, Marie. Paul’s best friend, Henri, is Jewish.
When the Nazis invade Paris, Henri’s parents escape to a cellar in the catacombs of Paris. Paul & Marie hide Henri in their basement. One night, Paul sees his older sister, Sylvie's boyfriend, Jacques at a Nazi gate. He assumes he’s helping them. When Paul sees the wire cutters he realizes that Jacques is part of the Resistance. Paul wants to join. Jacques unsuccessfully tries to talk him out of it. The next day, Paul & Marie are hanging out and drawing by a fountain with some other kids. One anti-Semitic girl is talking badly about Jews. She says that Henri has already been taken. We see what Paul is drawing, a picture of the anti-Semitic girl in Nazi dress with bombs falling on her head. That night, Jacques walks with Paul and tells him that Marie is also joining the Resistance. The next day Paul and Marie are given jobs. Marie is to make messages by putting pinpricks over letters to make words. Paul is to draw the vehicles parked outside their hotel. Right before they leave for Paris to find Henri's parents, Sylvie, who is to help them get there, dyes Henri’s hair blond to make them all look related. The trip is long and I don’t want to spoil the ending, so go read the book.
When the Nazis invade Paris, Henri’s parents escape to a cellar in the catacombs of Paris. Paul & Marie hide Henri in their basement. One night, Paul sees his older sister, Sylvie's boyfriend, Jacques at a Nazi gate. He assumes he’s helping them. When Paul sees the wire cutters he realizes that Jacques is part of the Resistance. Paul wants to join. Jacques unsuccessfully tries to talk him out of it. The next day, Paul & Marie are hanging out and drawing by a fountain with some other kids. One anti-Semitic girl is talking badly about Jews. She says that Henri has already been taken. We see what Paul is drawing, a picture of the anti-Semitic girl in Nazi dress with bombs falling on her head. That night, Jacques walks with Paul and tells him that Marie is also joining the Resistance. The next day Paul and Marie are given jobs. Marie is to make messages by putting pinpricks over letters to make words. Paul is to draw the vehicles parked outside their hotel. Right before they leave for Paris to find Henri's parents, Sylvie, who is to help them get there, dyes Henri’s hair blond to make them all look related. The trip is long and I don’t want to spoil the ending, so go read the book.
The art in Resistance is very nice. The backgrounds are very shady and dark. The atmosphere fits the situation perfectly. The facial expressions are very expressive. There is one scene when some strongly devoted Nazis are searching a train and their faces are filled with hate and rage against the French people.
One thing I like
about Resistance is how they distinguish German soldiers from Nazis. Normal soldiers
are human and Nazis are like demons. Resistance is very sad, but it is also
very touching. I would give Resistance 5 stars out of 5.
I just learned that there are two sequels to Resistance.
I just learned that there are two sequels to Resistance.
Thanks for this review, Milo - well done! As a kid, I worked for a woman who lived down the dirt road in Wellfleet who worked with the French Resistance. Her name was "Odette," she was very French and very sophisticated. Her job in The Resistance was to drive a truck from France into neutral Switzerland, collect arms and other supplies, then drive back to France. My job for her was weeding her garden.
ReplyDeleteHey Milo! Thanks for the review - the book sounds really interesting. Reminds me a little bit of Anne Frank, but crossed with the graphic novel - and what sounds like a happier ending. I really like that Paul and Marie get jobs - that they are asked to use their artistic skills to help out - I'd like to hear more about what you mean when you say Marie puts pinpricks over words to make letters. I always thought the people who fought in the resistance were really brave. Keep us posted on the sequels.
ReplyDeleteits like a code
DeleteReally appreciate your reviews. Just ordered Rabbis cat. Sounds like I should order this too. Interesting that you presented so much of the storyline of this one, less opinion. It makes it seem like you respected or enjoyed this one more. Is that true? Thanks again Milo.
ReplyDeleteThat's exciting that there are 2 sequels to what sounds like a great story! The graphic novel form seems like a great way experience different times in history through characters living the events of the time. You do a great job of summarizing the plot without giving too much away. I look forward to picking it up at Bergen St. Comics and reading it!
ReplyDeleteThis whole series sounds great. The Nazis drawn as demons technique sounds like one of my all-time favorite graphic novels, Art Spiegelman's "Maus," in which the Jews are drawn as mice and the Nazis are drawn as cats. Great review, as always - I will be putting this on my to-read list, per usual.
ReplyDeleteI just book this book on my list, Milo. Thanks for the thorough review & recommendation. I'm looking forward to reading it!
ReplyDeleteMilo, you should tots do a review on Ccot Pilgrim
ReplyDeletegood idea
DeleteI also really like the way you Incorporated pictures from the book into the post!
ReplyDeleteAlso gave a very good summary of the book...
ReplyDelete