Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen

SYNOPSIS FROM AUTHORS WEBSITE⇣
Chaya Lindner is a teenager living in Nazi-occupied Poland. Simply being Jewish places her in danger of being killed or sent to the camps. After her little sister is taken away, her younger brother disappears, and her parents all but give up hope, Chaya is determined to make a difference. Using forged papers and her fair features, Chaya becomes a courier and travels between the Jewish ghettos of Poland, smuggling food, papers, and even people.
Soon Chaya joins a resistance cell that runs raids on the Nazis’ supplies. But after a mission goes terribly wrong, Chaya’s network shatters. She is alone and unsure of where to go, until Esther, a member of her cell, finds her and delivers a message that chills Chaya to her core, and sends her on a journey toward an even larger uprising in the works — in the Warsaw Ghetto.
Though the Jewish resistance never had much of a chance against the Nazis, they were determined to save as many lives as possible and to live — or die — with honor.

THE KEY POINTS OF THE STORY⇣

⬥WWII

⬥YOUNG ADULT/MIDDLE-GRADE

⬥RESISTANCE FIGHTERS

⬥OCCUPIED POLAND

STATS⇣

AUDIO PERFORMED BY⇢ Jesse Vilinsky
BOOK COVER⇢ The cover is spectacular.

SETTING⇢ Throughout Poland

SOURCE⇢ Libby Audiobook (Library)

AUDIOBOOK LENGTH⇢ 9 hours, 28 minutes

MY THOUGHTS⇣

Billed as Middle-Grade Young Adult, this holds no punches when it comes to the atrocities inflicted on the Jewish people of Germany and Poland.  This book, in particular, revolves around the country of Poland, more than Germany.  Featuring Chaya (the C is silent when it is pronounced) who I liked and didn't like at different intervals throughout.  Esther...or maybe her name was Hester...was kind of forgettable which is kind of obvious...because I'm not even sure what her name is.

The story started out strong for me, I was really feeling it, but somewhere along the way it lost something, it felt bogged down, a little sluggish even...it could be just the subject matter itself, though.  Overall, it was a decent look at the resistance fighters in WWII and how difficult it was for them.  I'm glad I took the time to listen to it.  Jesse Vilinsky's narration was performed very well.

MY RATING⇢ 4 STARS | GRADE B+

BREAKDOWN⇣

Plot⇢ 3.8/5

Characters⇢ 3.7/5

The Feels⇢ 4/5

Pacing⇢ 3.8/5

Addictiveness⇢ 4.3/5

Theme or Tone⇢ 4.3/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 4/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇢ 4.3/5

Originality⇢ 4/5

Ending⇢ 4/5