Overview

Between 1943 and 1944,nearly 50,000 Bulgarian Jews were rescued from the Holocaust, including thousands who had already been rounded up and put on trains bound for death camps in Poland. Dominic Carrillo's suspenseful novel Acts ofResistanceis based on the true story of this incrediblyheroic effort by the citizens of Bulgaria. In Carrillo's powerful account, heskillfully weaves together a thrilling tale told bythree alternating teenage narrators: Misho, Peter, and Lily. Misho, an 18-year-oldJewish boy, is a prominent archbishop's driver, hiding his identity whilehelping his boss directly challenge the Bulgariangovernment's pro-Nazipolicies. Peter, 17, is determinedto save his Jewish neighbors by confronting parliament members in the capital,then taking up arms to fight with apartisan rebel communist group. Lily, 19, works for thecollaborationist government office in charge of evicting and deporting Jews toconcentration camps. When she witnessesthe evil results of her desk job, Lilybecomes a spy who leaks information to Jewish community leaders in order toprevent further atrocities. As the characters' lives become more endangered andtheir unsung roles in saving Jewish citizensare revealed,the reader is treated to atension-filled adventuresurrounding one of the greatest unknown acts of heroism associated with theHolocaust. Acts of Resistancewill have you on the edge of your seat as Misho, Peter, and Lily face and overcome extremely perilous situations, ultimately triumphing as they each help to lead the people of Bulgaria to rise up against the Nazis and save their nearly 50,000-strong Jewish population from extinction.

Full Product Details

9781595801197

Table of Contents

Reviews

Acts of Resistance explores the timeless question we all ponder but are rarely able to answer: 'Would I be willing to sacrifice my life to save another?' With its masterful storytelling, sincerity, and suspense, any reader-young or old-will feel inspired to answer this question with a resounding 'yes' upon finishing the last page. -Scott Stambach, author of The Invisible Life of Ivan Isaenko Bulgaria, 1943. In the face of evil, the question is: What will you do? In this thrilling historical novel, Dominic Carrillo examines the action of a number of characters, ranging from an Archbishop to a secretary, from a young Jew to a young non-Jew. This novel is about the high-stakes of personal responsibility and trying to overcome fear. It is informed by a deep sense of Bulgarian history during the Second World War, but marked, too, by a keen eye toward our own time. -George Cotkin, author of Morality's Muddy Waters Dominic Carrillo deftly blends history with believable characters, while fearlessly questioning the moral sense of right and wrong. -Shih-Ju Lin, Librarian, NOVA International Schools, Skopje Macedonia

Author Information

Dominic Carrillo is the author of The Improbable Rise of Paco Jones (winner of the SDBA for best YA, 2017), The Unusual Suspects (IAN Book Award finalist & SDBA winner, 2018), and its sequel, Nia & the Dealer (2019). His short story ""Ghetto is Not an Adjective"" is featured in the YA collection Living Beyond Borders (2021, Penguin). Originally from San Diego, California, he now lives and works in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available