Welcome to the Rebels and Resistance Series – exciting books set in World War 2 which can be read as standalone novels OR as a parallel read-along with your tweenage child! A unique concept – a duology, designed for two audiences, which can be read together or as standalone books.
Better yet – the stories interconnect, opening up the opportunity for adults to have sometimes difficult, but important, conversations about wartime, oppression and speaking out when something seems unjust.
There are currently two main novels in the main series (scroll down for more info!). You can also download two additional books FREE by subscribing to the Rebels Newsletter which has more of a history focus.
Why write these books?
We know parents and teachers love to share stories with younger readers, and discuss the characters or what’s happening in the plot. This duology offers the chance to compare different aspects of living under Occupation and WW2. Both books pack an emotional punch with high-stakes adventure, but in an age-appropriate way, so readers of all ages can enjoy reading together.
With the same setting, crossover chapters and characters, and similar plots, the books unlock differing perspectives on the secretive world of espionage, rebellion and resistance in Occupied Paris. Both books are written in the 1st person POV, so the reader is immersed in the character’s perspective. With detailed descriptions of sometimes surprising realities, join Hannah and Freddie on a journey of discovery and danger, to the uplifting redemption which comes with liberation.
Formats: Ebook / Kindle Unlimited; paperback, hardback
Coming soon to Audible.
Sewing Resistance – Seamstress, Spy, Survivor?
After witnessing the brutal nature of the Nazi regime, Hannah, a quiet Jewish girl with a rebellious streak, escapes Germany with her traumatised young son. Leaving behind her dreams, she seeks refuge in Paris with a childhood friend, Kat, in the hopes that this tie to her past will provide a desperately needed sanctuary for them both. Though reluctant because of her own precarious situation, Kat agrees to help.
But when the war reaches Paris, Hannah’s heritage once again puts them all at risk. Lacking the right papers, fleeing is out of the question. When Kat’s Nazi cousin demands to move in, the family turn to a dangerous life of disguise and subterfuge just to stay alive.
In Occupied Paris, they are the invisible, unseen and unheard, until an opportunity to resist appears. Will Hannah have the courage to find her voice and rebel, even if it means risking her heart, her family and her dreams? And how far will Kat go to take back what’s rightfully hers?
For fans of “The Nightingale” and “All the Light We Cannot See,” this historical suspense novel takes readers on a journey through the Occupation, re-imagining well-known figures such as Coco Chanel and her Nazi lover, the staff of the Ritz Hotel, as well as the brave individuals who worked for the Resistance and the SOE. Inspired by true stories and the powerful film documenting Paris’s liberation, “Sewing Resistance” is a gripping story of courage, sacrifice, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Boy, Resisting – Silent, Spy, Survivor?
Silence was supposed to keep me — and my secrets — safe.
So I accidentally became a spy…
I was just supposed to stay hidden. Keep my head down. Don’t get noticed by the Nazis. Simple, right?
Yeah… not so much.
Getting to Paris to stay safe was hard enough — then the Nazis came, and suddenly it wasn’t safe there either. Turns out, when you’re good at sneaking around and listening when you shouldn’t, people start asking you to do things. Dangerous things. Like delivering secret messages. Hiding spy equipment that can’t be found. Taking photos that could get you arrested — or worse. Oh, and I still have to go to school…
Now I’m part of the French Resistance. I know the hiding places. I know the codes. I know which soldiers to avoid. One wrong move means capture. Or worse. And every time I sneak through the city — even underground through the spooky Catacombs — I wonder: will this be the mission I don’t come back from?
One mistake could mean none of us — me, Mama, or Kat — survive.
If you like danger, secret missions, close calls, and real history — this is my story. Just don’t tell anyone you read it.
(If you’re a grown-up, you might also want to know this book is part of the Rebels and Resistance series – stories to share about WW2 Occupied Paris. Apart from being illustrated to break up the text, ‘Boy, Resisting’ is also chock-full of history to bring the experiences of being a child during wartime Paris to life. From significant events like the fall of the Maginot line, to how the Resistance movement took back Paris at the end of the war, your middle-grader should also find some cross-over with learning about WW2 in their curriculum as well)
Escape Into A Tale with Jan Foster - Author 