The Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini (Review by Caitlin Winkler)

World War II is probably the most popular setting for historical fiction books today. With bestsellers like, The Nightingale, All the Light You Cannot See, and Beneath a Scarlett Sky, it can feel like this genre of historical fiction has become specifically “WWII Historical Fiction”. Resistance Women is an intriguing addition to the genre. Greta, Mildred, and Martha were real historical figures who were a part of a large resistance group working from inside Germany to take down Hitler and convince the world of the atrocities that were occurring in Germany. Sara, our other narrator, is explained by our author in the afterward as being based on real Jewish women who were also a part of the resistance, though Sara herself is fictional. The different perspective of the various storytellers are captivating and the book is so rich with historical details I felt that I was learning a lot as I read. I find behind-the-scenes resistance groups to be fascinating once they are eventually brought to light, as they are often unknown until much later. The strength to stand up for what you know to be right, even if it means risking your life and the lives of your loved ones, is commendable and the individuals involved in this resistance group deserve the recognition that this novel affords them. While quite long, this book is captivating and I highly recommend it. I am hesitant to give more details of the story as the setting and time frame of the story is already well-known. So I leave it to you readers to meet the wonderful Resistance Women.