Title: We Chose Resistance
Author: Margie Bucheit
Publisher: Koehler Books
ISBN: 979-8888246870
Pages: 374
Genre: Historical Fiction / WWII History
Reviewer: Christina Avina
Pacific Book Review
The path of history ebbs and flows not in a straight line, but rather in spurts, often returning to lessons which ought to have been learned already, and instead repeating itself in a new era. This includes political turmoil and social unrest, at times becoming nothing more than a bump on the path of history, while other times events occur that become so volatile and driven that they make giant splashes on the pages of history forever.
Social unrest and turmoil were just part of the chaos that was WWII, and in author Margie Bucheit’s We Chose Resistance, the author explores a small group of resistance fighters in France who used social unrest to cause problems for the occupying forces of the Nazi regime. The book follows these resistance fighters, one a longtime spy of Winston Churchill, another a freedom fighter, and a third a young boy disturbed by his parent’s willingness to side with the Nazis, as they take their own paths to the resistance and face the shocking realities of war and hate mongering that spread like a virus throughout French society, dividing people.
In a shockingly profound way, this book was able to navigate today’s political and social divides around the world by showcasing how this divided France during WWII, a nation that was crucial to the war effort. The haunting realities which plagued everyone from the French countryside and small villages to the larger cities like Paris were greatly felt, especially through Martin’s eyes. Seeing him rebel against his father, whose hatred shaped his family dynamic during the war and exposing the violence and cruelties the Nazis and their allies in France treated their prisoners and targeted people with malice makes this story feel grounded and emotionally charged. The author’s writing is superb in this novel, the imagery powerfully shaping the setting and the heavy atmosphere this era of history tends to lend itself.
Yet it was the powerful themes explored in this story that stole the narrative, as well as the author’s ability to balance story and history with rich character dynamics and even a romantic relationship readers could dive into headfirst. The detail the author poured into history helped elevate the examination of how bigotry and hatred can quickly spiral into violence and control over a people or even a nation, a lesson that is especially powerful in today’s political climate. Heartbreaking revelations, shocking twists, and a heartfelt and emotionally driven cast of characters make this one book that brings a fresh perspective to WWII history in France and will make it impossible for readers to put down.
