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Acts of Resistance: A Novel

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Pub Date Mar 21 2023 | Archive Date Dec 29 2023

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Description

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 of Resistance is based on the true story of this incredibly heroic effort by the citizens of Bulgaria. In Carrillo’s powerful account, he skillfully weaves together a thrilling tale told by three alternating teenage narrators: Misho, Peter, and Lily.

Misho, an 18-year-old Jewish boy, is a prominent archbishop’s driver, hiding his identity while helping his boss directly challenge the Bulgarian government’s pro-Nazi policies.

Peter, 17, is determined to save his Jewish neighbors by confronting parliament members in the capital, then taking up arms to fight with a partisan rebel communist group.

Lily, 19, works for the collaborationist government office in charge of evicting and deporting Jews to concentration camps. When she witnesses the evil results of her desk job, Lily becomes a spy who leaks information to Jewish community leaders in order to prevent further atrocities.

As the characters’ lives become more endangered and their unsung roles in saving Jewish citizens are revealed, the reader is treated to a tension-filled adventure surrounding one of the greatest unknown acts of heroism associated with the Holocaust. Acts of Resistance will 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.

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...


A Note From the Publisher

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.

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 &...


Advance Praise

Acts of Resistance is a tribute not only to those who lived through the Holocaust, and to young people brave enough to resist unjust regimes everywhere, but also to the power of fiction to combine research and imagination into work at once fiercely humane and important. 50,000 human lives were saved by Bulgarian citizens, and Dominic Carrillo lets us imagine—through his thoughtfully rendered teenage narrators—what an individual life means, and how much each one matters.” —Rachel DeWoskin, author of National Jewish Book Award and Sydney Taylor Award-Winning, Someday We Will Fly

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

“The diary entry format adds suspense, and the focus on young adult protagonists is effective.” Kirkus Reviews

“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

“I thoroughly enjoyed Acts of Resistance. Carrillo has a way of bringing different young adult perspectives into a story and making sense of those perspectives. The work blends different points of views from three main characters into a cohesive and compelling story, and one which will resonate with readers. Many readers of historical fiction will find the story to be refreshing in that it brings to light a little known chapter of eastern Europe and World War II. Readers of Skrypuch and Alan Gratz will especially enjoy the narrative and story that Carrillo brings. This is a strong addition to a historical fiction collection and highly recommended.” —John Kurtenbach, Librarian, American International School of Johannesburg

“Dominic Carillo has created a timeless story about a moment in history where the triumph of the human spirit soars despite the obstacles. Acts of Resistance is proof that good prevails over evil; it’s a reminder that a book can change the way you see the world. In a word: remarkable.” —Azul Terronez, CEO & Co-Founder of Authors Who Lead

Acts of Resistance is a tribute not only to those who lived through the Holocaust, and to young people brave enough to resist unjust regimes everywhere, but also to the power of fiction to combine...


Marketing Plan

Publicity will be focused on traditional YA outlets, including Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, Bookpage, Shelf Awareness, etc.

Publicity and marketing efforts to the general consumer trade will target Jewish, World War II, mystery and suspense outlets, as well as traditional print media for book reviews.

We will do our best to secure noteworthy endorsements.

Publicity will be focused on traditional YA outlets, including Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, Bookpage, Shelf Awareness, etc.

Publicity and marketing efforts to the...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781595801197
PRICE $12.99 (USD)
PAGES 224

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