Editorial review
The Resistance Daughter
By Joanne Kormylo
“Above All, Don’t Panic.” During a time in history when mass murder is legalized and any attempts at humanity unleash the horrors of artillery fire, two young resistance fighters rally against all odds to build a life of...
Reviewed by CANREADS
“Above All, Don’t Panic.” During a time in history when mass murder is legalized and any attempts at humanity unleash the horrors of artillery fire, two young resistance fighters rally against all odds to build a life of freedom beyond the confines of barbed wire. Joanne Kormylo’s The Resistance Daughter is a gripping, heart-wrenching exploration of survival, resilience, and the enduring human spirit amidst the darkest days of WWII.
Set against the backdrop of a war-torn Poland in 1942, a fateful encounter occurs when a young Polish woman, Anna, saves the life of Canadian bomber pilot Johnnie Nowak while facilitating the delivery of aid packages to the Underground Resistance. Torn apart by German SS officers and the razor wire walls of POW internment camps, the two fight to survive their brutal living conditions, save those they love, and enact revenge on their oppressors.
Kormylo’s novel draws from chilling historical realities—such as the murder of children, the use of inhumane experiments on unsuspecting prisoners, and the casualties caused by subhuman living standards—to illuminate the unbreakable spirit of those who fought for equality and autonomy in the face of tyranny. Using meticulously researched accounts of life under German occupation, Kormylo transforms a sweeping wartime narrative into an intimate, human story—one that connects readers to the lived experiences behind the headlines and history books.
One of Kormylo’s greatest strengths lies in her ability to expertly balance the unimaginable atrocities of war with the enduring power of humanity’s most profound virtues. Amidst the brutality of war, The Resistance Daughter reveals moments of unexpected tenderness, from impromptu Christmas celebrations to quiet, stolen kisses. As a result, through Anna and Johnnie’s story, readers are reminded not only of the evil that humankind is capable of, but also of the love that continues to emerge in the most hopeless of circumstances.
An emotional and harrowing exploration of the darkest corners of human history, Kormylo’s The Resistance Daughter shines a light on the courage it takes to choose hope, allowing its characters to climb sunward out of despair through the sun-split clouds and fly toward a brighter, freer tomorrow. A must-read for wartime historical fiction lovers everywhere.
—CANREADS BOOK REVIEW
Published by Hodder & Stoughton