ShortBookandScribes #BookReview – Small Acts of Resistance by Anita Frank

Small Acts of Resistance by Anita Frank will be published by HQ on 20th November. My thanks to the publishers for the proof copy.

May 1915. When his aircraft crashes in Northern France, British airman Henry finds himself stranded behind enemy lines. His survival depends on the courage and compassion of a local family who risk everything by hiding him in their farmhouse.

With her village already suffering under Occupation, Marie knows sheltering Henry will put her in family in grave danger, and that peril only increases when two German officers are unexpectedly billeted with them. Forced to live cheek by jowl with their occupiers, it takes all their cunning to keep their deadly secret.

As the shadow of war spreads, loves blooms, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.

But before long love is put to the test as everyone’s loyalty is called into question. The ramifications of the choices they must now make will be felt long after the war is over.

Anita Frank’s captivating new novel is a deeply moving tale of courage and sacrifice.

Small Acts of Resistance is set in 1915 in a small village in France. Henry Farrier is in the Royal Flying Corps when his plane goes down in occupied territory. In trying to maintain his freedom he comes across Claudette and her granddaughters, Marie and Élodie, who make the brave decision to shelter Henry in their home. Without this he would surely be taken prisoner or shot. Further peril comes to the household when two German officers are sent to stay with them.

I was expecting disaster at every turn of the page. How could Henry possibly survive? What if he sneezed or coughed and he was heard? I was on tenterhooks so I cannot imagine how the characters must have felt. I have no doubt that this kind of bravery actually happened during World War One and I don’t think I could have dealt with it as well as Claudette, Marie and Élodie.

Anita Frank really brought the occupation of the village to life for me and the hardships that the Germans imposed on the French villagers. This is a beautifully written story, one that is of a slower pace and in which each scene can be savoured. I was wondering how the characters’ stories would be wrapped up and believe me, it’s not the most obvious one. I loved the epilogue and the questions it answered.

Small Acts of Resistance is a tale of loyalty, bravery, solidarity and love in a time of danger and conflict. I thought it was a heartbreaking and memorable read.

Anita Frank was born in Shropshire and studied English and American History at the University of East Anglia. She lives in Gloucestershire with her husband and three children and is now a full-time carer for her disabled son. Her debut novel The Lost Ones was shortlisted for the Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award and the Historical Writers’ Association Debut Crown Award. Her novel The Good Liars was an instant Sunday Times bestseller. This is her fourth novel.