Beyond Courage: The Untold Story of Jewish Resistance During the Holocaust

Under the noses of the military, thousands of children are smuggled out of occupied France into Switzerland. In Belgium, three resisters ambush a train, allowing scores of Jews to flee from the cattle cars. In Poland, four brothers lead more than 1,200 ghetto refugees into the forest to build a guerrilla force and self-sufficient village. And a twelve-year-old entertains German officers with his violin moments before setting off a bomb. Through twenty-one meticulously researched accounts, the author illuminates the defiance of tens of thousands of Jews with the weapons of courage, ingenuity, the will to survive, and the resolve to save others or to die trying.

I received this young adult book as a gift and was immediately delighted by the wealth of photographs. A diagram of the Bielski partisan camp in Naliboki Forest caught my eye, and I began reading. The book is arranged in several parts: realization, saving children, ghettos, camps, and partisan warfare. Each part contains the stories of several people: Jews and sometimes the Righteous Gentiles who risked their lives to help them. It appears the author tried to pick children and young people for inclusion, as often as possible, in order to further the book's appeal to young adults.

Some of the stories, such as that of the Bielski brothers, were already known to me. Others were known in their generality, if not particulars, like the show more Kindertransports. Still other accounts were completely new to me, such as the story of Mordechai "Motele" Gildenman, age 12, who spied on the Nazis in the guise of a cafe performer and later bombed the cafe.

While I enjoyed the book and value the photographs and accounts, I was a bit disappointed with the simplicity of the historical sections, which gave background information. Although not designed as a history of the Holocaust, I thought the glossing over of some of the complexities was a disservice to the reader. I was also disappointed to find that the photographs frequently used as background to the text were not reproduced elsewhere, such as in an appendix. I found myself straining to try and discern the subject of a photo, even when it was labeled, because it was so faint behind the text. It's a nice idea, I just wish the publishers had reproduced the photos elsewhere for better viewing.

Overall, I would still recommend the book, as I think the role of Jewish resistance, even if it is resistance in the form of escape or survival, is often minimized. Armed uprisings at death camps are often left out of Holocaust histories, I think because so few Jews survived them. But they are important, and their inclusion here might help young Jews get a more balanced picture of Jewish resistance and its cost. show less

In this landmark title, Rappaport documents Jewish resistance to the Nazi regime, presenting the stories of brave and committed people who disrupted the course of the mayhem and murder in 11 countries across Europe. Many of them were instrumental in getting Jewish children out of occupied Europe and to safety in Great Britain, Switzerland, and the United States. Others escaped from concentration camps, led insurrections in ghettos, attempted to orchestrate escapes from trains bearing Jews to death camps, or lived in outlaw camps deep in the forests. Many of them sacrificed their lives to save others, and many others bore both physical and psychic scars for the rest of their lives. The text is divided into six sections, discussing the show more realization on the part of the Jewish population of Germany that their situation was dire; saving Jewish children in occupied Europe; resistance in the ghettos; freedom fighters in the labor, concentration, transit, and death camps; and partisan warfare. The profiles give the backgrounds of the individuals involved in saving others, the situations in which they worked, and the outcome. Black-and-white and sepia photos extend the text and put faces to the deeds. Finishing with a detailed chronology, source notes, and an extensive bibliography, this well-written and affecting volume is an excellent example of a history title with wide appeal. It belongs in every middle and high school library. SLJ show less

Rappaport has gathered, scrupulously, sensitively and with great power, what must be the comprehensive account of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust. There are the stories many of us know and those that were buried by history, all of them stirring, mesmerizing. The clear, sober telling underscores the extraordinary heroism of her subjects. Rappaport has honored their memory and ourselves by uncovering these episodes and presenting them with such care. The book is beautifully designed and produced, as well. It is essential for children and adults.

Far outside my usual reading, a friend lent me this book. It was not the easiest read in the world, a reminder of the horrible things mankind does to one another, complete with heart-breaking pictures.

Primarily it made me angry that there are so many apologists and deniers these days who try to pretend history is pretty and no horrible things really happened, that it is all some sort of liberal plot. Sigh.

Such villainy, with even the victims finding it hard to believe the horrors they were about to face.  Still, the little acts of courage must give us hope.

Great chronicle of Jews who resisted during the Holocaust in various ways with most of the stories little known. The best known covered are the Bielski brothers and the Warsaw Uprising. An excellent addition to Holocaust literature for teens.

While this is certainly a needed book and an excellent source for research and academics, the narrative suffered for the inclusion of so much detail. Teens with a strong interest in the Holocaust or looking for research material will find what they're looking for in this book. Excerpts will also make a powerful addition to classroom units on the Holocaust (and great fodder for meeting Common Core standards!). Back matter is extensive and many archival photographs help bring the people and places to life.