Angels of the Resistance: A WWII Novel
Dutch sisters, known as “the angels,” become the superheroes in Noelle Salazar’s Angels of the Resistance. Lien and Elif Vinke, teenagers responding to grief, feel called to serve the Netherlands in 1940. Inspired by the true story of Truus and Freddie Oversteegen, Salazar conjures a heart-thumping, riveting narrative with main characters that grow from sullen, angry teenagers into women of courage and strength. Their assignments start simply, with distributing pamphlets, delivering messages, and forging identification cards, then move on to training with pistols and daggers. Superb research into the planning of missions, then intricate details and gut-wrenching descriptions of frightening situations, evoke a range of emotions as readers follow the Angels to train stations, barns, and safe houses. The wins and losses of the missions resonate deeply with the friends and families associated with Lien and Elif. Throughout the novel, feelings of betrayal and guilt are mixed with triumph and relief.
Salazar has created characters with relatable human traits, relationships that dissipate then rebuild, and those that believe in something and prove it. The description and development of family friend and mentor, Aunt Liv, give readers insight into the social settings and advantages of the wealthy, but also the cunning, daring, and bravery of those who took risks to save families and soldiers. Salazar slips in the American comic creation of Wonder Woman, and Lien— admiring this superhero’s boldness—is determined not to repeat past decisions that caused hesitation and failure. Like Wonder Woman, she wants to become fearless, strong, and determined. In Angels of the Resistance Noelle Salazar successfully creates a triumphant celebration of real-life Wonder Women!
