Resist: A Story of D-Day

The protagonist of the story, Samira Zidane, is 12 years old. She’s French-Algerian and is part of the French Resistance. Samira is young, but she’s intelligent and quick-thinking, and she consistently demonstrates the theme of Hope and Persistence in the Face of Crisis. Though part of a wider movement, she’s currently on a personal mission to save her mother, who has been captured and is being held in Bayeux. Despite the chaos and violence surrounding her, Samira maintains her composure and determination, embodying the theme of Resilience and Resistance Against Oppression. She uses her acting skills to escape from Nazi officers, tricking them by pretending to take her dog, Cyrano, out for a bathroom break. This performance demonstrates her ability to stay calm under pressure, which becomes crucial when she finds her mother.

Samira’s bravery is even more evident as she takes on additional dangerous tasks. She helps guide a group of English soldiers to the Seulles bridge, admiring their unison: “They moved as one, skulking silently through the woods like a pack of wolves stalking their prey” (27). This moment shows Samira’s willingness to involve herself in the war despite her age. When she’s forced to confront Nazi soldiers alone to rescue her mother, Samira uses a paratrooper dummy (Rupert) to distract them. She gets much of her bravery from her mother, whom she deeply loves and admires: “Kenza Zidane was the bravest person Samira knew. And now Samira had to rely on her own bravery to save her mother’s life, the way her mother had saved so many others” (21).

In the story’s conclusion, Samira successfully saves her mother and the others, though the fight for freedom isn’t yet over. Her character arc reflects how even the youngest individuals can make a significant impact in resistance movements. Samira represents youth resilience in wartime and the belief that, even amid destruction and violence, hope and bravery can persist.