Acts of Resistance: A Novel

Dominic Carrillo is the author of The Improbable Rise of Paco Jones (winner of the SDBA for best YA, 2017), The Unusual Suspects (IAN Book Award finalist & SDBA winner, 2018), and its sequel, Nia & the Dealer (2019). His short story "Ghetto is Not an Adjective" is featured in the YA collection Living Beyond Borders (2021, Penguin). Originally from San Diego, California, he now lives and works in Sofia, Bulgaria.

“Acts of Resistance is a tribute not only to those who lived through the Holocaust, and to young people brave enough to resist unjust regimes everywhere, but also to the power of fiction to combine research and imagination into work at once fiercely humane and important. 50,000 human lives were saved by Bulgarian citizens, and Dominic Carrillo lets us imagine—through his thoughtfully rendered teenage narrators—what an individual life means, and how much each one matters.”—Rachel DeWoskin, author of National Jewish Book Award and Sydney Taylor Award-Winning, Someday We Will Fly“Acts of Resistance explores the timeless question we all ponder but are rarely able to answer: ‘Would I be willing to sacrifice my life to save another?’ With its masterful storytelling, sincerity, and suspense, any reader—young or old—will feel inspired to answer this question with a resounding ‘yes’ upon finishing the last page.”—Scott Stambach, author of The Invisible Life of Ivan Isaenko“The diary entry format adds suspense, and the focus on young adult protagonists is effective.”—Kirkus Reviews“The nov­el com­bines his­tor­i­cal char­ac­ters with fic­tion­al ones. Lily works for the noto­ri­ous Alexan­der Belev, an eager col­lab­o­ra­tor with Nazi ter­ror. She must bal­ance her instinct to sur­vive with her sense of oblig­a­tion to her own moral code. Carrillo’s devel­op­ment of her char­ac­ter is con­vinc­ing, allow­ing for nuance rather than a sweep­ing descrip­tion of hero­ism. . . . His­tor­i­cal excep­tions encour­age us to ask ques­tions. In this absorb­ing nov­el, young-adult read­ers have the oppor­tu­ni­ty to find some answers.”—Emily Schneider, Jewish Book Council“The novel is a page-turner, each day fraught with suspense and danger. The book is exciting, inspiring and smart.”—Jewish News Syndicate“Bulgaria, 1943. In the face of evil, the question is: What will you do? In this thrilling historical novel, Dominic Carrillo examines the action of a number of characters, ranging from an Archbishop to a secretary, from a young Jew to a young non-Jew. This novel is about the high-stakes of personal responsibility and trying to overcome fear. It is informed by a deep sense of Bulgarian history during the Second World War, but marked, too, by a keen eye toward our own time.”—George Cotkin, author of Morality’s Muddy Waters“Dominic Carrillo deftly blends history with believable characters, while fearlessly questioning the moral sense of right and wrong.”—Shih-Ju Lin, Librarian, NOVA International Schools, Skopje Macedonia“I thoroughly enjoyed Acts of Resistance. Carrillo has a way of bringing different young adult perspectives into a story and making sense of those perspectives. The work blends different points of views from three main characters into a cohesive and compelling story, and one which will resonate with readers. Many readers of historical fiction will find the story to be refreshing in that it brings to light a little known chapter of eastern Europe and World War II. Readers of Skrypuch and Alan Gratz will especially enjoy the narrative and story that Carrillo brings. This is a strong addition to a historical fiction collection and highly recommended.”—John Kurtenbach, Librarian, American International School of Johannesburg“Dominic Carillo has created a timeless story about a moment in history where the triumph of the human spirit soars despite the obstacles. Acts of Resistance is proof that good prevails over evil; it’s a reminder that a book can change the way you see the world. In a word: remarkable.”—Azul Terronez, CEO & Co-Founder of Authors Who Lead“Fast-moving, suspenseful, and possibly the makings of a good movie.”—San Diego Jewish World“Carrillo’s fictionalized characters give readers a sense of the individuals behind the documents. Most compelling to teen readers is Peter, whose idealism and loyalty to his friend draws him into an assassination plot even though he cannot bring himself to kill another person. Acts of Resistance is a quick read that shines light on a little-known and highly successful attempt in a small, little-known country to protect its people, its dignity, its independence, and its way of life against the powerful Nazi regime.”—Historical Novel Society