Lisa

Reach for this book when your middle-schooler begins asking complex questions about moral courage and the personal cost of standing up against systemic injustice. While many Holocaust stories focus solely on victimhood, this novel highlights the active role of the Danish resistance, making it an empowering choice for children grappling with feelings of powerlessness in an unfair world. The story follows Lisa, a Jewish teenager in Nazi-occupied Denmark who refuses to remain a passive bystander. As she joins the underground movement, the book explores themes of loyalty, the loss of innocence, and the terrifying reality of living a double life. It is a gripping historical drama that provides a nuanced look at how ordinary young people can make extraordinary choices, suitable for readers aged 10 to 14 who are ready for a serious yet hopeful exploration of human resilience.