If you follow me on Instagram (Nielsenwriter), you can see behind-the-scenes snapshots of a book trailer we are making for RESISTANCE (such as this live cover shot in front of a green screen). I think the final product will be amazing, but if you like the background pics too, check out my account there!
Now to this week’s quote. First, some background:
When the Nazi occupation began, they didn’t start with death camps for those who would become their victims. They started with humiliation, name-calling, and propaganda that suggested Jewish people, homosexuals, the disabled, and others were somehow less than human.
Here is this week’s quote from RESISTANCE.
Papa and I were on the streets one day when I happened to look down at a man cleaning out sewage from a broken pipe.
“That’s our rabbi!” I whispered.
Papa took my hand and quickly pulled me along. “Don’t look,” he whispered. “Learn not to see anything, or to be seen.”
I did learn, better than he could have imagined. There were ways to move about the streets so as not to draw attention to oneself. Those who did it well got home safely each night. I perfected it.
Which was important, because I’d also learned that the Nazis held us in particular contempt. They wanted the Poles to see that if we were given the work of animals, we would do the work of animals. They wanted the world to think that we were less than human.
At first, I thought it would be impossible for any civilized person to believe such absurdities, such ugliness. But that was only the beginning . . .
The giveaway question for the day is this:
In a world where we too often see name-calling, bullying, and poor treatment of others, what is something you can do to prove that love is the resistance?
This is a random drawing which will end at midnight EST on Sunday, July 15. International entries are okay.
If you want to pre-order your copy of RESISTANCE today (and I think that’s a great idea!), please choose your local indie bookstore first. It will be released on August 28th.
60 Comments
Stand up and speak for those who cannot do so themselves. As long as we stand on the sidelines, we remain complicit. I refuse to allow actions that seek to demean and diminish a person’s worth.
The golden rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If we all treated people how we wish to be treated, even the difficult conversations and differences in opinion would be done in love.
Get to know local refugee families through resettlement organizations. In our community there is a program called “fruitful friends” in which families are paired with refugee families who need friends. Our family has decided this is our way of protesting national policy that we don’t agree with- fight with love, not hate.
Simply treat others the way you want to be treated – with love, kindness & respect.
Encourage the victims and discourage the bullies. Some people think so highly of themselves that they forget that the world does not revolve just around them. I believe that standing up for the victims is already a small gesture to spread love in the world. One simple act of kindness can give a huge impact in the future.
Give love and refuse to believe the lies spread by others.
Speak up and out!
On a personal level, don’t laugh at jokes or rude comments against others who are being labeled as different or less than. Instead, speak up and let the rude person know that such unloving treatment of others is the problem. On a civics level, keep contacting congress people & leaders to let them know that anyone who doesn’t take action to love & help others will not get your vote, or run for office yourself to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Loving with a heart at peace. You can’t go at it with your heart at war you will lose.
Live as an example and teach children
1. Not to look away, but rather look and recognize the weight in your heart when you see-don’t become numb
2. How to make a difference
3. The value of learning about history and the power of knowledge
4. the beatitudes-
Always watch carefully for those that see themselves as less than they are, particularly our young ones. Seek them out. Let them know you care. You never know when your kind words, a smile, loving eye contact, a hand on the shoulder, will make a difference to that person who has not felt love before.
Show hospitality with my neighbors and the students who have undocumented family members. “No matter where you are from we’re glad you’re our neighbor”
Teach my fifth grade students to love and respect each other through reading literature such as this to them. We have class discussions after each chapter that enable students to share their thoughts and emotions. My best teaching is not done through a textbook, but through novels that bring out emotions both good and bad. My students relate characters and situations from the text to characters in other books as well as real world situations. Thank you for another inspiring novel. A Night Divided is still a class favorite every year!
As a teacher, I can show kindness to all and have discussions in class on how important it is to take care of each other and stand up for one another. We have to think outside of ourselves and take care of each other!
Treat all people respectfully. Someone once told me that you can tell a lot about a person’s character by how they treat their waitress/waiter.
Pay it forward, do something nice for someone without the expectation of getting something in return. Follow your heart, looks race religion, none of it matters we are all human.
Continue to treat others with kindness and compassion. Even when it’s hard.
As a teacher, I try to show my students the importance of treating everyone equitably and respectfully. They need to learn from the past (and present!) in order to make good choices. One strategy is having kids read fantastic books with relatable characters, where they can clearly connect to actions and consequences.
We must intervene in whatever way we can. We must tell someone if we are a child or step in if we are an adult. Bullies have to be stopped. There is usually a reason behind the bully’s actions and someone has to get to the core of it. As teachers, we must be there to help whether it is the victim or the bully him/her self. We must take seriously the actions of both and find peace.
I think that exposing my students to books like yours, that show love overcoming hate helps them to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel but we must work for it and speak up!
I battle this every day. I’m a teacher and I talk with my students all the time about history and how it can repeat itself. I talk with them about how every person deserves to be treated as just as important as someone in your own family. And I teach them that *they* are important because a healthy self-esteem allows you to spot injustice and stand up for your beliefs. I can not wait to read this book to my new students.
I can teach my students about empathy, about civil responsibility, and about the power of kindness. With the help of their parents, I can empower them to be better than the generation before them.
To treat everyone with compassion and understanding of their own personal “story.”
Speak kindly and respectfully to all people.
Teach by example! As a mom and teacher, I have to be a leader. This book seems like it would be great for me to read with my 6th graders!
I teach elementary school, so my way is to do everything I can to help my students understand that all people deserve respect!
Be kind to everyone you meet, no matter the status, and show that kindness goes a long way.
Also, we can try to stop bullying when we first start to see it rather than let it progress and worsen with time.
I would say to be an example, just love everyone and be nice to them. Then it would show people that you don’t have to be rude. Just be kind and they’ll see that bullying isn’t a good answer to anything.
The one thing I can easily do is to treat all people as children of God and people who are loved and deserve to be loved.
I always try to think of people as just that, people. People make mistakes. People do things I don’t like. At the end of the day, they are just like me. I try to put myself in their shoes.
I always try to think of people as just that, people. People make mistakes. People do things I don’t like. At the end of the day, they are just like me. I try to put myself in their shoes.
By speaking out, by educating others, by realizing this CAN happen again, we can lead with love. Providing books such as Resistance for our students will help. Thank you Jennifer for writing another powerful novel. I can’t wait to share it with my 8th grade classes.
I think foremost you have to treat everyone how you wish to be treated, kindness is so important too. And it’s always so easy to fall for provocation but we can’t let that be a trigger to more disrespect, we have to try to keep our minds opens, to talk, to debate. Not fight.
Show love and kindness to everyone.
My son and I have a saying, “Make things right.” I try to show my son that most people are trying their best, but sometimes they need a hand. I do the same with my fifth graders. I also read books with my son and my students to show different perspectives.
I can live my life as an offering; an example of how we should love and respect one another as image-bearers of God. And especially by teaching those same ideas to the younger generation.
Just as prince Jaron said in THE SHADOW THRONE (not the exact quote) “Even if i fall i will always rise up.” Now, we all know we have fears. But we all also know we have talent. Now show those strengths and talents! And stand up for yourselves and other people! Just as Kestra did to Rosalie.
Just be kind! What’s that quite from Wonder, “When given the chance to choose to be right or to be kind always choose kind!”
Don’t become a bully by calling them names.
By being kind and good and doing what you think is right and sharing courage through social media’s
Take time to get the facts and form your own opinions keeping in mind to error on the side of caution. Put yourself in the situation of others and think about how you would want to be treated.
Not sure if this posted or not…. I just said to make sure that you do the research and get the facts before making your opinions. Then pitcher yourself in the others position and think about how you would want others to treat you.
Smile at those around you.
Be kind and speak up when someone is mistreating another. We are all human. We are all deserving of mutual kindness and respect.
Make it a point not to judge people, no matter if you disagree with them in one or more ways and no matter how different they are from you.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEN! Hope you had an awesome birthday and spent it well. I baked muffins this morning to celebrate my favorite author and favorite inventor’s birthday that you guys coincidencentily share!
Thank you, Ev!
For the contest (I know this is kinda cheesy) but the quote from the Bible ” There is no greater love says the Lord than to lay down one’s life for one’s friend” again really cheesy but it’s definitely one that leaves you thinking…
Small things people do make a difference in giving love in the face of adversity. Smiling, saying hello to passers-by, using people’s names all make others feel welcome and seen. People want to be seen! Can’t wait to read this book and share it with my students, and Happy Birthday, Jennifer!
I think for me personally I have to do more moving beyond just being friendly and nice to people around me and instead be more active in truly helping and speaking up when I see someone being mistreated.
I WOULD NOT MISS THE CHANCE TO GREET YOU MS. JENNIFER NIELSEN, MY FAVORITE AUTHOR, A HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAAAY. 🎂☕
I would be one of the people who will show them through the way I act showing them compassion and kindness and tell them that their identity is not based on how others see them or define them but the fact that each of us are created uniquely and genuinely loved by a great God.
Thank you, Traci Ann!
As a teacher, I am trying to read more of “window” books that show what it is like for people who are not treated well and often there is a character who evolves from someone who accepts poor behaviours or even perpetrates them, to someone who speaks and acts against it. Last year, Wonder was one example of a book like that. We read it in Sept and we could refer to it throughout the year. Two years ago, when we read A Night Divided, we talked a lot about Gerta. This coming year I plan to read books like Breakout, Amal Unbound and hopefully Resistance. Happy Birthday!
Put the bullies to shame with actions of kindness and courage, speaking out for those without a voice, but doing it in such a way that doesn’t tear down the haters, but instead the hate.
I think it’s important to know that we often don’t know the background or all sides to a story to understand why people make the decisions they do. But a little bit of kindness goes a long way. If we show our love first, it’s easier for others to feel that we are all ultimately on the same team. If we actively cultivate an atmosphere of love around us, others will follow.
To resist the evil and unfairness by loving others unconditionally, not only refraining from joining the wrongdoing, but actually stopping it, and showing kindness to those who have been victim of mistreatment and harassment.
In a cruel world where name-calling, bullying, and poor treatment is, sadly, a part of everyday life for many, one of the best way to show that you support and are with them and the resistance is to speak out for them. Standing up for and showing love to those who are looked down on and criticized is probably one of the best things you can do. They are humans just like we are, the only difference may be race, ethnicity, religion, etc. In the end, we all wake up and breathe in the morning.
We can look out for the unwanted, be their friends, and stand up for them when troubles come. I can’t wait for RESISTANCE!!!
I personally believe that I can prove that love is the resistance by greeting individuals with a smile and a “hi”. A “hi” that might just lead to a great conversation.
Looking forward to Resistance!
I think the most important thing is to stand up, say something, do something. Be the change you want to see in the world, be the good. Evil persists in the world when good people do nothing.