Jesper

Susan Merskey is freelance writer in London, Ontario.

Jesper is in a German prison awaiting execution. In a series of
flashbacks, he reveals his adventures as a journalist and saboteur
during the Nazi occupation of Denmark. He was only a boy when the
occupation began, but grew up quickly, learning to fire a rifle and kill
enemy soldiers, and seeing some friends die and others betrayed. A
member of the Danish resistance, he went underground to protect his
family. On the eve of his execution, a daring Royal Air Force raid
signals both the end of the German occupation of Denmark and Jesper’s
own liberation.

Jesper is a sequel to Carol Matas’s novel Lisa (1987), which told the
story of Lisa, another Resistance worker and a Jew. Before she escaped
to Sweden, she met and fell in love with Jesper who, as a non-Jew,
remained in Denmark to continue their vital work.

Jesper contains many elements that will attract young-adult
readers—action, love interest, and even some strong language. Readers
will gain valuable insight into the heroism of an individual slightly
older than themselves and many others who, like Jesper, risked their
lives under the Nazi occupation in Europe. Those who already know
something about World War II, the Holocaust, or the Resistance in Europe
will find the book especially interesting. Highly recommended.