The Resistance

A Bold Vision for Empowering the Next Generation Through Adventure, Critical Thinking, and Community.

I learned about Nazis first through those 50’s boys adventure books, pulled off the bookshelves in the basement of the ranch house.

Along with brittle edged westerns, and decades of National Geographics, there were lifetimes of books shared and given and left behind.

There was a theme and a tone to the words of that post-war hope and excitement for the world.

Where intrepid explorers came across nefarious bad guys and foiled their evil plots.

We lost that narrative somewhere in my generation.

Or it was taken from us.

The concept for this series is to provide a deliberately too wholesome but entertaining take on the young adult; clear headed, smart, and capable kids that are going to have to solve this bullshit we left them. And they can.

A lot of them don’t feel like they can. We need to help change that.

A Modern Mystery Series Rooted in Timeless Values

Imagine the excitement of a Hardy Boys mystery mixed with the bold colours and style of 1950s American pop art. Now, place that world in today’s reality, where modern villains cloak themselves in disinformation and bigotry. The Resistance: How to Fight Nazis in 2025 is more than a young adult fiction series, it’s a movement designed to empower young minds to recognize propaganda, fight hate, and foster community.

This is not your typical mystery series. This is a bold, necessary project that takes the timeless appeal of mid-century Americana and repurposes it to serve as a vehicle for tackling modern extremism. It does so with stories that are thrilling, accessible, and full of heart.

At its core, The Resistance is a response to a pressing cultural need: teaching young readers critical thinking, communication, and collaboration in a world increasingly polarized by misinformation and hate.

Why Now? Why This Series?

The 2020s have exposed dangerous undercurrents in society, much of it tied to rising authoritarianism, bigotry, and the deliberate manipulation of information. This reality isn’t confined to adults, it affects kids and teens who are exposed to it through social media, family influences, and their schools.

The Resistance addresses this head-on by offering a series that doesn’t preach, but entertains while educating. It teaches readers:

• How to recognize propaganda: Through clever mysteries and puzzles, readers learn to question narratives and seek evidence.
• How to work together: The diverse group of protagonists models co-operation, understanding, and respect.
• How to build community: The series emphasizes inclusivity, shared goals, and standing against hate as a collective.

Aesthetic Inspiration: Fusing Classic Americana with K-Pop-Style Artistry

One of the standout features of this series is its visual identity. We draw heavily from the bold, striking style of 1950s American pop art: bright colours, retro typography, and expressive, larger-than-life illustrations. However, we’re giving it a modern twist, inspired by the aesthetic of K-pop album books and Japanese manga art.

• Each Volume as a Collector’s Item: Each book will be a beautifully designed magazine-style volume, packed with rich artwork, engaging sidebars, and even fold-out pages for posters.
• Interactive Elements: Readers will find puzzles, codes, and clues woven into the physical books, encouraging hands-on problem-solving.
• Character-Centric Visuals: Think dynamic group shots of the protagonists, like a K-pop album cover, celebrating their individuality while emphasizing their unity.

This approach ensures the series isn’t just something kids and teens read, it’s something they collect, share, and treasure.

The Resistance Club: Meet the Heroes

Our core cast is designed to reflect the world today, showcasing diversity in backgrounds, skills, and personalities. Their interplay teaches readers how to value others’ strengths and collaborate effectively.

• Jamie Steele: The curious and bold amateur journalist with a nose for injustice.
• Alex Rivera: The tech wizard who unravels digital conspiracies with ease.
• Priya Kapoor: A history buff who connects modern events to lessons from the past.
• Sam Carter: The courageous athlete who brings heart and strength to the group.

These characters reflect the ideals of transactional analysis psychotherapy: they communicate openly, solve problems co-operatively, and build relationships based on trust and respect.

The Stories: Thrills, Mysteries, and Real-World Parallels

Each volume in the series features a self-contained mystery that ties into larger, ongoing threats. From uncovering disinformation campaigns to stopping far-right propaganda efforts, the stakes are high, but always age-appropriate.

While the villains may be fictional, they mirror real-world challenges like white nationalism, online radicalization, and cultural censorship. This grounding in reality helps readers understand the importance of vigilance and action in their own lives.

Building a Community Around the Series

We envision more than just readers—we want to create a movement. Here’s how:

1. Shared Physical Magazines: The magazine-style books are designed to be swapped, shared, and collected, creating a culture of physical engagement in a digital age.
2. Reader Contributions: Encourage fan art, letters, and contributions from readers, published as part of future volumes or shared in an online community.
3. Workshops and Events: Host community workshops that teach critical thinking and media literacy, tied to the themes of the series.
4. Discussion Guides: Provide resources for parents, educators, and libraries to spark conversations about the lessons in the stories.

The Tone: Serious and Fun, Bold and Accessible

The Resistance is careful to balance its serious subject matter with the energy and optimism of classic mystery stories. Think fast-paced plots, clever dialogue, and satisfying resolutions that leave readers feeling inspired rather than overwhelmed.

The tone is welcoming to LGBTQ2S+ readers, those from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, and anyone who values fairness and justice. It’s a series that shows everyone has a role to play in building a better world.

Why This Matters

In a world where hate thrives on ignorance, The Resistance offers knowledge and empowerment. It teaches young people how to fight back, not with violence, but with critical thinking, co-operation, and compassion.

This series is more than just entertainment. It’s a roadmap for the next generation to resist hate, build community, and stand up for what’s right. And it all starts with the simple joy of a well-told story, wrapped in beautiful design, and shared with friends.

Join the Movement

We’re inviting you to be part of this journey. Subscribe for updates, sneak peeks, and insights into how the series is developing. Together, we’ll build something powerful, one story at a time.

What do you think? Share your thoughts, tell us: What lessons do you think kids today need most? Let’s talk about how stories can inspire action.

This is what I’m working on. Tell me what you think, I enjoy the conversation! Subscribe and follow the work in real time.

Thanks!

B

Hate hides in plain sight.

Kids see it.

Now, they’re learning to fight it.

The Resistance is a modern mystery series teaching critical thinking, calling out propaganda, and building community, all with bold, retro flair.

It’s time to grow smarter, stronger, braver.

PS -

Want to build this with me?
There’s a great gaming element, lots of space for collaboration and contribution to build a community and culture around curiosity.
What do you think #buildinpublic?