Stories of boys and girls in the resistance.

Why is it still important to talk about the Resistance? Because forgetting means losing our connection to freedom, courage, and choice. O Bella Ciao brings to life the voices of children and teenagers who played small and great roles in Italy’s Resistance, making difficult choices and dreaming of a fairer world.
Set across an imagined map of the Italian Resistance, from north to south, these stories—freely inspired by true events—offer a powerful and moving account of young lives shaped by war, fear, solidarity, and hope. Not unreachable heroes, but ordinary kids facing extraordinary times. A compelling collection that invites readers to ask: “What would I have done?”

  • Gives young readers an accessible and emotional entry point into a complex historical period, through the relatable lens of children their own age.
  • Challenges simplistic or politicised views of the Resistance, presenting it as a shared, multifaceted legacy that speaks to courage, justice, and memory.
Publisher: Piemme
Target: 10+
Year: 2020
Author
Lucia Vaccarino

Lucia Vaccarino studied communication with a specialisation in TV, cinema and multimedia. She has dealt with branded content, has been a creative producer of cartoons and live action (fiction and non-fiction), and is a PM for books and comics where necessary. And she writes. She likes baking, sewing, gardening, and in general all hobbies that keep her hands occupied and let her mind run wild. If they're things she doesn't know how to do well, it's even better, because having room for improvement puts her in a good mood.

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Author
Stefano Garzaro

Stefano Garzaro, a serial provider of memory banks, has published several historical books about the city of Turin (one on the Borgata Lesna was even staged with community involvement). He has written novels and short stories here and there, but since dedicating himself to young adult literature, he has published the historical novel Geppe il brigante; O bella ciao (with Lucia Vaccarino); the dystopian novel Il paese nero; the interview with Luigi Ciotti, C’è bisogno di te; a panorama of the Resistance through simple stories in Per la libertà; and a dive into the Renaissance with Raffaello e la banda del mulino.

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