Skip to main content

Words on Fire

Image
By
Words on Fire
By Jennifer A. Nielsen
New York: Scholastic Press, 2019. Historical fiction.

12-year-old Audra is mostly content to spend her life on her parents' quiet farm. It is the 1890s and her father is a traveling magician who often leaves Audra and her mother behind when he travels to perform. Though Audra knows her parents are secretly doing something illegal, she isn't sure what it is until Cossack soldiers come to burn down her farm and arrest her mom and dad. Audra's family lives in what used to be the country of Lithuania but has been invaded by Russian soldiers who have made it illegal to read, speak, or really be Lithuanian. Audra soon learns that her parents are part of a group of Lithuanians who smuggle Lithuanian books throughout the country to keep their culture alive. With her parents arrested and the terrifying Officer Rusakov on her tail, Audra becomes involved with the smugglers as she begins to understand the importance of books.

This is an interesting and adventurous historical fiction novel set in a period of history that most readers will know little about. Audra is a fierce main character who is both realistic and galvanizing, she propels this story forward with her dogged determination to save her parents but is well balanced by an interesting cast of side characters. This is a great choice for fans of historical fiction of Jennifer A. Nielsen's other books.

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Faker

By
Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...
Post a Comment
Read more

You Need to Read: Percy Jackson

By
I was a kid myself when  The Lightning Thief  by Rick Riordan was published, and it didn't take long for the Percy Jackson series to take the world by storm. Being the son of a Poseidon, Percy Jackson has some unique challenges as a half-blood. Here's some books that I think could've helped Percy when he was on his adventures trying to save the world: Greeking Out: Heroes and Olympians Written by Kenny Curtis and Jillian Hughes Illustrated by Javier Espila Washington D.C.: National Geographic, 2024. Informational. 191 pages. Percy, I know Chiron did a good job teaching you about mythology in Latin class, but this book is sure to be good to have on hand while you're traveling across the United States. Greeking Out  is written in a kid-friendly voice with vivid illustrations and a sometimes-snarky tone (much like Percy himself). It also presents real-life creatures and places along with the information about Greek mythology. The Homework Squad's ADHD Guide to School S...
Post a Comment
Read more

Display: Flowers

By
The Language of Flowers Written by Shyala Smith Illustrated by Aaron Paul Asis United Kingdom: Lantana Publishing Ltd., 2024. Picture Book. Juhi loves helping her Appa sell flowers to the local community. In Appa's flower shop, Juhi knows the language of love--lilies for affection, irises for hugs and kisses. She knows the language of faith--frangipani for full moon days, red hibiscus for the temple. She knows the language of celebration--daffodils for the newborn, peonies for a birthday cake. But when her Appa tells her that her favorite customer has passed away, she does not know the language of grief. While Appa makes a bouquet of lilies and orchids to bring to Mr. Potter's funeral, Juhi decides to make him one final bouquet of her own. Which flowers will she choose to remember a man who was always so full of life? --Publisher The Weedflower Written by Elizabeth Davaze Illustrated by Marianne Ferrer Toronto; Berkeley, CA: Owlkids Books, 2024. Picture Book.  A modern schoolya...
Post a Comment
Read more