Words on Fire

by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Hardcover, 2019

Status

Available

Call number

HF1893

Genres

All Topics

Fiction

Publication

Scholastic Press (2019), Edition: First Edition, 336 pages

Description

Juvenile Fiction. Juvenile Literature. Historical Fiction. HTML: New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen transports readers to a corner of history with this inspiring story of a girl who discovers the strength of her people united in resisting oppression. Danger is never far from Audra's family farm in Lithuania. She always avoids the occupying Russian Cossack soldiers, who insist that everyone must become Russian�??they have banned Lithuanian books, religion, culture, and even the language. But Audra knows her parents are involved in something secret and perilous. When Cossacks arrive abruptly at their door, Audra's parents insist that she flee, taking with her an important package and instructions for where to deliver it. But escape means abandoning her parents to a terrible fate. As Audra embarks on a journey to deliver the mysterious package, she faces unimaginable risks, and soon she becomes caughtup in a growing resistance movement. Can joining the underground network of book smugglers give Audra a chance to rescue her parents?… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member DonnaMarieMerritt

I received an ARC of this book, due out October 2019.

Important historical (and current) topic about cultural identity tied to books and the power of the written word, set in the late 1800s when Russia banned Lithuanian books. When her parents are arrested and her home torched, Audra discovers that

her parents were book smugglers, getting books into as many Lithuanian hands as possible in order to stand against the Cossacks. And yet, her parents, despite their mission, have never taught Audra to read, most likely trying to protect her.

I am, of course, adding this to my 4th/5th grade school library, but I didn't find this read as satisfying as I would have liked. There were too many times I simply could not "suspend disbelief" over how often the main characters were able to escape the Cossacks and survived harrowing conditions. Details were missing. Inconsistencies. Even the cover, while a general representation of the theme, does not depict any singular event in the book (no fault of the author there). And Audra teaches herself to read rather too quickly, begins writing stories, and has the same revelation about books repeatedly.

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LibraryThing member sgrame

12 year old Audra gets the shock of her life in the 1890s when Cossack soldiers come to her farm and take her parents away. She runs off into the woods with just her father's backpack and the directions to deliver a package to a place she's never been before. This is the start of her book

smuggling, and a life of fear and adventure, never knowing who to trust. Eventually she meets a boy about her own age, Lukas, who is able to teach her the ropes and watch over her. An excellent book that describes the time when Russia would not allow the Lithuanians anything of their own culture in hopes that they would assimilate into their culture. With turmoil between turning in friends and giving up the smuggling for hope of getting her parents back, the rights of individuals, and the importance of free speech and words, this is a great for discussion for grades 5-8.

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LibraryThing member ewyatt

Audra has been largely kept in the dark about the work her family is doing. Her father performs street magic. Her parents also smuggle books into Lithuanian in their language, something strictly forbidden by the Russians who are in control of the country. The story begins in 1893. Audra is given a

package and told to run to Milda as her parents are arrested. She doesn't know how to read or write, but she is clever and makers her way. She learns about the book smuggling that has been going on and soon wants to get involved despite the dangers. She faces ethical dilemmas about turning over smugglers to free her parents, who have been sent to Siberia. An action packed read about the importance of books, ideas, language, and history for a people and what people are willing to do for their freedom. Audra along with her friend Lukas are willing to go to great lengths, face danger, and have to use every trick up their sleeve to fight for freedom.

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LibraryThing member MollyGroff

This is a wonderful historical fiction by Jennifer Nielsen. I'm not going to tell you all about what the book is about since reviews that just tell what it's about is the worst.
But I love this book and I think it's a great read. There are deffinetly some slow parts, but there are some really

exciting parts. (seriously, by chapter three her house is burned and her parents kidnapped, what's better than that??)
I really enjoyed reading about the book smugglers in Lithuania since I had no idea about any of these historical events!
Go read it!

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