  | Words on fire Author: Nielsen, Jennifer A. | |
| Price: $23.08 | ||
Summary:
In 1893 twelve-year-old Audra lives on a farm in Lithuania, and tries to avoid the Cossack soldiers who enforce the Russian decrees that ban Lithuanian books, religion, culture, and even the language; but when the soldiers invade the farm Audra is the only one who escapes and, unsure of what has happened to her parents, she embarks on a dangerous journey, carrying the smuggled Lithuanian books that fuel the growing resistance movement, unsure of who to trust, but risking her life and freedom for her country.
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| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 5.60 Points: 11.0 Quiz: 503776 | Reading Counts Information: Interest Level: 6-8 Reading Level: 5.40 Points: 18.0 Quiz: 77791 | |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (07/01/19)
Booklist (+) (10/01/19)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 10/01/2019 *Starred Review* Set in the 1890s, this compelling and thoughtful novel examines pre-Soviet Russia's occupation of Lithuania. By order of the tsar, all Lithuanians must assimilate into Russian culture because as far as the tsar is concerned, Lithuania has ceased to exist, along with its books, traditions, schools, culture, and language. The people of Lithuania, however, are not going to give up without a fight; indeed, uprisings are nearly a historical tradition. Audra, 12, knows little about this, because her parents have sheltered her from their activities. One night, everything changes when the Cossacks come to the door to arrest her parents—for book smuggling. Audra flees with a package to deliver and finds herself abruptly involved in the world of book smuggling. At first terrified and tempted to try to trade information for her parents' safety, Audra commits herself fiercely to the cause. Her transformation from a shy, retiring child to a courageous and creative young woman as she employs her father's magic tricks to help her work is marvelous to see. She is surrounded with complex and well-rounded characters, including the big bad Officer Rusakov, and the plot is gripping and moves swiftly. Audra's story deserves a place on the shelf next to Lois Lowry's Number the Stars and Marcus Zusak's The Book Thief. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.
