I
don’t normally do book reviews on my blog, but I recently read a new release by
one of my favorite authors of middle-grade historical fiction.
Amid
a spate of World War II books, Jennifer A. Nielsen has set her latest during
the previous world war, beginning with the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
and continuing until Germany’s surrender. It follows two boys and three girls from
five different countries: Austria-Hungary, England, France, Russia, and
Germany. They are preteens when the war begins, and their lives intersect in unpredictable
ways during it.
This
is a book about war, and it shows the horrors in a way that will grip middle-grade
readers without overwhelming them. Yet there are no enemies in Lines of
Courage. The protagonists and the more prominent adults are each shown with
their faults, but the story makes it clear that they are simply imperfect human
beings like the rest of us.
As
with Nielsen’s other historical novels, this one is well-researched and stays true
to the historical facts. It teaches history in a way that most textbooks do
not, showing us how history affected real people.
So
if you want your children to learn about World War I, get them Lines of
Courage by Jennifer A. Nielsen.
I
highly recommend it.
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