Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Interest Level: 3-6

Genre: Historical Fiction
Reading Level: 5.8

 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 caught up in a growing resistance movement. Can joining the underground network of book smugglers give Audra a chance to rescue her parents?

I LOVE historical fiction. I highly recommend this book for 3rd through 9th graders. The characters are compelling. The story moves along at a nice pace. The story comes to a nice close; and an ORCA (Oregon Readers Choice Award) nomination for 2021.