words on fire book review

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Words on fire.

Common Sense Says
Parents Say 1 Review
Kids Say 25 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Tale of late-1800s Lithuania has big ideas but lacks punch.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 8+?

Occupying soldiers enforce laws that suppress the local people, their culture, a

Any Positive Content?

Lots about Lithuanian culture in the late 1800s and Lithuania's relationship wit

Language, literature, and the knowledge that books contain give people power ove

At first Audra, 12, isn't interested in the larger world around her or the peopl

Violence & Scariness

Occupying soldiers enforce laws that suppress the local people, their culture, and their language. They break down doors, hit people with rifle butts, whip them, drown them, and burn houses, villages, and books. There's no gore and very few direct descriptions of violence, mostly the sound of gunshots or of someone being hit. One brief description of being beaten on the back with a stick mentions blood but doesn't describe it. One attempted drowning is briefly described and unsuccessful. An important character dies. Parental separation and fear of loss is a strong theme. Lots of scariness and dread from trying to avoid or escape from the occupying soldiers, being chased, being tied up, and taken to jail.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Educational Value

Lots about Lithuanian culture in the late 1800s and Lithuania's relationship with Russia at that time. Shows how the Russian government tried to suppress Lithuanian culture and force people to be Russians instead. A few words and phrases in Lithuanian and Russian. Shows how books and literature preserve language, culture, and religion.

Positive Messages

Language, literature, and the knowledge that books contain give people power over their own lives by giving them the freedom to think, believe, and dream. It's important to preserve and understand the past so that you can understand your own culture and know how to guide it from the present into the future. Taking away language and history destroys a people by destroying its culture. When you choose what's easy and safe instead of what's right, you become a part of the evil in the world.

Positive Role Models

At first Audra, 12, isn't interested in the larger world around her or the people and events in it. She just wants to stay quiet and peaceful on the farm with her mom and dad. She can't read or write and doesn't believe that books are anything of value. In fact, she even resents the knowledge that books represent. But she eventually learns why books, reading, and writing are important and fights to preserve her Lithuanian heritage in the face of the Russian occupiers. She also learns that she has to speak out against unjust laws and cruelty. Lukas is strongly committed to the cause of preserving Lithuanian culture and spreading ideas through books. He's loyal and smart, and knows that even he can learn from someone inexperienced like Audra. There's a cruel villain who changes. Other adults are helpful, patient, and caring.

Parents need to know that Jennifer A. Nielsen's Words on Fire is a historical novel about Lithuania in the late 1800s, when Russia invaded and tried to suppress the people and their cultural identity by banning Lithuanian books and making Russian the official language. Punishment for having books in Lithuanian was harsh, and there are brief but not gory descriptions of beatings, whippings, drownings, and burning books and homes. An important character dies. A cruel villain changes sides. Strongest themes and messages are about the importance of books and stories as ways of preserving heritage and keeping ideas and dreams alive. Parental separation is also a prominent theme. Also explored is the way writing and telling stories not only communicates ideas and preserves the past but also empowers the writer or teller of the stories.

Where to Read

Parent and kid reviews.

Parents say (1)
Kids say (25)

Based on 1 parent review

What's the Story?

WORDS ON FIRE tells the story of 12-year-old Audra, living peacefully and quietly on her parents' farm in Lithuania in the late 1800s. She knows that Russian Cossack soldiers have taken over Lithuania, but she figures everything will be fine if she minds her own business and stays out of town. Until the day a squad of Cossacks come to the farm, arrest her parents, and burn their house down. As her mother is urging Audra to flee, she gives her a package with instructions to deliver it to a village 20 kilometers away. Audra barely manages to escape by fleeing into the woods. Audra sets out to make the delivery, little imagining that it would become the first of many, and that she'll face much greater dangers as she goes. Most surprising of all, the girl who can't even read or write learns why books are worth facing terrible danger and enduring hardship and sacrifice.

Is It Any Good?

Unfortunately, author Jennifer A. Nielsen doesn't bring much fire to her words in this unusual story with a lot to teach about the importance of books and literature. The plot is steady, but neither it nor main character Audra have much spark or punch to them because Nielsen doesn't take advantage of the important moments to really show Audra's changing understanding and appreciation of books. Instead, she mostly just keeps repeating that books are important because they keep culture, history, language, and ideas alive. This makes it hard for the reader to have a real emotional connection with her.

But there's enough of a story here, in an unusual time and place, to hold the interest of kids who enjoy historical fiction, and cleverly introduces some literary concepts like symbolism through the story-within-the-story of the girl, the snake, and the bear. The supporting characters are also solid but not quite as colorful as it seems like they could be, and they're a little hard to get to know, too. There's some violence, scariness, and dread, but it's vague and lacks intensity. It's full of important ideas and concepts about freedom, culture, history, and more, but just doesn't quite drive much of it home in a truly compelling way.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the role of books in Words on Fire . Why are they important? How do they become important to Audra?

Did you know much about Lithuania before you read this book? Do you know where it is? See if you can find it on a map. What countries is it near?

Why does learning about what happened a long time ago in a faraway place matter? Can we learn anything about ourselves from this story? What about current events? Is anything like this type of suppression happening in the world right now?

Book Details

Author : Jennifer A. Nielsen
Genre : Historical Fiction
Topics : Friendship , Great Girl Role Models , History
Book type : Fiction
Publisher : Scholastic Press
Publication date : October 1, 2019
Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
Number of pages : 336
Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
Award : ALA Best and Notable Books
Last updated : February 4, 2020

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WORDS ON FIRE

by Jennifer A. Nielsen ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2019

Overall, a solid adventure about a little-known place and time.

Audra doesn’t understand what her parents are hiding until the Cossacks come to arrest them.

It’s June 1893, in what used to be the country of Lithuania but has been part of Russia for years. Twelve-year-old Audra has spent most of her life on her parents’ farm. Her stage-magician father travels, and Audra knows he and her mother are doing something illegal, but she doesn’t know what. When Officer Rusakov arrests them and sets fire to their home, Audra discovers that they’ve been smuggling books—printed in Lithuanian. The Russians long ago banned that language, spoken or written, in an attempt to force assimilation. Even though everyone speaks both languages (Lithuanian in secret), Audra’s parents have kept her illiterate rather than have her attend Russian school. Now she joins a group of rebels smuggling books from printers in Prussia: adults Milda and Ben, and Lukas, a boy her own age. Magic tricks her father taught her allow her to distract her pursuers rather than hide from them. Written from Audra’s first-person point of view, with an all-white cast in keeping with its Eastern European setting, the novel suffers a bit from inconsistent pacing but delivers believable action and suspense. The Cossack leader comes across as a typical evil Russian, but the other characters are more fully drawn.

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-338-27547-6

Page Count: 336

Publisher: Scholastic

Review Posted Online: June 15, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2019

CHILDREN'S ACTION & ADVENTURE FICTION | CHILDREN'S HISTORICAL FICTION

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More by Jennifer A. Nielsen

BOOK REVIEW

by Jennifer A. Nielsen

by Jennifer A. Nielsen ; illustrated by Jennifer A. Nielsen

CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS AND THE TERRIFYING RETURN OF TIPPY TINKLETROUSERS

From the captain underpants series , vol. 9.

by Dav Pilkey & illustrated by Dav Pilkey ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 28, 2012

Is this the end? Well, no…the series will stagger on through at least one more scheduled sequel.

Sure signs that the creative wells are running dry at last, the Captain’s ninth, overstuffed outing both recycles a villain (see Book 4) and offers trendy anti-bullying wish fulfillment.

Not that there aren’t pranks and envelope-pushing quips aplenty. To start, in an alternate ending to the previous episode, Principal Krupp ends up in prison (“…a lot like being a student at Jerome Horwitz Elementary School, except that the prison had better funding”). There, he witnesses fellow inmate Tippy Tinkletrousers (aka Professor Poopypants) escape in a giant Robo-Suit (later reduced to time-traveling trousers). The villain sets off after George and Harold, who are in juvie (“not much different from our old school…except that they have library books here.”). Cut to five years previous, in a prequel to the whole series. George and Harold link up in kindergarten to reduce a quartet of vicious bullies to giggling insanity with a relentless series of pranks involving shaving cream, spiders, effeminate spoof text messages and friendship bracelets. Pilkey tucks both topical jokes and bathroom humor into the cartoon art, and ups the narrative’s lexical ante with terms like “pharmaceuticals” and “theatrical flair.” Unfortunately, the bullies’ sad fates force Krupp to resign, so he’s not around to save the Earth from being destroyed later on by Talking Toilets and other invaders…

Pub Date: Aug. 28, 2012

ISBN: 978-0-545-17534-0

Page Count: 304

Review Posted Online: June 19, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2012

CHILDREN'S ACTION & ADVENTURE FICTION

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Words on Fire

Written by Jennifer A. Nielsen Review by Melissa Warren

What does it take to conquer a people? In the late 19 th century, Russian and American governments define it as assimilation. As the Americans worked to kill the Indian “and save the man,” through their policy of forced boarding schools, Russians embarked on a similar quest in Lithuania. They banned the books, the religion, and the language of the land they occupied. However, in both cases, brave men, women, and children worked to preserve their cultural identities and often lost their lives in the process.

Words on Fire tells the story of Audra, a sheltered twelve-year-old Lithuanian farm girl, who knows little of the outside world. Her mother, a farmer, and her father, a traveling magician, protect Audra from the occupying Russian soldiers. Audra stays on their farm far from the deadly Cossack soldiers who patrol the villages enforcing the ban on her culture. Until one night, those very soldiers invade her home and capture her parents.

During the chaos, Audra’s mother gives her a package and forces her to run into the woods. A ruthless Cossack officer pursues her as she races to deliver the mysterious package to a stranger. During her journey, Audra learns what the Russians have stolen from her family and her people, and she joins the fight to restore it.

Author Jennifer A. Nielsen’s story transcends time and traditional gender roles. The hero of this action-adventure story struggles to answer the question, “Is a book worth more than a life?” This novel is perfect for ages eight through twelve, but I highly recommend it for anyone who wishes to understand how we become who we are and what we take from others to become it.

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Words on Fire: Plot and Chapter-by-Chapter Summary

By: Author Luka

Posted on Last updated: August 14, 2024

Categories Reading Guides

Words on Fire, authored by Jennifer Nielsen, is a work of historical fiction aimed at middle-grade readers. Similar to Nielsen’s other standalone novels, the book features young protagonists navigating their way through oppressive environments.

The novel’s title, Words on Fire, alludes to the press ban enforced by Russian authorities in Lithuania in 1865, which made it illegal to publish reading materials in the Lithuanian language. As illustrated in the book, any discovered illegal texts were often burned to prevent further reading.

Please be advised that both the source material and this guide depict violent acts, such as whipping, beating, forced labor, torture, arson, and murder.

Plot Summary Chapter-by-Chapter Summary

Words on Fire Plot Summary

In Russian-occupied Lithuania, the summer of 1893 marks the beginning of the story. Audra Zikaris, a twelve-year-old protagonist, is thrilled to attend her village’s midsummer festivities with her parents, Henri and Lina. Audra’s parents have always been overprotective of her, limiting her activities to their small family farm to ensure her safety.

Despite Henri’s occupation as a traveling magician, Audra senses that her parents engage in clandestine activities after overhearing their private conversations. On the night of the summer solstice, Russian soldiers storm the Zikaris farm to arrest Lina and Henri. Audra escapes and seeks refuge in the nearby forest, carrying instructions to deliver a package to Milda Sabiene in Venska.

While on her way to Milda’s house, Audra loses her way and encounters a boy named Lukas. He helps her find Milda’s residence, where Audra learns that Milda, Lukas, Henri, and Lina are all part of a covert group of book smugglers.

Milda operates an underground library and school, while Lukas delivers books, just like Henri did. Initially, Audra fails to grasp the significance of the book she was tasked with delivering, but she gradually realizes the power of language and the indispensability of books in the Lithuanian resistance movement.

Audra becomes a proficient book smuggler after practicing and utilizing her quick instincts and creativity. However, she encounters Ben, an older smuggler who disapproves of children’s involvement in their dangerous activities.

During one smuggling mission, Officer Rusakov, the soldier who arrested Audra’s parents, recognizes her and offers to cancel their deportation orders in exchange for information about the other smugglers. Audra agrees to meet him, but she is conflicted about her choices.

The group successfully delivers a wagon of books to a church, which is a significant sponsor of illegal book printing. Lukas gives Audra an alphabet book, which she uses to teach herself how to read. On their way back to Šiluva, their hometown, Audra witnesses a soldier whipping Lukas when he is caught with books. She manages to save him and they make it to Šiluva, where they distribute the new books to eager young people.

After the successful delivery, Ben brings Audra back to Milda’s to stay safe. Months go by without any word from Lukas or Ben. Audra attends Milda’s classes and develops a love for reading and writing, while Milda encourages her storytelling.

Audra reunites with Lukas at a wedding, where she is delivering a secret book. However, soldiers interrupt the celebration and set the barn on fire in search of the book’s carrier. Lukas and Audra spend the night warning villagers and hiding as many books as they can find in the forest. The soldiers burn down several houses and publicly burn all the discovered books in the town square.

To prevent Milda’s arrest, Lukas rushes to empty out her library, while Audra distracts the soldiers with magic tricks. After successfully smuggling books across the border, Audra’s luck takes a turn for the worse when she is caught by Rusakov and imprisoned for her involvement. Despite his threats and attempts to force her to betray her friends, Audra refuses to give him any information.

In retaliation, Rusakov orders her deportation to Siberia, but Audra manages to escape the prison wagon and reunites with Lukas in Venska. The two embark on a dangerous journey to Prussia to pick up a new shipment of books and successfully smuggle them back into Lithuania. Upon their return, Ben falls ill and cannot accompany Audra to Prussia as planned.

Instead, he sends her on one last mission, during which Audra and Lukas are ambushed by a couple who recognizes Lukas and wants to trade him to the Russians. In a shocking twist, Lukas reveals that Rusakov is his father. They make their way to a church in Kražiai, where the villagers are preparing to defend it against soldiers.

As violence erupts, Audra and Lukas work to help others escape with a homemade smoke bomb, but Ben ultimately loses his life. During the chaos, a soldier captures Audra and attempts to drown her, but Rusakov surprisingly comes to her defense and suffers a gunshot wound as a result. Audra and Lukas help Rusakov to safety in a barn, where they hide overnight.

Audra reunites with Lukas in Venska and together they embark on a journey to Prussia to pick up a new order of books. Audra’s quick thinking helps them to smuggle the books back to Lithuania undetected. Despite her protests, Audra agrees to move to Prussia with Milda to keep herself safe and continue their smuggling operations.

Even when Milda passes away, Audra persists in fulfilling book orders and writing newspaper articles. In 1903, Lukas surprises Audra with news of the press ban being lifted and reunites her with her parents, who he helped return from Siberia. Audra and Lukas eventually marry and share tales of their book-smuggling adventures with their children.

Throughout the novel, Nielsen portrays brave characters who learn important lessons about family, justice, and themselves. The book carriers, especially Audra, face various conflicts including battling nature, Russian soldiers, society, and their own self-doubts. Nielsen’s use of foreshadowing and descriptive language creates a suspenseful environment that mirrors the tension the book carriers experience.

Through Audra’s eyes, readers learn about Lithuanian history and geography while witnessing her transformation from a timid girl to a confident young woman who stands up for what she believes in.

Words on Fire Chapter Summary

The protagonist, Audra, explains that her name means “storm” in Lithuanian and reflects on the fact that speaking in her native language is illegal under Russian occupation. She is on a mission with people’s lives at stake.

Audra recalls the summer when she was 12 years old and desperately wanted to be more confident like her magician father, Henrikas. She overhears her parents discussing secret work and learns that her mother, Lina, is involved. On the night of the summer solstice celebration, they encounter a new, dangerous soldier named Officer Rusakov. Audra’s parents pack their bags and flee while Audra is tasked with delivering a package to Milda Sabiene in Venska.

Audra and Lina run to the forest while Henrikas tries to stall the soldiers. Lina becomes entangled in garden wire and instructs Audra to deliver the package to Milda alone. Audra witnesses her parents’ home set on fire and her mother’s arrest. Terrified, she finds shelter in the forest and wonders if her parents have been killed because of the package she carries.

After ensuring the soldiers have left the area, Audra gathers the courage to leave her hiding place. Despite her sprained ankle, she limps towards the village and is surprised to find that the midsummer festivities are still underway.

She hides when she hears a group of young people approaching, including Officer Rusakov, who promises them a reward for turning in a girl matching Audra’s description. However, he allows the group to continue with their celebrations and moves on. Later, Violeta, the baker’s daughter, finds Audra hiding in some ferns.

Audra anxiously awaits Violeta’s decision on what to do next. To keep Audra hidden from Rusakov, Violeta tells her friends that she found the mythological fern blossom and urges them to go and see it. Once the soldiers have left, the young Lithuanians help Audra.

Filip, a boy from the group, provides her with directions to Venska, a village 20 kilometers away. Audra declines a girl’s offer to accompany her for fear of endangering them further. Violeta gives Audra her shawl, and another person gives her some cakes before she sets off on the forest path, unsure if she will ever return.

Audra takes shelter in a thicket of trees and dozes off until sunrise after walking for a few kilometers. She makes a makeshift brace for her sprained ankle and prepares to open her parents’ package, but a nearby sound startles her, and she quickly flees.

As she continues to walk for most of the morning, Audra realizes she has lost her way. While crossing a second river with slippery rocks, she slips and falls into the water. Fortunately, a boy named Lukas helps her out of the river. He tells her that she has already passed Venska but is initially reluctant to assist her further. Audra offers to perform a card trick, and Lukas agrees to bring her to Milda as promised.

Audra endures a painful ride on Lukas’s donkey without a saddle. Though Lukas attempts to make small talk, Audra remains guarded, fearful that he may be a spy. Lukas tells her a story about a girl named Rue who saves her father’s life using her cleverness. He then reveals that he is an outcast in his family and works for someone named Ben in exchange for food.

When Lukas inquires about the package Audra protected in the river, she realizes it is still a mystery to her. She becomes apprehensive when she hears Lukas whistling, fearing that it may attract the soldiers’ attention. Lukas becomes serious and demands to know if Audra is hiding something.

Audra questions Lukas’s motives and asks if he is a thief. He responds, “Not exactly,” and then speaks about the beauty of Prussia, encouraging Audra to cross the border someday. This only deepens Audra’s suspicion of him, and she decides that she wants nothing to do with Lukas and his “dangerous life” (47) as soon as he brings her to Milda.

As Lukas and Audra arrive in Venska, he warns her not to stare at Milda, a woman he describes as “a bit odd.” After using a specific knock, an old woman answers the door, and Lukas introduces Audra as the Zikaris’ daughter. To Audra’s shock, Milda removes her wig, pillow, and makeup to reveal her true appearance.

Milda knows Audra’s parents and feeds her dumplings as she listens to Audra’s traumatic story. Milda assures Audra that Lukas can be trusted, but Audra is furious to find out that the package she delivered was just a book.

Lukas inspects the book, and Milda asks Audra for the key to unlock it. Lukas explains to Milda that Audra doesn’t know about the books, and Milda shows her the secret library hidden beneath her house. Milda offers Audra the chance to live with her and attend her secret school, but Audra declines.

Milda warns Audra that her parents may be imprisoned or deported to Siberia, and Audra decides to stay with Milda. Milda requests that Audra deliver a book for her, but Audra refuses. Though this disappoints Milda and Lukas, Audra doesn’t apologize.

As Audra settles in with Milda, she begins to uncover the secrets of the underground library and the forbidden knowledge contained within. Meanwhile, she worries about her parents and their fate. Will she be able to help them? Will she learn to trust Lukas and Milda, or will their secrets put her in danger? The story takes an exciting turn as Audra navigates the dangerous landscape of war-torn Lithuania and the shadowy world of Milda’s secret school.

Audra’s weeklong stay with Milda has been eventful, and she has witnessed the many customers who come in disguise to purchase forbidden books. Milda’s secret library and underground classroom have taught Audra much about the power of knowledge.

However, when Russian soldiers arrive at the store for a search, Audra finds herself trapped in the library. She discovers a secret tunnel and encounters a young girl named Roze who agrees to help her. Together, they journey through the tunnel to Milda’s shed, where Audra finally agrees to deliver a book for Milda.

The tension in this chapter is palpable as Audra must navigate dangerous situations to protect herself and those she cares about, adding to the overall suspense of the novel.

Milda reveals to Audra the true importance of the books she is delivering. Milda’s father had been part of a rebellion against the oppressive tsarist regime, and the books serve as a way to keep Lithuanian culture and identity alive in the face of Russian censorship.

Audra becomes even more determined to complete her mission and deliver the books to the resistance. However, her plans are interrupted when Lukas returns with news that the Zikaris have been captured and are being held in the town’s jail.

Lukas hatches a risky plan to rescue them, and Audra must decide whether to join him or continue with her own mission.

On the day of her delivery, Audra is determined to avoid any people on the road, but Milda instructs her to wait until it’s busier so she can blend in with the crowds. Despite Audra’s inability to read, Milda emphasizes the importance of the books, especially the one she’s delivering – The History of the Ancient Lithuanians. It contains knowledge that can change someone’s life for the better.

Milda gives Audra specific instructions to deliver the book to a man named Ben Kagan. However, on her way, Audra encounters a Russian officer who questions her. Quick on her feet, she lies and tells him she’s delivering fabric to a seamstress in the neighboring town. The soldier hands her a book in Russian, claiming it’s “a gift from the tsar” (84).

After making it to the next town, Lukas suddenly appears, having followed her to ensure her safety. He praises her successful delivery and then casually tosses the Russian book into a manure cart before taking her to Ben.

The wheels of the wagon creaked as Ben drove frantically, and Audra clung to Lukas for dear life. When they finally stopped, Ben realized Audra bore a striking resemblance to her parents, who were well-known book carriers. However, Audra quickly explained that her parents were still alive, and she had a plan to rescue them.

But Ben dismissed her idea and planned to abandon the children in the next town. Fortunately, Lukas and Audra managed to hide the books in the wagon without Ben noticing. As they traveled north, Audra’s instincts kicked in, and she volunteered to scout ahead.

Her bravery soon paid off as she encountered a group of soldiers, including Rusakov, who recognized her and offered to free her parents in exchange for information about a book-smuggling boy. Audra agreed to meet him in two days with information, without telling Ben or Lukas about the deal.

When Ben arrived, Rusakov pretended not to know him and asked him to take Audra to Šiauliai with him. Despite her fear, Audra decided to keep smuggling books, and Ben commended her for her bravery.

As they travel, Lukas shares the story of Rue with Audra to lift her spirits. Upon their arrival in Šiauliai, a priest welcomes them and directs them to hide the books in the stables.

Audra still struggles with her decision to continue book smuggling but believes it is the only way to save her parents. Lukas gives her a Lithuanian book to learn how to read, and the priest reveals that he knows about her parents’ work. He explains that Lina would take book orders and Henri would smuggle them in from Prussia.

Lukas emphasizes the power of books to instill hope and empower people to take action. Ben acknowledges the importance of hope but warns Audra about the dangers and difficulties of book smuggling. Despite his concerns, Audra insists on helping and convinces Ben to let her continue.

Audra spends a restless night at the church, flipping through her new book and teaching herself a few words. She feels conflicted emotions as she thinks about her mother, feeling both fearful, despairing, and angry that her mother kept so much of her life a secret from her.

Suddenly, a man enters the church and warns them of an imminent search. The group quickly gathers their belongings and begins reloading the books. The man offers to take some of the books in his cart, but they must still carry the rest on foot to avoid detection. To make matters more difficult, they must split up to head to Šiluva, the town near Audra’s home.

Audra asks Ben to draw her a map using milk on some paper, and he directs her to a secret school in town where the group will meet up again. Despite Ben’s skepticism, Audra promises him that she will make it to Šiluva.

The trio embarks on separate paths towards Šiluva. After hours of walking, Audra builds a fire in the forest to warm up her milk-dried map. Suddenly, she hears footsteps and readies herself with a stick. She mistakenly hits Lukas, who had been following her, until he reveals his presence.

Then, Lukas tells Audra to hide as two Russian soldiers appear and force him to the ground, whipping him with a tree branch. Audra throws a snake to distract the soldiers and helps Lukas collect his books. They find a safer hiding place, the same patch of ferns where Audra hid before.

Lukas advises Audra to check on her home while he rests, but she discovers that it has been completely destroyed and breaks down in tears.

Audra and Lukas take refuge in the small barn and Audra contemplates the difficult decision she must make regarding Rusakov’s offer. Ultimately, she decides to protect Lukas even if it means losing her parents. While Lukas rests, Audra tries to make sense of a poem in one of his books, and Lukas helps her understand its symbolism, revealing that the Lithuanian resistance to Imperial Russia is still active.

Lukas also shares more about Ben’s past and his guilt over losing his friends in an uprising decades ago. He explains that this is why Ben is so protective of both Lukas and Audra. As they prepare to leave the barn, Lukas discovers a notebook hidden on one of the beams. It turns out to be Audra’s father’s notes on magic tricks, and she decides to keep it private until the day she can read it herself.

Due to Lukas’s pain, they make slow progress towards the town, and Lukas continues his story about Rue to distract them.

Lukas and Audra arrive at the barn in Šiluva after an hour of walking. Ben greets them with concern, and Lukas’s injuries confirm for him that it’s too dangerous for children to be smuggling. They carry the books down to the underground library, but Audra is disappointed by the small number of books they find.

A group of young people, the same ones Audra met on the night of her escape, arrive to borrow books. They are surprised to see Audra in the library and thank her for her help, offering their assistance in return. They quickly choose their books and depart, leaving Audra feeling exhilarated by the sudden flurry of activity.

Although Audra is eager to continue smuggling, Ben decides it’s safest for her to return to Milda’s while Lukas stays in Šiluva to recover. Overhearing one of the other girls talking about writing sparks an interest in Audra, and the girl gives her a pencil and some paper before leaving.

After three months at Milda’s, without any contact from Ben or Lukas, Audra’s anticipation to carry books again grows. However, as the book inventory at Milda’s dwindles, Audra spends her days observing classes and studying on her own, eventually teaching herself how to read. With each book she reads, she recognizes the importance of the smuggled books and starts writing her own stories, continuing Rue’s adventures and aspiring to be just as brave. Milda encourages her passion for storytelling and recognizes her talent for writing.

Audra convinces Milda to let her carry books again, but only to drop sites for safety reasons. Milda sends her to deliver a book hidden in a quilt as a wedding gift to a nearby church. There, she witnesses the wedding rituals and is surprised by Lukas’s unexpected appearance. They are about to dance when soldiers interrupt the celebration, and Officer Rusakov announces a search.

After witnessing the soldiers’ interruption of the wedding and the search for the smuggled book, Lukas and Audra hide behind a barrel and make their way to the barn. There, Rusakov finds the book hidden in the quilt and threatens the guests to confess who brought it.

Lukas convinces Audra not to confess, but Rusakov warns that he will burn down the town if another book is found, starting with the barn. Lukas and Audra flee to the forest, where Audra feels guilty for the destruction and breaks down in tears.

Lukas reassures her and suggests they gather as many books as possible from villagers’ homes before the soldiers find them.

Lukas and Audra continue their frantic book rescue mission, going from house to house to warn people of the soldiers’ search. Some households are already prepared and give them many books to bring to the hidden location in the forest.

Audra sneaks into an empty house and finds a book just as a soldier arrives to search the premises. She manages to conceal the book in her apron, but the soldier discovers more books and sets fire to the bed, taking the books with him.

Audra extinguishes the flames and flees, but encounters a girl who needs help saving her book. While running away with the girl and her book, a soldier tries to grab Audra, but she escapes, leaving the books behind.

Lukas brings Audra to the forest, where they meet up with other villagers. Lukas is disappointed that they didn’t save enough books, but he has something important to show Audra.

Lukas and Audra bear witness from the edge of the forest as houses in the village burn, and other villagers are compelled to watch books being burned in the town square. Rusakov chastises the villagers, calling them “fools” and insisting that they must accept their Russian identities. An older man speaks out against Rusakov, and soldiers knock him down with a rifle and haul him away.

Finally, Rusakov orders the square to be cleared, and when he is called away, Audra resolves to rescue as many unburned books as possible. Despite burning her arm in the fire, she and Lukas are able to save a stack of books.

When the soldiers return, Audra and Lukas overhear Rusakov order his soldiers to shoot any villager who “tries to challenge” them, and then he declares that he will arrest the source of the smuggled books. Lukas and Audra rush to Milda’s to try to save her.

The children hurry to Milda’s house, but they run into Roze, who urges them to save themselves. Despite Milda’s warning, Lukas and Roze remind Audra of the importance of rescuing the books to protect Milda from being indicted. Audra, however, emphasizes that Milda’s life is just as important, and they must try to save her. Lukas agrees to move the books from the secret library, and Roze offers to help Milda sneak out.

Audra uses props from her father’s bag of tricks to distract the officers outside Milda’s house. She tells them that she will exchange information about the smugglers if they can beat her trick. The officers fail to guess the right answer, but they insist that Audra must still answer their questions.

She requests to perform another trick and tries to flee but bumps into Rusakov, who drags her into Milda’s house. Inside, Rusakov and his soldiers find that Milda has disappeared, and he blames Audra for the night’s events, asking her if she is willing to save herself.

In Chapter 24, Rusakov reminds Audra of their agreement, but he knows she is lying when she tells him she has no information to share. He notices the burn on her arm and squeezes the wound until she cries. Audra tells Rusakov that the villagers are innocent, but he promises to follow the smugglers everywhere and bring fire and punishment.

She condemns his actions, and he blames her for the night’s events, threatening to burn more of the village if she does not tell him where she got the book. She lies, saying she brought the book directly from Prussia, and tells Rusakov about the stash of books they rescued in the forest. Rusakov throws Audra into a prison wagon and confiscates her father’s bag, ordering it to be burned.

Audra contemplates the strength she will need to overcome torture if her captors decide to use it. When Rusakov arrives with a table and chair, he confirms that the Zikarises have been deported to Siberia. He then shows Audra a metal box containing some of her parents’ belongings, including a small key.

Rusakov offers Audra a fresh start to a “law-abiding life” if she shares information about her friends. However, Audra does not know what to do.

Rusakov sets a deadline for Audra to write down the names of the smugglers she knows, giving her only one hour to comply. As she sifts through her parents’ belongings, she discovers a metal box containing some of their possessions, including a small key.

She gazes at the blank paper for a long time, feeling torn between saving herself and betraying her friends. Finally, she writes down one name and falls asleep, exhausted from the emotional turmoil.

When Rusakov returns, he is outraged to see that Audra has written his name on the paper. He threatens to deport her and assures her that he will find her friends without her help.

Despite her fear and guilt, Audra believes that her parents would be proud of her for standing up to the oppressor. She also acknowledges that she will never be able to forgive herself for failing to save her parents from their tragic fate.

After waiting for several hours, a soldier arrives to take Audra to the train station. As she gets into the wagon, the guard hands her father’s bag, which she soon realizes must have been a bribe from someone to help her escape. Inside the bag, she finds “pops,” small fireworks that explode on impact with solid surfaces. Along the way, she throws one inside the wagon to distract the driver. With strategic throwing, she convinces the driver they might be under attack, and he runs for safety.

Audra takes the opportunity to flee in the opposite direction. She finds a dress hanging out to dry on someone’s laundry line and creates a commotion among a group of children. When the guard arrives to ask where she has gone, she blends in with the group and then runs away.

Audra attempts to make her way back to Milda’s under cover of darkness to stay safe. To motivate herself, she thinks of her friends, the books, and Lukas’s stories of Rue, now fully understanding their symbolism.

After several days of famished, exhausting walking, Audra arrives at Venska, where she discovers that Milda’s home has been burned beyond repair. She sneaks down to the library and finds all the shelves empty. Roze greets her from the top of the ladder and explains that Milda was aware of Audra’s escape plan.

Rusakov has been discharged from the army because of his extreme actions in the village, and Lukas was able to save all of Milda’s books and distribute them. The smugglers are planning to gather more books because people want them now more than ever. Roze leads Audra to Lukas’s hiding spot in the woods, promising her food.

Roze leaves Audra and Lukas to continue their work at Lukas’s secret shelter. Lukas tells Audra that Ben and Milda are safe, but he must leave the next day to cross the border to get more books. Although they both know Ben would not approve, Audra wants to help him. In the morning, they set off in a borrowed wagon towards the border.

Lukas explains that there are three layers of border patrol covering over ten kilometers they must pass through when crossing between countries. To distract Audra from the gravity of the situation, Lukas reminds her of their greater purpose. They eventually arrive at a barn where they can leave the wagon and continue on foot.

They walk for many exhausting hours until they can see the dense border patrol. Audra fears crossing will be impossible but doesn’t want to turn back. Lukas promises her it will be “easier than [she thinks]” (222).

Lukas and Audra carefully navigate through the forest to avoid being detected by the border patrol. As they reach the river, Audra realizes that she must climb along the underside of the bridge to cross, using the fastened rope to keep her safe from the guards’ eyes.

Once they reach the Prussian city of Tilsit, the printer informs Lukas that there are extra books that need to be smuggled. Lukas originally planned to leave Audra in Prussia, but he acknowledges that he needs her help to carry the books to a safe barn where they can pack them into barrels.

Audra reads fairy tales to find guidance in her dangerous mission.

As they start their walk back across the border, Lukas tells Audra that this is only his second time crossing, and she expresses her concern about his lack of experience. Lukas admits that his fear has caused him to make “too safe” and “too predictable” decisions, and he wants Audra to help him think more creatively.

At the river crossing, Audra sets up a decoy smuggler using a spare barrel, Lukas’s coat, and rocks to distract the guards, while she and Lukas float downriver in freezing water. They successfully cross the river, empty the barrels, and continue walking throughout the night while trying to avoid being seen.

As they walk, Audra reflects on how she has grown and come to understand her role in the fight for Lithuania’s freedom.

After getting a ride to Šiauliai, the exhausted children get some rest in the wagon. Lukas wakes Audra up and they continue walking to Ben’s place. While walking, Lukas tells Audra about the history of the Hill of Crosses. Audra takes this opportunity to ask Lukas about his family, but Lukas only mentions that he misses his mother.

Lukas confronts Audra about not making the trade with Rusakov and she admits to being uncertain about her decision. Lukas is grateful for her sacrifice and they arrive at the Hill of Crosses that night. Lukas creates a makeshift cross from sticks for Audra to place on the hill in honor of her parents. He assures her that she will see them again in the future.

They reunite with Milda and Ben, who has a concerning cough. Ben suggests that Audra and Milda move to Prussia for their safety, but Audra refuses.

Ben comes down with a terrible cold and they rest for a week before delivering the new books to a priest in Kražiai. The priest expresses hope that enough people will stand up to the destruction of churches that the tsar will inevitably order. Ben’s cough is a concern and he warns Lukas and Audra that he has a bad feeling about their next trip.

Despite his warning, they prepare to cross the border again. At the soldiers’ bunker, Lukas steals some boots to cover their tracks in the snow. Audra distracts the soldiers, allowing Lukas time to flee with the boots.

They successfully cross the border and meet Milda at her new home in Tilsit. While Milda discusses her plans to convert the space for smugglers, Audra remembers a recipe in her father’s notebook and requests Milda’s help in procuring the ingredients. They make smoke bombs that could save their lives in the future.

Audra and Lukas make their way across the border by disguising Audra as an old woman and placing her in a coffin in a wagon. The soldiers at the border stop them and accuse Lukas of trying to spread typhus when he claims that Audra died from the disease.

However, Lukas is able to convince the soldiers to let them go by claiming that he used to work for a Russian family and now works with the sick.

Audra wakes up from her uncomfortable ride and washes off her makeup to ride with Lukas in the open. However, a couple with a rifle recognizes Lukas and ties up both him and Audra, accusing them of being book smugglers.

The couple plans to trade them for their arrested son since Lukas is “the Russians’ boy” and they will want him back. Audra pleads for their freedom, but the couple tells them that a “demonstration” is planned for Kražiai in two days as punishment.

Audra is able to free herself and Lukas when the man keeping watch falls asleep. They escape on the wagon, but Lukas feels ashamed for constantly needing Audra’s help. Lukas reveals that his father is Rusakov, the man they have been trying to smuggle books to, and tells Audra about a traumatic incident from his past involving Rusakov’s involvement in the arrest of a friend’s father.

Despite this, Lukas does not believe his father is evil, just wrong. The chapter ends with the pair sitting in silence as they prepare to continue their journey.

As they arrive in Kražiai, Ben is the only person there to greet them and urges them to flee the village. The children unload the book delivery with the help of Ben and the priest, while others prepare to defend the church. The priest explains that there is an order for the church to be burned. Some villagers move items from the church to safety, while others prepare to fight the soldiers.

Ben warns that it is futile to fight, but Audra is eager to help. More soldiers arrive, surrounding the church and its defenders. Ben orders the children to hide in their decoy coffin while he fights, and Audra retreats with Lukas.

The children crawl to a safe spot and witness a man get shot. Audra realizes that Rusakov is standing behind her when Lukas asks his father to spare her. During an argument with his father, Lukas shares that he has never identified with his Russian identity because it made his friends fearful.

A shot interrupts their argument, and a soldier demands the villagers to surrender. Some continue to fight, while those who surrender are assaulted anyway.

The soldiers force people toward the river, where Audra realizes they will be drowned. Using one remaining match, Audra lights a smoke bomb to redirect some people to safety. However, a soldier grabs her and forces her into the cold, deep water.

As Audra fights back against her captor, she feels empowered, comparing herself to Rue. However, the soldier ultimately recaptures her. Amidst the loud water, Audra overhears someone confronting the soldier, but only catches fragments of the conversation.

Suddenly, a gunshot rings out, and the soldier releases Audra, causing her to float downstream until Ben rescues her. Despite Ben’s insistence that she hide, Audra is determined to find Lukas first. When she does, she discovers him tending to his father, who was shot in the leg while trying to save her. Together, they bring Rusakov to safety in a nearby barn, and the people inside accept him after learning that he saved their lives.

Audra and Lukas spend the night with the villagers, learning about the arrests, injuries, and deaths that occurred. Audra worries that Ben may be among the casualties. Although Audra regrets not being able to save more people, many in the barn personally thank her for her help with the smoke bombs. T

he priest even calls her “the book carrier who does magic,” but Audra reminds everyone that the true magic lies within books. She encourages them to continue fighting by reading and sharing ideas for an independent Lithuania.

Audra and Lukas accompany the priest back to the church to check on its condition after the attack. Lukas retrieves Henri’s locked book from Ben’s possession and gives it to Audra as instructed. Audra unlocks the book with her key and finds that it contains pages of family records.

On the last page, she discovers her mother’s name followed by Ben’s name, confirming that Ben was her maternal grandfather. After realizing that it’s safer for her to help Milda in Prussia, Audra decides to go with her.

Meanwhile, Lukas wants to help his father return home and try to make things right. He assures Audra that they will see each other again, and Audra completes the family tree by adding her name under her parents’.

Years have passed since the events at the end of the book, and Audra continues to smuggle books from Prussia into Lithuania. She often reflects on her grandfather Ben’s account of the uprising he was a part of and the resulting book ban, which drove him to feel immense guilt. Despite moments of doubt, Audra persists in her work while also writing for an underground newspaper.

Milda’s health eventually declines, and she passes away peacefully. Audra buries her as close to the Lithuanian border as possible. After Milda’s death, Audra goes to visit her grave and is surprised by Lukas, who tells her that the press ban has been lifted and she can return to Lithuania. He used all his money to buy two train tickets, and Audra is overjoyed to learn that her parents, Lina and Henri, are also there to meet her.

As they embrace in a tearful reunion, Lina and Henri thank Audra for “bringing them home.” The book ends with a flashback to the present moment, where Audra and Lukas are reading their children bedtime stories. The children inevitably ask their parents for stories about their book smuggling days, and Audra and Lukas happily oblige, telling their children about their heroic efforts to keep the written word alive.

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I love to read and I enjoy exploring a range of genres including contemporary and historical fiction, mysteries, thrillers, nonfiction, and memoirs. If you would like me to review your book, feel free to reach out to me!

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Book Review: Words on Fire

Summary of Words on Fire

Audra is a Lithuanian girl living during the time of the press ban. She hadn’t known about the ban, because her parents had kept a lot of their secrets from her. She had never known they were hiding things from her until the summer she turned twelve, when Russian Cossack soldiers arrive at their home. Her father and mother give her a mysterious package, tell her who to deliver it to, and then instruct her to run away and not turn back. Audra is mortified as the Cossacks burn her home down and take her parents captive. After she delivered the package, she learned that her parents were secretly book smugglers. She then joined the resistance of book smugglers, hoping to bring her parents’ home. She made new friends, faced hard decisions, and was brave where courage was most needed.

Words on Fire , by Jennifer A. Nielsen , is a compelling historical fiction set during the Lithuania Press Ban in the late 17th century. We follow Audra, a girl with wits and courage enough to smuggle books under the noses of the Russian Cossacks. A good book for independent readers.

There are a few scenes where the Cossacks attack, but no gore. There is a scene in which someone gets whipped. Nervous about that scene? Check out pages 124-125.

None. No foul or even coarse language.

Relationship/Morality

None. There are no concerning relationships. Two of the main characters end up getting married at the end.

Magic or Spiritual Realms

None. There are no fantasy elements. The story is historical fiction.

Intense Scenes

The most intense scene is pages 303-305, when Audra, the main character almost drowns.

Positives Messages

This story shows the true power behind the meaning of words. Words mean things. Words can invoke ideas, educate, build, and inspire. Words can resist, and create a country, if they are brave enough to try.

Ages 4-6: Not recommended
Ages 7-8: Not recommended
Ages 9-10: Not recommended
Ages 11-12: Recommended
Ages 13-15: Recommended
Ages 16-18: Recommended

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I love this book so much!!!

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Words on Fire Paperback – Jan. 4 2022

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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.

In June 1893, 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?

Reading age 8 - 12 years
Print length 336 pages
Language English
Grade level 3 - 7
Dimensions 13.34 x 1.91 x 19.05 cm
Publisher Scholastic Inc.
Publication date Jan. 4 2022
ISBN-10 133827578X
ISBN-13 978-1338275780
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Also by New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen:	The thrilling story of a young girl who stows away on board the Titanic. As she attempts to find answers to her many questions about the ship, she finds herself caught up in the desperate struggle to survive after it strikes an iceberg.	Artfully weaved stories of five kids living through World War I, each of whom holds the key to the others' futures... if they are lucky -- and brave -- enough to find each other.	A stunning thriller about a girl who must escape to freedom after the Berlin Wall divides her family between east and west.	A thriller based on the remarkable true story of a young Polish girl who bravely fought, participating in the Warsaw city uprising, and took a stand in the name of freedom.	The extraordinary story of a Jewish girl's courageous efforts to resist the German forces.	Readers will be transported to a corner of history with this inspiring story of a girl who discovers the strength of her people united in resisting oppression.

Product description

Praise for Words on Fire :

* "Gripping... Audra's story deserves a place on the shelf next to Lois Lowry's Number the Stars and Marcus Zusak's The Book Thief ." -- Booklist , starred review

"[This] adventure about a little-known place and time... delivers action and suspense." -- Kirkus Reviews

"There is much on offer in this novel: family love, patriotism, magic, and the importance of books... Highly recommended." -- School Library Connection

Praise for Resistance :

A Sydney Taylor Notable Book

"The edge-of-your-seat climax places readers amidst the gritty, horrifying street battles of the Warsaw Ghetto and pays tribute to those who sacrificed themselves so others would live... Historical fiction at its finest, this informs, enlightens, and engages young readers." -- School Library Journal

"Highlight[s] moments of resistance via cinematic action sequences." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Suspense mounts continually as Chaya survives her ordeals, gaining strength and faith in her mission. The courage and selfsacrifice of many characters is inspiring." -- Publishers Weekly

"Fast-paced and suspenseful." -- School Library Connection

Praise for A Night Divided :

ILA-CBC Children's Choices List selection

"Absorbing and deeply suspenseful, with plenty of ticking-clock tension... an eye-opening glimpse of history." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"A marvelously crafted historical novel about courage, perseverance and the will to survive, A Night Divided excels in every regard." -- Reading Eagle

"Distinct supporting characters... demonstrate the harrowing choices people made to survive, encouraging readers to consider what they would have done if fate and history had cast them into the story... The novel's strong setting and tense climax will keep readers engrossed and holding their breath until the last page." -- School Library Journal

"History buffs will drool over the magnificently told tale, but even reluctant readers will become immersed in the tension-filled exploits." -- Voice of Youth Advocates

"Like Anne Frank before her, Gerta is small but mighty, a hardheaded heroine who dreams up big ideas and refuses to give up in the face of adversity and danger." -- Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Product details.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scholastic Inc. (Jan. 4 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 133827578X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1338275780
Item weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 kg
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.34 x 1.91 x 19.05 cm
#3 in Exploring Europe for Children
#31 in Historical Fiction for Children (Books)
#347 in Action & Adventure for Children (Books)

About the author

Jennifer nielsen.

Jennifer enjoys old books, movies, hiking, and nearly anything made of chocolate. Learn more about her at her website, www.jennielsen.com or follow her on Twitter @nielsenwriter.

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Words on Fire

By Jennifer A. Nielsen

Book Reviews (15)

"Words on Fire" by Jennifer A. Nielsen tells about a girl named Audra and her name, books, religion, culture, and language is banned. Her parents have been captured leaving her with a package to deliver. After she delivered the package she found out that her parents worked in a network of book smugglers and is tempted to join them if she joins them she could have a chance to find her parents.

I started it and I liked it. I wish I got to read more.

Title: Words on Fire Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen Genre: Historical fiction It had some challenging words but if you don't know how to say them, you will still understand the book . This was almost like a portal back into history, I never knew about Lithuania and the Cossack's and I'm glad I read it. This book was full of sadness, surprises, challenges, and some good times along the way.

It looks good to read.

Just shows how important words. books, reading, and your history is.

I’m loving it

This book really has Words on Fire. I’m really enjoying it and it is a great piece by Jennifer A. Neilsen.

I started and it’s so good

I started reading this book, but wasn't able to finish it. But I read enough to know that this is an amazing book!

I read it with my 4th grade class, amazing!

Words On Fire Book Review

by kingdompen | Book Recommendations , Fiction | 20 comments

Book by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Review by Daisy Torres

Title: Words on Fire
Written by: Jennifer A. Nielsen
Genre: Historical Fiction
Star Rating -- 5/5

Brief Story Synopsis --

A girl during the Lithuanian-Russian Revolt discovers secrets about her family. She joins an undercover ring of book smugglers in an attempt to keep Lithuania alive in the minds of the people until Russia is out of their country.

This is a story about staying strong when you don't feel like it; A story about freedom and liberty. Jennifer Nielsen did a fantastic job of weaving themes of not only patriotism, but also loyalty, strength, and bravery.

While the story was masterfully crafted, I did notice one scene where I struggled to see what was happening action-wise. It wasn’t a big detail, but the description there was a bit muddy. Otherwise, I don’t know that I really can point anything out.

Discussion:

Writing Style -- The author's style was very clear and clean, yet vivid. There were many moments where I found myself in awe of the simplicity and vividness of her descriptions . Everything flowed very well.

Author's Goal -- She told a story--which she did amazing at--but with the story, she displayed strength when Audrey felt she had none. She showed loyalty when it was tempting to be disloyal (even I, the reader, was sympathetic towards that).

She crafted a fantastic character arc. I believe Jennifer Nielsen set out to show young girls that, like unread books, there are some thoughts you stuff down, saying they're not important, that need to be heard. When we stamp our thoughts down and chalk them off as unimportant, it's the same as never reading a book--as never hearing its ideas.

How the book affected me -- The book gave me lots of new info on Lithuania and Russia that I did not previously have. It showed how important it is to hold fast to what we know is important--because if we don't, it can very well be taken from us.

Also, I wrote my very first full book review because of it, so that should say something about how it affected me 😂

Theme and Message -- I found many positive themes and messages in this book. The main one I particularly liked was the main character's growth from not caring about books at all, to realising exactly how much power the written word holds.

I thoroughly enjoyed how the author accomplished Audrey's character development from the beginning of the book to the end. She started out afraid and cowering, and although she still scared easily in the end (With the stuff she faced, who could blame her!), she was no longer cowering.

Characters: I found it riveting --full of flawed characters and classic Russian pathos. (If you catch that VeggieTales reference, I love you 😂). For real though, the characters were amazing. I even found myself caring for the villain !

Every character was well-crafted and richly designed with their own fears and secrets to work through. Even characters I started out not thinking I needed became close to me.

Structure: This book was fairly short and to the point, which I loved. It was very obvious when I came to a key point in the story, and I often caught myself thinking, "Ah, the Character Arc starts here ," or "Ooo, this is the big self-lie Audrie must face before the end of the book." I noticed each point clearly and distinctly.

Something stood out to me that I'd like to add:

While reading this, I kept noticing fantastic themes that made me think back to our walk as Christians.

History repeats itself--and if you look around, you'll find that it's already begun.

The best way to keep a person caged is to never let them know they're in a cage. Keep them blind, keep them brainwashed to believe only the thoughts they're fed, but never, under any circumstances, let them think for themselves. When you do that, it's only a small amount of time before the person realises the truth.

Words have power--books have power. They furnish the ability to think thoughts we never would have, were it not for them.

In 'Words on Fire' we see two kinds of books: We see books that the Russian Cossacks want the people to read, and we see books they want to destroy so people can't read them. So the people can't think. But you know what? Words aren't just in books. They're in movies, music, and yes, even our closest friends.

As Audrie discovers, words have a powerful impact; one so powerful, people are willing to die for them. But they can also bring life and freedom. Lithuania is a make-believe idea--or so the Russians say. They banned the language, they banned their books, they banned their freedom.

But what about us? Is Christianity a make-believe idea? Is our language--the ability to share the gospel--banned? Our books? Has the enemy tried to burn them?

Think about it. Satan put us in cages, and only Christ has the key. Music can be a cage. Movies can be a cage. Books can be a cage. Audrie and her friends saw that the Russians kept people caged by taking their rights, but when we become captured by the lies that we can't share the Good News, we become just like them: Trapped. And so many times, we don't see it.

We become desensitised to the movies that say Jesus isn't real. We grow accustomed to the idea that people don't want to know God. These are the lies the enemy has laced through words to keep us from spreading the Gospel. And you know what? It worked.

When was the last time we, as the Church, went out into the streets--or maybe just your local Walmart--and told people that Jesus loves them? Or have we listened to the lies for so long that we've grown too afraid to do that? What about your writing? When was the last time you decided to use your words to witness to people? Jennifer Nielsen was right--Words can make or break a country, but this applies spiritually as well.

Our Bibles have the ultimate truth in them, waiting to be shared with eager listeners who want to know more. Are you willing to break free and pass on God's Truth?

Do I recommend it: Yes, completely! It was clean and safe, while still being incredibly enjoyable and thought-provoking.

Daisy Torres

A Daisy--commonly found in the Torres Family--is a rare creature. She is nocturnal, so don't bother looking for her during the day. At night, however, you can find her cleaning, painting, catching up on school, or trying to learn whatever language she decided within the last 30 minutes sounds 'cool'. The language learning likely won't last long however, so when she finishes her gibberish, you'll need to search for her at her laptop, typing away on her next story--or her last one. From there you can easily watch her in her natural habitat, for she will be so busy writing, she likely won't notice you.

Become an Unstoppable Writer!

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AAAAAAHHH DAISY I LOOOOOOOVED YOUR REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Words on Fire was AMAZING!!!! I read it back when it first release and have really been desperate for a re-read since then. Jennifer A. Nielsen is one of my FAVORITE authors EVER!!!!!! Was this the first time you read anything by her? If so, are you going to read anything else? (*cough* sorry, obsessed fan coming out XD) Also, that ending part about words having power and how your connection to Christians and the Gospel… yeah, that just hit deep. I LOVED IT!!!!!!! <3333 Again, fantabulous review!! And congrats on your first full one. 😂🥳

@issawriter7 Aww thank you so much!!!! Girl sameeee I LOVE Jennifer A. Nielsen’s stuff!! I read the Ascendance Trilogy a while back AND LOVE LOVE LOVED IT my WORD. It was sooo good!! So when I was at the Library and saw this one—-I had to XD I did not regret it!! If she’s written anything else that you recommend, definitely let me know!!

You’re SO welcome!!!! *high fives* YEAAAAHH!!!!!! Oooo girl I HIGHLY recommend A Night Divided, it’s her historical fiction novel about the Berlin Wall in Germany. And I just read her novel, The Scourge and it was AMAZING!!!! It kinda has a bit of the Sage-snark in it and it was really good!

YUSS I need me some Sage-snark XDD A Night Divided sounds super good!! I’ll totally look into it!!!

Cool! I might read this book!

You definitely should!! I found it in the Juvenile Fiction section at my library. It was fantastic!!!

First of all, AMAZING REVIEW! You should definitely do more! Second, CLASSIC RUSSIAN PATHOS. I LOVE IT. (Don’t tell me you read the Norm’s Notes for this book…*raises eyebrow*)

@gracie-j Thank you!! I most likely will!! This one was pretty fun to do!

YESS I’m so happy you caught that XD *crosses heart* I definitely didn’t read Norm’s Notes XDD *a mysterious yellow booklet slips out of my book* *the rest of the book club stares in guilt*

Fantastic review! It makes me want to read it now! Also, I really liked reading your thoughts at the end about the parallels of Words on Fire to today’s world. Thank you so much for sharing this review!!!

Thank you!!! And thank you so much for editing it! I know I threw a lot of stuff at you recently, so I really appreciate it XD

Don’t mention it! It’s always fun reading and editing your work!

Aw, thanks!!

Eee, I’ve been wanting to read Words on Fire for a while now!! I’m gonna have to bump it up on my TBR list!!! I LOVED the review, Daisy!!!!!!!! I especially the ending where you shared your thoughts about our Christian walk! That was so moving for me! Thank you so much for sharing that!!!<333

Absolutely, girl!!! Thank you for reading!!!

This was such a good review! I’ve been looking for a new book for a while and this one is defiantly going on this list! I love your thoughts at the end as well. And I totally caught the Veggie Tale reference XD

Thank you so much, Malana!! You should totally read it!

Yesss I am so happy you caught that reference XD

Jennifer A. Nielsen is a master writer. Words on Fire was a neat book. I would also highly recommend The Scourge and Resistance which are both beautiful works.

Yesss she totally is! I love her works. I haven’t read those yet, but I’ll definitely add them on my tbr list. Thanks for the suggestions!!

Yes, I got the Veggietales reference. XD This sounds like a really good book, thanks for sharing!

This review is what made me interested in Words on Fire again, and I’m excited to see it has a powerful message. Looking forward to reading it! I think books for young people on this era in history and up are so vital right now and THANK YOU so much for writing such an entertaining and beautiful one 😀

Florida Virtual School Student Newspaper

Book Review: “Words on Fire” by Jennifer Nielsen

“Words on Fire” by Jennifer Nielsen appeared on the FLVS Book Club’s 2022-23 reading list. If you liked this book review, perhaps the Book Club is a good fit for you!

General Information:

Title: Words on Fire

Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen

Genre: Historical fiction

“Words on Fire” is a historical fiction novel set in 1893 Lithuania, following the journey of a girl named Audra. Faced with the decision to carry on her parents’ work, Audra must overcome her fears and fight to preserve her culture.

Moments before the Russian Cossacks burn Audra’s home and take her parents away, her mother instructs her to deliver a package to Milda, a woman residing in another village. Along her journey, Audra meets Lukas, a boy her age, and discovers her parents’ involvement in book smuggling. Initially hesitant, Audra gradually develops an appreciation for books after Lukas presents her with an alphabet book. Meanwhile, the danger to Audra and her parents persists. Uncertain if they are imprisoned in Lithuania or destined for Siberia where survival is unlikely, Audra wonders if book smuggling can provide a chance to save them.

“Words on Fire” captivated me with its thrilling storyline. One aspect I particularly enjoyed was Audra’s numerous encounters with the Russian Cossacks and her resourcefulness in evading them. For instance, she saves Lukas from the Cossacks by using a snake to startle their horses. As the horses flee, the soldiers give chase. This book had me on the edge of my seat.

I highly recommend “Words on Fire” to anyone seeking a fast-paced and gripping historical fiction narrative.

Rating: 10/10

Book Review: Words on Fire

This is one of my favorite books. It is about a girl named Audra who tries to help her family but soon realizes how dangerous it can be. I like this book because it shows how people can be good in difficult situations. I picked this book because I like to learn about history but it also incorporated in what a day might be like during the World War II. The thing I enjoyed most about this book is how Audra doesn't know why her parents want her to drop off this book but she does it anyway because she trusts her parents. The ending has a great surprise of Audra's decision. (Reviewer grade:8)

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Words on fire by jennifer a. nielsen.

Words on Fire explores a little-known chapter of European history to make a case for the necessity of words, literature, and language to a culture.

Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen. Scholastic, 2019, 322 pages

Reading Level : Middle Grades, ages 10-12

Recommended for : ages 10-15

By profession, Audra Zikaris’s father is an itinerant magician, but he deals in another kind of magic too: not illusions, but words. Audra doesn’t know—she can’t even read—but both her parents are involved in a long-term project to free Lithuania from the heavy hand of imperialist Russia–by smuggling books, rather than weapons. Books in their own language by their own authors. For decades, native Lithuanians have been forbidden to read or even speak their own language, as the Czar attempts to make them Russians. When the Cossacks finally raid Audra’s farm and arrest her parents, she escapes after promising her mother to make one delivery. But that one mission grows into a calling as a book smuggler, as Audra becomes convinced of its urgency. “How do you destroy a people? You take away their culture. And how is that done? You must take their language, their history, their very identity.”

This little-known chapter of European history deserves a strong, accurate, action-packed fictional treatment. As in her previous novels, Resistance and A Night Divided , Nielsen presents a young girl standing up to massive injustice and oppression with help from a few stalwart allies. Audra doesn’t quite gel as a character for me: her conversion from indifference and ignorance to underground hero seemed a bit too quick, her resourcefulness and leadership ability a bit too mature. And if her parents were so devoted to the cause of literacy, why didn’t they teach her to read? Quibbles aside, the author delivers enough thrills to keep the pages turning, along with food for thought about the importance of words.

Overall Rating: 4 (out of 5)

Worldview/moral value: 4.5
Artistic/literary value: 3.5

Also by Jennifer Nielsen: The Ascendance Trilogy and The Traitor’s Game . For another, much grimmer look at a later stage in Lithuanian history, see our review of Between Shades of Gray

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Short Review | Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen

This summer our 12-year-old started a book club with her friends. I expected them to settle on something more fantastical–maybe Brandon Mull or Jessica Day George. Instead, they chose a more serious-looking story, Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen, about a young girl in Lithuania in the late 1800s. I was intrigued and decided to try it for myself.

It was a time when Russia occupied and dominated the country, repressing their culture in an effort to make them integrate into the Russian Empire. Audra’s parents live quietly and keep her secluded, whispering secrets to each other. Then one day, the Cossacks come to arrest her parents, and Audra’s world changes forever. She will have to adapt, to find courage, and to decide whether to resist or to only survive.

Despite the simplicity of the story, I found myself enjoying the adventure. There’s something refreshing about seeing the conflict of freedom versus oppression through the eyes of a young person. None of the grey complexities of the world are here, and it is clear who is good and who is bad, and set against a world where the values defended are literacy, knowledge, faith, and, well, books.

And you know how I feel about books and their importance to the mind, the soul, and to our culture.

It’s a good read, appropriate to kick off a 12-year-old’s book club. You might suggest it to your tweenager’s book club with some amount of confidence that it’ll be both on point and satisfying.

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Dan Burton lives in Millcreek, Utah, where he practices law by day and everything else by night. He reads about history, politics, science, medicine, and current events, as well as more serious genres such as science fiction and fantasy.

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In this episode, Haley interviews Sarah Mackenzie, homeschooling mom of many, founder of Read Aloud Revival, and author of several books including A Little More Beautiful and Because Barbara . They discuss the elements of a wonderful picture book, their favorite books to read aloud, Sarah’s friendship with celebrated author/illustrator Tomie dePaola, and trends in children’s publishing.

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Sorry, there was a problem., words on fire audible audiobook – unabridged.

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.

Listening Length 8 hours and 11 minutes
Author Jennifer A. Nielsen
Narrator Kathleen McInerney
Audible release date October 1, 2019
Language English
Publisher Scholastic Audio
ASIN B07TFBHBSR
Version Unabridged
Program Type Audiobook
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Listening Length	8 hours and 11 minutes
Author
Narrator
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	October 01, 2019
Publisher
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B07TFBHBSR
Best Sellers Rank	#49,031 in Audible Books & Originals ( ) #57 in #93 in #134 in

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IMAGES

Words on Fire Book Review
Words on Fire
Words on Fire
Words on Fire book review
Words on Fire: Plot and Chapter-by-Chapter Summary
Words on Fire by Jennifer Nielson Novel Study

COMMENTS

Words on Fire Book Review
Tale of late-1800s Lithuania has big ideas but lacks punch. Read Common Sense Media's Words on Fire review, age rating, and parents guide.
WORDS ON FIRE
The Cossack leader comes across as a typical evil Russian, but the other characters are more fully drawn. Overall, a solid adventure about a little-known place and time. (Historical fiction. 10-14) 4. Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2019. ISBN: 978-1-338-27547-6. Page Count: 336. Publisher: Scholastic.
a book review by Karen Kane: Words on Fire
Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen book review. Click to read the full review of Words on Fire in New York Journal of Books. Review written by Karen Kane.
Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen
She loves the smell of rainy days, hot chocolate, and old books, preferably all at once. She is a former speech teacher, theater director, and enjoyed a brief but disastrous career as a door-to-door pollster. In her spare time, Jennifer tends to panic, wondering what she has forgotten to do that has allowed her any spare time.
Words on Fire
Words on Fire tells the story of Audra, a sheltered twelve-year-old Lithuanian farm girl, who knows little of the outside world. Her mother, a farmer, and her father, a traveling magician, protect Audra from the occupying Russian soldiers. Audra stays on their farm far from the deadly Cossack soldiers who patrol the villages enforcing the ban ...
Words on Fire: Plot and Chapter-by-Chapter Summary
Book Summary. Words on Fire, authored by Jennifer Nielsen, is a work of historical fiction aimed at middle-grade readers. Similar to Nielsen's other standalone novels, the book features young protagonists navigating their way through oppressive environments. The novel's title, Words on Fire, alludes to the press ban enforced by Russian ...
Book Review: Words on Fire
Review Words on Fire, by Jennifer A. Nielsen, is a compelling historical fiction set during the Lithuania Press Ban in the late 17th century. We follow Audra, a girl with wits and courage enough to smuggle books under the noses of the Russian Cossacks. A good book for independent readers.
Words on Fire: Nielsen, Jennifer A.: 9781338275476: Amazon.com: Books
Words on Fire. Hardcover - October 1, 2019. 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.
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Words on Fire: Nielsen, Jennifer A.: 9781338275780: Books
Words on Fire. Paperback - Jan. 4 2022. 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.
Words on Fire Book Review and Ratings by Kids
Words on Fire has 15 reviews and 13 ratings. Reviewer foribamyfoco wrote: ""Words on Fire" by Jennifer A. Nielsen tells about a girl named Audra and her name, books, religion, culture, and language is banned.
Words on Fire: Nielsen, Jennifer A.: 9781338275780: Amazon.com: Books
Words on Fire. Paperback - January 4, 2022. by Jennifer A. Nielsen (Author) 4.8 1,271 ratings. Teachers' pick. See all formats and editions. 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.
Words On Fire Book Review
Review by Daisy Torres. Title: Words on Fire. Written by: Jennifer A. Nielsen. Genre: Historical Fiction. Star Rating -- 5/5. Brief Story Synopsis --. A girl during the Lithuanian-Russian Revolt discovers secrets about her family. She joins an undercover ring of book smugglers in an attempt to keep Lithuania alive in the minds of the people ...
Book Review: "Words on Fire" by Jennifer Nielsen
Genre: Historical fiction. Pages: 322. "Words on Fire" is a historical fiction novel set in 1893 Lithuania, following the journey of a girl named Audra. Faced with the decision to carry on her parents' work, Audra must overcome her fears and fight to preserve her culture. Moments before the Russian Cossacks burn Audra's home and take ...
Book Review: Words on Fire
Review This is one of my favorite books. It is about a girl named Audra who tries to help her family but soon realizes how dangerous it can be. I like this book because it shows how people can be good in difficult situations.
Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Words on Fire explores a little-known chapter of European history to make a case for the necessity of words, literature, and language to a culture.
Words on Fire
Words on Fire. 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 ...
Words on Fire Kindle Edition
Words on Fire - Kindle edition by Nielsen, Jennifer A.. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Words on Fire.
Short Review
This summer our 12-year-old started a book club with her friends. I expected them to settle on something more fantastical-maybe Brandon Mull or Jessica Day George. Instead, they chose a more serious-looking story, Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen, about a young girl in Lithuania in the late 1800s. I was intrigued and decided to try it for myself.
Words on Fire book review
Hey Guys! It's Belle from Belle's Book Reviews again and today we're going to be reviewing Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielson. I hope you guys enjoy the vi...
Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Jennifer A. Nielsen. 4.27. 11,570 ratings1,471 reviews. 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 ...
Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Words on Fire
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Words on Fire at Amazon.com. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users.
The Magic of Picture Books and Reading Aloud
The Votive Podcast from Word on Fire is an exploration of art and literature that sparks the imagination. Hosted by Haley Stewart, author, children's book editor for Word on Fire Votive, and mom of four, each episode features an interview with a writer or artist about how to share beautiful art and good stories that evangelize the hearts and minds of young readers.
Words on Fire
Words on Fire Audible Audiobook - Unabridged Jennifer A. Nielsen (Author), Kathleen McInerney (Narrator), Scholastic Audio (Publisher) 4.8 1,272 ratings Teachers' pick See all formats and editions

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