Lines of Courage (Jennifer A Nielsen)

 

I'm not good at war stories. I can't keep track of the battles, the locations and why each countries hates another. However, World War I did become a little clearer for me with this book. I became attached to each of the characters. One was from Austria-Hungary (Austrian-Hungarian?), one was British, one was French, one was German and one was Russian. The author's note at the end to explain some main aspects of WWI made things a little more clear for me. Of course, all the characters lives intersect and in the end they all come together....which was a little too convenient....but maybe that's okay when it comes to J fiction. 

I really enjoy Jennifer Nielsen's books and I also enjoyed this one. She does a great job of creating characters that are in difficult situations  all while making them relatable and inspiring.

I  really liked her note at the end. She said she wrote this during the covid-19 pandemic.  "...a time of heightened anxieties, worries about the future, frightening news headlines, and isolation. The First World War could be described in the very same way.....which is why lies of courage matter; those lines we extend from ourselves to offer strength and encouragement to others. And those that flow toward us, boosting our courage for whatever the future may bring."....World War I was called the "War to End All Wars." That didn't last long, of course, but may you be the generation that ends the conflict, whether on a global scale or in your community, or with your closest relationships. May you do so because nature wants to heal. And with a little courage, we will too." (from the author's note at the end of the book)

I'm all for anything that encourages people to end conflict. 

....which brings me to the Russian invasion in Ukraine....maybe she could write a book about that to help me make sense of it.

Goodreads says:

The 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.

World War I stretches its cruel fingers across Europe, where five young people, each from different backgrounds and nations, face the terror of battle, the deprivations of hunger, and all the awful challenges of war.

Felix, from Austria-Hungary, longs for the bravery to resist Jewish deportations before his own family can be taken.

Kara, from Britain, dreams of someday earning her Red Cross pin and working as a nurse - or even a doctor.

Juliette, of France, hopes her family can remain knitted together, despite her father's imprisonment, as the war's longest battle stretches on and on.

Elsa, from Germany, hopes her homing pigeon might one day bring her a friend from out of the chaos.

And Dimitri, of Russia, wants only to survive the front, where he's been sent with no weapon.

None of them will find exactly what they want. But the winds of fate may cross their paths to give each of them just what they need.