Lines of Courage
Recommended Ages: 8-12
“Sometimes we must grow into our bravery. It’s there, Felix, even if you don’t feel it yet. When you need your courage, trust that you will find it.” (22-23)
Lines of Courage is Jennifer A. Nielsen’s newest novel that focuses on World War I. It is rare to find historical fiction focused on WWI, and Nielsen took an even more unique perspective with a third person narration that follows five characters eventually weaving all five together at the end.
The story opens with Felix, and his witness of the Archduke’s death that was the impetus for WWI. Felix’s father is called to serve in the war while Felix is left home with his mother. Unfortunately, their town is eventually taken over by Russians and Captain Garinov imposes himself on the home of Felix and his mother. Prior to this take over, Felix’s family enjoys one last visit from their German friends, Major Dressler and his daughter Elsa. News of Felix’s predicament reaches Elsa and it is she who saves Felix from Captain Garinov.
At this point, the story transitions to Kara. Kara and her mother work on one of the Red Cross trains. Kara’s ambition is to earn her Red Cross pin as she works side by side with her mother helping the wounded soldiers. However, all of Kara’s dreams disappear when she breaks the rules to save an enemy soldier, Josef Baum (Felix’s father). Sergeant Baum is rescued and eventually recovers, but the price paid is Kara’s dream of becoming a Red Cross nurse. In exchange for her courage, Sergeant Baum gives her a prized medal he earned in a previous war.
The story then transitions to Juliette, a young girl in Verdun seeking to sell all she has to earn enough money to bribe for her father’s release from a German prison. Through a series of events, Juliette becomes separated from her family and ends up on the Red Cross train Kara is on. Eventually, when Juliette is well enough, she leaves the Red Cross train with a plan to find her father and offer the bribe of money and medal (given to her by Kara) for his release. Unfortunately, Juliette is forced into a German labor camp and it is Major Dressler who releases her at an allied boundary. In her returned search for her mother, Juliette saves Dimitri, a Russian Soldier.
Dimitri’s story backtracks a bit to what led him to the situation in which Juliette saves him. He fights for Russia, but he also knows that freedom does not exist for him in Russia and he desires to remain in France when the war is over. In his effort to get his family from Russia, Juliette gives him the medal to eventually pay for his family’s travel out of Russia. However, through a series of events, he ends up captured by the German army and called to work at Major Dressler’s home. It is Captain Garinov who discovers the hidden medal and claims he stole it from the Major’s home. Unbeknownst to the Captain, his plan backfires. The medal is traced through conversation and stories back to Josef Baum (Major Dressler’s friend). Major Dressler, again, makes plans to see that Dimitiri is taken back to France and finds a job in a local market store.
At this point, the story follows Elsa and leads to the conclusion of the story as Major Dressler is in trouble. It is through this event that all five stories converge in a resolution that leaves the reader with hope in disastrous and even dire circumstances. Some critics may claim the wrap up of the events too idealistic, especially given the nature of the context for the story. However, while not all of Nielsen’s stories end happily, I do appreciate that in this instance the idealistic nature is what further supports her message of courage and hope, which would not be possible with a young reader group.
As with the other books I have reviewed Jennifer Nielsen’s, you do not have to worry about any profanity or gruesome descriptions. While the story deals with war and death, the descriptions are not vivid. Additionally, there are great messages in the story. Some of those include:
“Sometimes we must grow into our bravery. It’s there, Felix, even if you don’t feel it yet. When you need your courage, trust that you will find it.” (p.22-23)
“It is all right for you to feel fear right now, but you must not show fear. Not now.” (p.36)
“I’m not afraid of doing hard things. I’m afraid of a life where I do nothing!” (p.72)
“The Red Cross has no business deciding who is worthy of care and who is not. Our only job is to save lives. Let God and the generals decide the rest.” (p.87)
“Do not give up hope.” (p.202)
“Be careful of any leader who promises everything,” his father had said. “Either they are lying, or they will first take everything away so they can give it back again.” (p.244)
In truth, this novel was a bit slow for me at first, but I am so glad that I stuck with it. I love the way that Nielsen weaved the narratives together, providing insight into the history of WWI and giving hope to readers to have courage to do the right thing even when it seems hard.
