Not only is it an important epoch to explore, it is a vital one to understand the events that follow in the 20 th century. Lines of Courage is an excellent starting point to explore the history of WWI. Nielsen does a remarkable job weaving together this history through five compelling experiences, all the while communicating important themes about what it means to be courageous when the world is at its worst. WWI is often overlooked as a topic for middle grade, historical fiction due to its complicated history. While the connections between the stories may feel tenuous to some, all should overlook the tidiness of the plot line for Nielsen’s choice of setting. The alternating perspectives creates a fast-paced plot that will absorb readers and keep them engaged.

Lines of Courage by Jennifer Nielsen is an ambitious, well-researched, and moving portrait of WWI. Although each young person’s experiences are different, their courage connects them in the most unexpected ways. Finally, Dimitri is thrust into the war’s infamous trench warfare and does what he can to live one more day. Elsa and her German family struggle to survive as the war turns against the Central Powers. Juliette’s French village is destroyed, and she desperately tries to reunite with her family. Kara and her mother work on a Red Cross train, glimpsing the devastation of the frontlines up close. Felix, a Jewish boy from Austria-Hungary, witnesses the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which sets off a series of events leading to the war. From the beginning of World War I (WWI) to its bitter and brutal end, five young people from five different countries face unimaginable challenges and show exceptional bravery as they try to survive the war to end all wars.

Lines of courage jennifer a nielsen