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About the Author
#1 New York Times Bestselling author, Jennifer Nielsen, was born and raised in northern Utah, where she still lives today with her family. She is the author of The Ascendance series, beginning with THE FALSE PRINCE; the TRAITOR’S GAME series, the historical novels, ICEBERG, A NIGHT DIVIDED, WORDS ON FIRE, LINES OF COURAGE and several other titles. She loves chocolate, old books, and lazy days in the mountains.
Check out her website here.
About the Book
Twelve-year-old Lidia is outside her grandfather's house when planes fly overhead, bearing the Nazi cross on each wing. Before the bombs hit the ground, Lidia realizes her life is about to change forever. Poland has fallen under German occupation, and her father makes the brave decision to join the Polish army to fight against the Nazis. Lidia wants to follow him into war, but she's far too young, and she's needed by her mother and brother.
After her family returns to Warsaw, where life has changed irrevocably, Lidia continues to play the piano, finding comfort in Chopin, Bach, and Beethoven. But she also wants to aid the Jewish people held captive in the Warsaw Ghetto. With the help of a friend, Lidia begins to smuggle wheat and food into the ghetto. Still, she feels like she could be doing so much more. She wants to fight. After her brother joins the resistance, Lidia wants only to follow in his footsteps.
Soon, she begins to work as a courier, smuggling weapons and messages for the resistance throughout the city. When the Warsaw city uprising begins―one year after the more well-known Warsaw Ghetto uprising by Polish Jews―with gunfire and bombs echoing throughout the streets, Lidia joins the Polish nationalists’ fight, too, and she and her peers fight with everything they’ve got. Life will continue to surprise Lidia, as she and the resistance fighters do their best to defeat the German soldiers. No matter the consequences, they’re willing to defend their freedom and their homes from the Nazi invaders―even with their lives.
Drawing on the real-life story of Polish teenager Lidia Zakrzewski.
"A riveting, seamless combination of fact and historical fiction." --School Library Journal, starred review
"This action-packed read gives a unique perspective of a Polish girl involved on the front lines of war rather than behind the scenes, one who does not bat an eye at danger if it helps her people."--Booklist
"The history is well researched but never becomes heavy-handed. There are important themes underlying the history as Lidia discovers courage she never knew she had, not only in fighting enemies but in choosing her own path away from a mother from whom she feels estranged. This thrilling and moving novel is highly recommended." --John Kachuba, Historical Novel Society
"Uprising is a fast-moving historical drama that will appeal to fans of Alan Gratz."--Jessica Harrison, Cracking the Cover
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