Uprising

About this 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 extraordinary real-life story of Polish teenager Lidia Zakrzewski, bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen presents an inspiring and dramatic account of the Polish resistance fighters who struggled to force out their Nazi occupiers and reclaim their nation's freedom from tyranny.

Reviews

Praise for Uprising:

* "A riveting, seamless combination of fact and historical fiction." --School Library Journal, starred review

Praise for Lines of Courage:

"A powerful, absorbing story that shines a light on an often overlooked chapter in human history." -- Alan Gratz, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Refugee

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 self-sacrifice 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

Praise for the Ascendance Trilogy:

A New York Times Notable Children's Book

A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year

A Chicago Public Library "Best of the Best" Children's Book

A Cybils Award Winner

* "An impressive, promising story." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

"[A] pageturner." -- New York Times Book Review

"Sage proves to be a compelling character whose sharp mind and shrewd self-possession will make readers eager to follow him into a sequel." -- The Wall Street Journal

"A swashbuckling origin story..." -- Los Angeles Times

"A fast-paced and thrilling read with twists and turns that never let up." -- School Library Journal

"Gripping." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Should appeal to fans of... Suzanne Collins... [A] surefire mix of adventure, mystery, and suspense." -- The Horn Book