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Content snapshot
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Violence
Some
Russian occupation violence and some danger for Audra; period-appropriate but not graphic
Language
None
No profanity
Sexual Content
None
No sexual content
Substance Use
None
No substance use
Emotional Intensity
Barely any
Mild emotional intensity around the danger of the book-smuggling mission and the loss of home
What this book is about
Jennifer Nielsen's YA historical novel is set in 1893 Lithuania, where the Russian Empire has banned the Lithuanian language and its books. Twelve-year-old Audra becomes a book smuggler, carrying forbidden Lithuanian books to keep her culture alive. Nielsen writes accessible YA historical adventure with genuine emotional stakes; the occupation's violence is present but not gratuitous. Appropriate for middle-grade and YA readers.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
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