Dan Curnutt's Reviews > Words on Fire

This young adult novel is a great lesson in the struggle that many nations/people have faced in our world. Lithuania in a time of turmoil under the occupation of Russia is a place that it is not safe to speak, read or write in Lithuanian. The Russians are doing their best to eradicate a people’s culture and history. They goal to assimilate the Lithuanians into Russian life and turn them into Russians.

Why is one country always so brutal as to think that other countries ought to follow their culture, customs, traditions and language? The oppression is heavy and the Lithuanian people are paying a terrible price that will take decades to overcome.

Our story is about two teenagers (alright barely teenagers, 13 years of age) who become book smugglers to bring the banned books of Lithuania to the people. They become criminals to strive to keep alive heritage and culture. They go against everything Russian. And, they will pay a heavy price.

Audra watches as her parents are arrested, her home is burned and her life is turned upside down. But instead of giving in she becomes a book smuggler and strives to rescue her parents and her country from the occupying Cossack army. Will she succeed? Will she discover her own heritage? Will she find her parents?

All these questions will be answered in a novel that brings to light the struggle of a people and their desire to just live their lives in freedom in their own culture.

Enjoy!