Happy 2023! We ended 2022 reading this book and started 2023 by recapping it! 

Words on Fire is a historical fiction novel written by Jennifer. A. Nielsen. The story takes place in the 1800's during Russia's occupation of Lithuania. In order to help Lithuania assimilate, Russia has insisted every Lithuanian become Russian. They have banned their language, religion, culture and their books. The story follows Audra, a 12 year old girl whose parents were arrested for distributing illegal Lithuanian books. Audra soon discovers the world of book smuggling and the power of literature. 

We took as detour and also talked about happy goals vs punishing goals. Happy goals are flexible and are constantly motivating where punishing goals are rigid and demotivating if not met perfectly. Be sure your 2023 goals are happy ones. 

The reading journals we use are A Clockwork Reader  and Journals Unlimited Books I've Read . Our favorite being A Clockwork Reader.

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We end 2022 with a great book from Kristin Hannah called the Winter Garden. Kristin Hannah is also the author of the The Nightingale and The Four Winds. 

The Winter Garden takes place during modern times with flash backs to Russia during WWII. Hannah does a superb job of bringing to life the generational affects of war and the family dysfunction that is born from lack of communication. This story is weaved between sisters and their mother and the converging of each of their lives. The grit and determination of people that lived through such horrendous times is incredible. We greatly appreciate the reachers and historians that sought out stories such as the one in this book and preserved the truth of what really happened. 

If you enjoy learning a bit of history while reading check out our other episodes where we recap historical fiction novels as well as a few true stories. 

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith - Set during the great depression 

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus- Set during WWII 

Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand -Set during WWII in the South Pacific 

The Engineer's Wife: A Novel of the Brooklyn Bridge -Set during 1800's 

Some Place to Call Home by Sandra Dallas- Set during the great depression 

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr- Set during WWII

Dr. Zhivago by Boris Pasternak- Set during Russian Revolution of 1917

Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan- True Story during WWII

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson -Set in Kentucky during 1936

The Shepherd of the Hills by Harold Bell Wright- Set in the Ozark Hills during the early 1900's 

The Last Green Valley by Mark T. Sullivan- Set during WWII

War and Peace by Leo Tolsoy -Set during French invasion of Russia in 1812 

Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz- Set in Germany during WWII

The Book Woman's Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson- Set deep in Kentucky's Appalachia during early 1950's

The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin- Set in London during WWII

The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel 

The Perilous Road by William O. Steele- Set in Tennessee during the American Civil War

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Published in 1991 but set during the great depression, this novel shows that even in the worst times our best selves can be found. Nothing to Fear The story which was inspired by Koller's family history follows Danny, a thirteen year old boy and his journey of self discovery and survival. This book gives us a picture of growing up in the mist of great difficulty. We felt like this novel was the male version of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. There were a lot of similarities with both stories and gave us the feeling that Francie and Danny could of been neighbors and struggling to survive together. 

One of the reasons we like reading historical fiction is because when we turn the last page we are left with a connection to history through the eyes of a characters we are invested in. One of the historical nuggets we learned through this book was about the "Bonus Army". The "Bonus Army" was a group of 43,000 demonstrators and 17,000 veterans of WWI that were demanding early cash redemption of their service bonus certificates from WWI. The demonstrators were shot at, had belongings burned, and endured tear gas in an attempt to clear them from government property. The group did not give up and in 1936 were given their bonuses early and laid the groundwork for the current GI bill.

Jackie French Koller is not just an author but is also an artist. She owns an art studio in Boxborough Massachusetts.

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Connect with Kate online : https://www.katematthews.art/

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I was so honored to get to meet author and veteran Jamie Cole at my sons Veterans Day program at school. She was gracious enough to grant me an interview where we got to sit down and talk about her new book and what inspired her to write it. Jamie was able to get Jake and now Shay from the organization Veteran Assistance Dogs of Texas. 

If you are wanting to connect with Jamie her number is 325-669-1025 or click here for her Facebook. 

To purchase your own copy of Jake the Service Dog you contact Jamie or order from ">Amazon.