Lines of Courage

Writing prompts inspired by Jennifer A. Nielsen's historical adventure Lines of Courage

Jun 25, 2024

Today’s writing prompts are inspired by Jennifer A. Nielsen’s historical adventure Lines of Courage (2022).

Description

World War I stretches its cruel fingers across Europe, where five young people, each from different backgrounds and nations, face the terror of battle, the deprivations of hunger, and all the awful challenges of war.

Felix, from Austria-Hungary, longs for the bravery to resist Jewish deportations before his own family can be taken.

Kara, from Britain, dreams of someday earning her Red Cross pin and working as a nurse - or even a doctor.

Juliette, of France, hopes her family can remain knitted together, despite her father's imprisonment, as the war's longest battle stretches on and on.

Elsa, from Germany, hopes her homing pigeon might one day bring her a friend from out of the chaos.

And Dimitri, of Russia, wants only to survive the front, where he's been sent with no weapon.

None of them will find exactly what they want. But the winds of fate may cross their paths to give each of them just what they need. And in this remarkable exploration of World War I by critically acclaimed author Jennifer A. Nielsen, they will discover that friendship and courage can light the way through the most frightening of nights.

Writing prompt: Historic moments

The book starts when Felix, one of the novel’s protagonists, witnesses the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the throne of the Austria-Hungary empire. This is the moment that leads to World War I, one of history’s bloodiest conflicts.

Imagine that a character you’ve created witnesses a similar historical event. What event would you choose? (It can even be the same one if you’re inspired by the book, see the ideas below).

Describe the event in vivid detail. What does your character see, hear, smell, touch and taste? What fears, thoughts and emotions do they experience?

Now think about the effect the event has on your character’s life. Are they, like the characters in the story, plunged into war? Presented with a mystery to solve? Have to go on the run from dangerous criminals?

Stuck for historical events? Here are three to inspire you (hint: click the links to learn more about a book written about that event).

Think about what an ordinary person of the time would have thought when they witnessed it, and how it would affect them. Use your imagination and any knowledge you have of the relevant historical period. You can treat each of these as a separate writing prompt!

The discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt in 1922. Is your character a local Egyptian or part of the British archaelogical team?
The sinking of the Titanic in 1912. How does it feel to be on a sinking ocean liner? Does your character survive?
The world’s first hot air balloon flight in 1783. Imagine your character is in the balloon’s basket. What do they see? How do they feel? Are they afraid?

Readers

Read this book to learn about the events and driving forces of World War I, seen through the eyes of five children involved in the conflict.

Writers

Read this book for a masterclass in bringing the past to life. The author shows the horrors of World War I through the eyes of five children, each with a different story, each story intertwining with the others. I can’t think of any other middle-grade novel that explores the story world through five different points of view.

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