About the Book
An epic, genre-bending, and transformative new series that reimagines World War II with female soldiers fighting on the front lines.
World War II, 1942. A court decision makes women subject to the draft and eligible for service. The unproven American army is going up against the greatest fighting force ever assembled, the armed forces of Nazi Germany.
Three girls sign up to fight. Rio Richlin, Frangie Marr, and Rainy Schulterman are average girls, girls with dreams and aspirations, at the start of their lives, at the start of their loves. Each has her own reasons for volunteering: Rio fights to honor her sister; Frangie needs money for her family; Rainy wants to kill Germans. For the first time they leave behind their homes and families--to go to war.
These three daring young women will play their parts in the war to defeat evil and save the human race. As the fate of the world hangs in the balance, they will discover the roles that define them on the front lines. They will fight the greatest war the world has ever known.
Perfect for fans of Girl in the Blue Coat, Salt to the Sea, The Book Thief, and Code Name Verity, from New York Times bestselling author Michael Grant.
About the Author :
Michael Grant, author of the Gone series, the Messenger of Fear series, the Magnificent Twelve series, and the Front Lines trilogy, has spent much of his life on the move. Raised in a military family, he attended ten schools in five states, as well as three schools in France. Even as an adult he kept moving, and in fact he became a writer in part because it was one of the few jobs that wouldn't tie him down. His fondest dream is to spend a year circumnavigating the globe and visiting every continent. Yes, even Antarctica. He lives in California with his wife, Katherine Applegate, with whom he cowrote the wildly popular Animorphs series. You can visit him online at www.themichaelgrant.com and follow him on Twitter @MichaelGrantBks.
Review :
"Fascinating and powerful. This alternate history of WWII is relevant to the American military today, where men and women serve side by side. Men have no monopoly on courage or determination, and they never did. A great book." - Wayne K. Maynard, Major, USA (Ret.), Ph.D.
"An AMAZING start to a new series featuring three diverse heroines who have to deal with sexism, racism, and the truth of war while still trying to keep hold of their humanity. This book will pull you in, and never let you go!" - Crystal Perkins, Barnes & Nobel bookseller and YA event organizer
"Riveting. Rampant 1940's sexism, racism and anti-Semitism are front and center, but the graphic horror and inhumanity of the front lines (not to mention the bureaucratic back office) is what puts these young women to the test. I've lived with them through basic training and first deployment--I'm ready to follow them to the end. More please." - Collette Morgan, Wild Rumpus, Minneapolis, MN
"By juxtaposing the modern inclusion of women in combat roles this alternate history of the Second World War leverages one of WWII's paradoxes to great effect. Social norms were indeed at both their most elastic and their most reactionary during the war. This paradox allows Grant to convincingly combine the visceral excitement surrounding the advent of America's engagement in the war with dynamic contemporary social issues of race, religion, gender, and class." - Kenny Brechner, DDG Booksellers, Farmington, ME
"One of the strengths of the novel was the way it personalized the World War II era. Despite being alternative history, the well-researched narrative will make this accessible to students seeking to understand a different time." - Deborah Taylor, Pratt Library, Baltimore, MD
★ "All of the protagonists are well-developed individuals, but also represent 'every soldier girl who carried a rifle, dug a hole, slogged through mud, steamed or froze, prayed or cursed, raged or feared, ran away or ran toward.' A gripping and heart-wrenching tale." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"The experiences of female soldiers in the military are plainly and honestly depicted...an immersive, powerful tale." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Fascinating and powerful. This alternate history of WWII is relevant to the American military today, where men and women serve side by side. Men have no monopoly on courage or determination, and they never did. If women had fought in WWII, they would have proven themselves in real combat, just as they do today in a variety of roles. A great book." - Wayne K. Maynard, Major, USA (Ret.), Ph.D.
"Vivid and visceral, Michael Grant's remarkable work of alternate history brings World War II to breathtaking life. With its cast of memorable and appealing characters, Front Lines is irresistibly readable and absolutely unforgettable." - Michael Cart, Past YALSA President and Booklist columnist and reviewer
"Michael Grant's FRONT LINES twists WWII into a fascinating alternative history in which women have entered US combat forces. Grant doesn't rest on just an innovative storyline to propel his tale, but populates his book with a richly developed female cast. Whether they've sought their new roles through revenge, necessity, or a desire to serve, each has a distinct voice and story. From the beginning hook, I was caught and reeled in. FRONT LINES is a fabulous and thought-provoking adventure. " - Rosemary Pugliese, Quail Ridge Books & Music, Raleigh, NC
"FRONT LINES completely consumed me--I got engulfed by this sweeping alternate history of World War II following three women from enlistment to first battles! In this world, women aren't just Rosie the Riveter--they're true GI Janes. Grant writes the pressures and pains of transitioning from civilian to soldier without pulling any punches. The stories are gritty, complete with sexism and racism true to the times, but the characters are so vivid that I am glad they will live on in my imagination for a long time. This is an empathetic and powerful depiction of war and a riveting read." - Tegan Tigani, children's book buyer at Queen Anne Book Company, Seattle, WA
"Grant's high-adrenaline alternate history introduces a team of soldier girls who fight World War II along with the boys. Historical accuracy combined with contemporary questions about patriotism, gender roles, racism, religious discrimination, as well as romance debate the question, "What if 18-year-old women fought in military battles during the Greatest War?" - Mary Burkey, Teacher-Librarian Olentangy Local Schools, OH
"This is a book that should be read by everyone. The story was heart wrenching as well as heart-warming. War is dark and ugly and there were times that reality made the story difficult to read and yet I couldn't put it down." - Faith Hochhalter, Changing Hands Bookstore, Phoenix, AZ
"Michael Grant is a master of twists that not only tear at his readers' consciences, they hold a mirror up to our here and now and insist we consider what might otherwise be. FRONT LINES is a masterpiece of speculative story crafting." - Andrew Smith, Michael L. Printz Honor winning author of Grasshopper Jungle
"Front Lines does what great epics are meant to do: tells us the human side of history with honesty, wit, and clarity. Just because it didn't happen this way, doesn't mean it isn't true." - C. Alexander London, author of Proxy and Dog Tags and Tides of War series
★ "The history is illuminating and fascinating, but where Grant excels even more is in the immersive storytelling and compelling bonds among the multifaceted characters. Just as classic war novels demonstrate how war can reveal common humanity, Grant's exploration of women in battle is no different." - Booklist (starred review)
"The main characters are all well-drawn, strong women, and the wartime events are well researched and accurate. The alternative history and wartime plot, which reads like a movie, will appeal to many." - School Library Journal
"The fast pace of this novel, along with its relatable characters and engaging plot, will easily draw in reluctant readers. Grant's well-researched details of living conditions that WWII soldiers endured will appeal to fans of historical fiction. Readers of this book will be anxiously awaiting the sequel." - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
"What if American women had fought alongside men in World War II? Michael Grant gives us a magnificent alternate history that feels so real and right and true it seems impossible that it wasn't. Every one of these fictional soldiers has wrapped herself around my heart." - Elizabeth Wein, Award-winning and New York Times Bestselling Author of Code Name Verity
