Amy Lynn Green’s sophomore novel brings to the forefront a little known World War II event that may be eye-opening for many as it was for this reader. Based on true events, as well as the conflict between conscientious objectors and their family and friends, The Lines Between Us is a smart and engaging story.

Green has a superb handle on writing in first person. Dorie Armitage and Gordon Hooper are nearly complete opposites, and their distinct voices shine and highlight these differences. Both are eager to solve the mystery of Jack’s accident, but find themselves forced to reevaluate their beliefs and what they are willing to sacrifice to find out the truth.

The honor and tact that Green uses in her writing as she portrays the differing viewpoints in the story is to be applauded. She acknowledges the depth of sacrifice by those home and abroad during the war, those that gave their life, and also those left “remembering the ones who wouldn’t come home - but loving them enough to keep on living anyway.” The way this heartfelt sentiment entwines with the dangerous task of fighting wildfires is utterly poignant and can only be truly felt by reading the book for yourself.

If you enjoy historical fiction based on a different aspect of World War II with notes of mystery, moral questions, and superb characterization, add The Lines Between Us to your fall reading list.

This review first appeared The Historical Bookworm Podcast. A complimentary copy of this novel was provided by the publisher; this review is my honest opinion.

The Lines Between Us
By Amy Green

Gordon Hooper thought Dorie Armitage was the one for him. But then the attack on Pearl Harbor happened and Gordon's pacifist leans came out. For Gordon it wasn't a spur of the moment decision to avoid the war but rather a personal decision that he had determined for his life years ago. Unfortunately, for him Dorie disagreed with his reasoning and his influence over her brother Jack, who also became a conscientious objector.

Objecting to serving wasn't their goal as they became smokejumpers for the US Army under the oversight of the National Forestry Service. For years, Dorie refused to acknowledge her brother's existence and became a willing and able member of the Women's Army Corps. But when she receives word that Jack was injured in a fire and his recovery is in doubt she does the only thing she can - she investigates Jack's accident. Dorie is convinced she can get to the truth behind Jack's accident and bring the guilty party to justice. She just has to get Gordon the go along with her plan and not reveal her true identity or her purpose for being at the camp.

Between the Lines is an examination of following one's conscience and living with the fallout even when one's views aren't popular and come at great cost personally and professionally. While some consider Gordon, Jack, and those of like-mindedness to be cowards, were they instead an act of heroism.

This book is set in the 1940s and the various prejudices that were in effect at that time are briefly touched upon. This is a look at the point-of-view of two very different people and how these viewpoints brought them to serve their country in how they could serve and live with their own convictions. At this time if you didn't fit the mold of expectations there was a cost. I enjoyed this book with its honest portrayal of the time - it fits with what my grandmother spoke of and even articles and books one can easily come across with a little research.

I read this book while listening to the audio version of it. Both are excellent and well worth the time spent. If you enjoy audiobooks for your commute, the narration was well presented. The book's pacing was perfect for engaging one's attention throughout. I highly recommend this book - perfect if you need a book club selection or are just a fan of historical fiction, especially with a WWII era setting.

I was provided a complimentary copy of the print version of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

I enjoyed this one which isn't something you normally think when you read WWII fiction as it tends to be a topic that is hard to enjoy. But this one was about a topic you tend to not read a lot about. Conscientious objectors and the Women's Army Corps. I did learn a lot but it did take me a bit to warm up to Dorie, but even though I eventually warmed up to her she was not a favorite heroine of mine of the author.

I loved Things We Didn’t Say, Amy Lynn Green’s debut novel, so I was really looking forward to reading The Lines Between Us. While this isn’t another epistolary novel, as I had hoped, there are a lot of letters and other communications in this story, which give it the same feel. I really love Ms. Green’s writing style and how she brings little known historical events to light.

This story was basically one surprise after another for me. Without going into spoiler territory, things I thought for sure would happen didn’t and the mystery of how Jack’s injury really happened, and who was guilty, was not at all what I was expecting!

Even though I wasn’t too sure about her at the beginning of the story, Dorie ended up being my favorite character. Her sense of humor really added the touch of lightness that kept the story from being too heavy. I also liked how she wasn’t going to let anything stand in her way of finding out what really happened to her brother, Jack. While I liked Gordon and reading about his perspective as a conscientious objector, I wished there would’ve been more discussion between him and others about war and whether it was right or wrong to enlist. I think a good dialogue would’ve really added to the story.

I really enjoyed this story and learning about parts of history that I wasn’t aware of. I can’t wait to see what Amy Green has in store for us next!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. The faith thread was light. 4.5 stars.

Once again, Amy Lynn Green excavates a little known facet of American War history in her home-front tale of courage, perseverance and bravery in a different war arena. Never once flailing in empathy or certainty of character, Green's assured voice and penchant for transplanting the reader to a different decade where two characters overcome adversity --and in this case fires literal and metaphorical--- invites us to a unique intersection of war and peace.

This inspiring tale of conviction told with Green's infusion for letters and other ephemera redefines our notions of comrades in arms with Gordon and Dorie, all too wonderfully real, winsome and immediately likeable.

“The world isn’t black and white. No one does pure good or pure bad. It’s all gray. Therefore, no one is better than anyone else." - Marc Stiegler

I don't usually quote someone other than the author when reviewing a book, but while reading The Lines Between Us by Amy Lynn Gray, I often thought about black and white (right and wrong) and countless shades of gray in life.

I was completely captivated by this historical novel, a WWII story like none other I've read. Set in 1945, it features Gordon Hopper, a conscientious objector whose family heritage and new-found Quaker faith prevent him from enlisting in the military. He and other like-minded individuals perform "work of national importance" by serving as smokejumpers in a heavily wooded area of Oregon. When his best friend Jack is seriously injured in a mysterious winter forest fire, Gordon has many questions.

Dorie Armitage, Jack's sister and proud member of the Women's Army Corps, doesn't respect conscientious objectors but is compelled to investigate Jack's accident. While visiting the area under false pretenses, she's forced to work with Gordon, but her need for the truth by any means necessary clashes with his principles to be honest in all things.

I was never sure where this novel would take me, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The author's extensive research was evident, and I appreciated learning historical facts about the US homefront. I won't say more to avoid spoiling the reading journey for others.

Thank you to Bethany House and NetGalley for a review copy of this outstanding novel. I plan to read Ms. Green's debut Things We Didn't Say as soon as possible.

In this new book by Amy Lynn Green, there are real fires as well as many metaphorical ones. The bulk of the story takes place in the early months of 1945. The war is a metaphorical fire in the lives of Americans. Conscientious Objectors (COs) have been given the task of smoke jumping in Oregon. The story unfolds through correspondence and narrative from the perspective of Gordon Hopper, a CO, and Dorie Armitage, a WAC and the sister of one of the COs. Through Amy Lynn Green's research and storycrafting, we learn about the assignments and arguments of the COs, a strange Japanese bomb that mysteriously appeared on the western coast, and the Triple Nickels Division. A Reading Group Guide is included and there is much to discuss. This book is a refreshing change from the WW II historical fiction based in Europe. I am definitely a fan of this author and interested in reading her debut novel from last year: Things We Didn't Say.

Thank you to Bethany House and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of The Lines Between Us!

I absolutely loved this book! It gave a very unique perspective on WWII, one which is not often talked about or written about, especially in fiction. The story centers on Gordon Hooper, a conscientious objector, who becomes a smokejumper, fighting fires in the Western United States instead of joining the military to fight overseas. Gordon has chosen this path along with his friend Jack, whose family is vehemently against his stance not to fight in the war. The other main character is Jack's sister, Dorie, who joins the Women's Army Corps, and who strongly believes that her brother and Gordon are cowards for avoiding the fighting. When Jack gets badly injured in a fire, Gordon and Dorie have to work together to find out what really caused Jack's injury, and they both learn something about themselves, each other, and the things they thought they believed in most strongly. I really enjoyed getting to know Gordon and Dorie, and I appreciated the role that faith and belief played in this story. I also enjoyed learning about this part of WWII history that I was less familiar with through the lens of a fun and fast-paced mystery story. The storytelling is beautiful and emotional, and Amy Lynn Green does a great job of bringing history to life.

Highly recommend!!

I was completely blown away by Amy Lynn Green's debut novel last year. I mean blown. away. So I had incredibly high hopes for her sophomore release and wow, she didn't disappoint. She's written some of the most personality-packed characters I've read in a long time. Dorie is witty and winsome and perfectly imperfect. Jack is wonderfully thoughtful and complex (and he's a peace-loving smokejumper, so it's like he can't help but be swoony, to boot).

This story both charmed and intrigued me, moving at a great pace and hooking my attention with each page...but probably the thing I loved most was the questions it asked and they way the story didn't necessarily provide tidy answers, but instead tugged me into a place of thoughtfulness. Don't get me wrong—it's a fantastic story that completely captivated me! So I definitely don't mean to make it sound like it's overly philosophical or something. But I just so appreciate stories that challenge us to ponder and reconsider and I loved watching both Dorie and Jack confront their own beliefs and consider the perspectives of others.

There's one other way this story completely surprised me...at first I thought it was going in a particular direction and then...it didn't. I won't say more than that because I don't want to give anything away. But I loved being surprised in that way!

Such a compelling and intriguing book...I can't wait to see what Amy writes next!

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. What happens when you are 100% patriotic, yet can’t bring yourself to fight? That is exactly the dilemma faced by Gordon Hooper and his best friend, Jack Armitage. America is at war and unlike most of their peers, neither can justify killing, even if it’s killing an enemy. Gordon grew up in a Quaker household and is totally committed to the Quaker ideal of nonviolence. Jack concurs, but faces disapproval from his family, especially his sister, Dorie. Gordon and Jack go west to Oregon where they join other conscientious objectors and work as “smokejumpers,” trained to parachute into remote areas to fight wildfires, a job which is considered one of the most dangerous in the world.
Early in 1945 while on tower watch Jack is seriously injured in a wildfire, a wildfire he failed to call in to summon the other volunteers. Gordon realizes the facts don’t add up and sets out to discover the truth. Jack’s sister, Dorie, has been ashamed of Jack’s CO status, but when she learns of the accident, shows up at firefighting headquarters under the guise of conducting an accident report for the Army. She and Gordon must wrestle with their own convictions about war and peace as they work to uncover the secrets of what happened to Jack.
While the characters and specific incident are fictional, the preponderance of mysterious wildfires in the Pacific Northwest at the time is based on fact and addresses a dilemma that is still relevant today in our “need to know” culture. Do we really need to know everything when it comes to matters of war or national security? Or are some things best left secret?

An engaging read set in Oregon during WW 2 involving the disagreements between those who decide how they fulfill their patriotic duty —- joining the military or pacifism and engaging is other “work of national importance”. The characters come to realize the choice is not always easy.

Another excellent work of historical fiction from Green. Set during WWII, like her first one, this isn't an epistolary novel (though some letters are included), but it does explore complex topics while managing to be fast-paced and entertaining and, ultimately, uplifting.