Jennifer Nielsen has written several historical fiction novels for middle grades and young adult readers, A Night Divided, Resistance, and Words on Fire, the latter a nominee for the Texas Bluebonnet Award and a particular favorite of the my 4th and 5th grade library patrons. Uprising is based on the life of WWII Polish Resistance fighter and messenger, Lidia Durr Zakrzewski and will thrill readers with its blend of fast-paced action, drama, and large dose of history. Those who love history will appreciate Nielsen’s attention to detail in the telling of the start of the war on Poland, the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and the Warsaw City Uprising. Lovers of action-adventure titles will be on the edge of their seats as Lidia, her brother, fellow resistance members Hawk, Drill, Arrow, Halana and others create grenades, outwit the Germans and their Goliath tanks, and take to the sewers to move from place to safe under the feet of German soldiers. Outstanding addition to libraries serving grades 5 and up. Text is free of profanity and sexual content but with the subject matter, violence is prevalent but, understandably, a critical part of the book. Back matter includes photographs of real life Lidia, her family and some members of the Polish Underground Army plus author notes concerning some changes made for purposes of the book.

Jennifer A. Nielsen is my automatic “go-to” author for middle grade historical fiction! I cannot wait to share Uprising with my middle schoolers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC.

I’ve been a fan of Jennifer Nielsen every since someone recommended A Night Divided to me. Since then, I’ve read everything else I could find, so when I saw Uprising on Netgalley, I knew I had to ask for it. Lidia lives in Poland when Hitler invades. Overnight, her life goes from that of a normal girl with normal hopes and dreams to a girl in an invade country. Lidia holds on to her education, her piano playing, and her family. As the war continues, life in Poland gets more and more dire, and Lidia joins the resistance. The story culminates with the Resistance Uprising in Poland.
Lidia is based on a real person, and her adventures in real life sound like fiction to. I really enjoyed this story, and I couldn’t help but root for Lidia. I appreciated the nuance of her relationships with her mother. I was very impressed by this book.

I have all of Jennifer A. Nielsen's books in my classroom and this one is going to make a fine addition to it!

The thing I love the most about Jennifer Nielsen's books is how she keeps the reader guessing about the outcome until the very last page. This book was grounded in the harsh reality of Poland during World War II, and was equal parts heartbreaking and inspiring. The characters--and their complicated relationships--brought to life the uncertainty, the danger, and the sheer devastation suffered during the war.

“Uprising” by Jennifer A. Nielsen is a middle-grade novel that focuses on important events during a critical period in world history. The story takes place in Warsaw, Poland, beginning with the opening volleys of World War II. The storyline follows twelve-year-old piano prodigy Lidia Durr throughout the war, from 1939 to 1945, mostly outlining her efforts to help the Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto and her exploits while a teenage messenger and fighter for the Polish resistance. For the most part, the story is historically accurate, and Lidia and the other main characters are fairly well-developed. However, at times, the characters—particularly Lidia—seem a bit too cavalier about what they’re doing and disconnected from what’s happening around them. Warsaw was a terrible place to be in World War II, which doesn’t always come through in this story. Two other things worth noting are the story feels too long—as Nielsen attempts to cover a tremendous amount of ground—and the ending is abrupt and unsatisfying. In conclusion, "Uprising" is a book many people will enjoy and others may not. In my case, I can say it’s not one of my favorite Nielsen novels.

Many thanks to Scholastic and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

I loved that this was a thriller novel about a real person, it adds to the realism and tension that is set for the time. I felt like the characters belonged in this world and story. Jennifer A. Nielsen has a great writing style that I was invested in reading this. I thought Lidia was a great main character and felt like she was the real person.

Uprising tells the experience of a young, spirited girl during WWII. She channels her rebellious nature into strength to fight for her country and her people as the Nazis invade.

Lidia and her mother are at odds all her young life and she feels greatly misunderstood. Her father understands her and is her anchor through much of the disagreements she and her mother have. All that changes when her dad leaves to fight for their country when they are invaded.

She learns that her dear brother is involved in the underground resistance at a much deeper level than she suspected. She also tries to convince the leaders that she is capable of joining their forces.

This story is a necessary and gripping account of what the Polish people went through under German occupation from 1939-1944.. I only wish I could have one quarter of the bravery of Lidia. To go face almost certain death, again and again…and then go back for more. I can’t fathom it. Nielsen does a great job of bringing war-torn Warsaw to life, and the book is both well-written and well-researched. I would say that middle schoolers could probably handle this.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest review.

This is a solid 4/5. A very thorough accounting of life in Poland from the Polish perspective during WWII. I really didn’t like our main character much at first, but came to admire her more as the story progressed. I didn’t know the book was based in truth until the end, I’d recommend teaching it that way in the classroom as well. It’s a nice surprise, and will make students examine their opinions. It’s a little long as a whole class novel, but there’s definitely some great themes re: survival, resistance, and resilience. Also, I think it could generate superb discussions among students. I’d be most likely to pull from parts 3 & 4 which is when things really took off for me with this one. Although Lidia starts her story as a 12-13 y/o the story covers her whole young adulthood. I think freshmen would like all the action and get into this one. Enjoyed it.

Another fascinating story from the WW2 era, by Jennifer Nielsen. This one takes place in Poland. I was hooked by the events, and rooting for Lidia to find a way to resist their conquerors and rise up to fight back. The close calls and tension pulled me through the pages, I mourned with Lidia as she lost people she loved so much. Most amazing was to see the pictures at the end and to read more about the real life Lidia.

This book really brings history to life, and an understanding of what it was like for those who lived through it. We need more books like this to build empathy and understanding for others. Thank you to NetGalley, Scholastic and Jennifer Nielsen for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jennifer Nielsen always does such a fantastic job of making history relevant and engaging for upper elementary/middle school readers. This book was another great historical fiction. The story is based on the true story of Lidia, a young Polish girl who becomes part of the resistance to find the Germans in Warsaw, Poland. Lidia is a privileged, talented pianist before the war. Once the war starts, her father leaves to join the fight and never comes home. Lidia loses several other important people in her life throughout the story. The bravery of the resistance fighters comes through as they fight to defend their country, no matter the cost. This story brings a piece of WWII that I hadn't read before, in learning what was happening in Poland. While I do usually purchase Jennifer Nielsen's books for my K-4 library, this is one that I would recommend for the middle school instead as the war content might be a little too much for my younger readers.

My studens love historical fiction. I've read other books by Nielsen. I did not enjoy this one as much as others by her. There was less drama comparative to the others.

Another great book by Jennifer Nielsen! This book is set in Warsaw during WWII. Lidia ends up being part of the resistance and playing a huge part of it. I love that this is based on a real person and loved seeing the actual pictures at the end. This is another definite must read!

I thoroughly enjoyed Jennifer Nielsen's newest book "Uprising"! This middle grades novel is based on the real life of Lidia Janina Durr Zakrzewski and her journals.

The story follows a girl, Lidia (code name: Cello), who joins the Underground Resistance in Poland during World War 2. I have read many stories set in World War 2, but as I was reading this book, I realized I had never read one set in Poland. I learned so much about Poland's efforts to fend off Germany.

The pacing and characterization was excellent. At the beginning of the story, Lidia is a young, self-centered girl whose world quickly changes when her home is bombed and Papa leaves to join the war. We see her grow into a young woman who is willingly throwing herself into the middle of perilous situations to defend her country. The book sees her to the outcome of the war and rebuilding.

I highly recommend this to people who like reading World War 2 stories, as this novel lends a new voice to the conversation. I will be adding this book to my classroom library.

Lidia's life changes forever when Nazi planes start bombing Poland. After Germany occupies Poland, Lidia's father decides to join the fight. After her father leaves, Lidia, along with her mother and brother, return to Warsaw. She loves playing the piano, but she looks for ways to help the Jews. She begins to smuggle food to those in need. Those efforts don't prove enough for Lidia. After finding out her brother has joined the resistance, she looks for a way to join as well.

Jennifer A. Nielsen is an expert at historical fiction. This one is well-written. Her character, Lidia, is a character inspired by Lidia Zakrzewski, a Polish teenager who did extraordinary things. Readers will enjoy this story of bravery, family, and doing the right thing even when it seems impossible.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. Jennifer Nielsen has knocked another one out of the park!
I started this book last night, and finished it today because I could not put it down! (Housework, phooey!) Wonderful historical fiction about the Warsaw City Uprising, which occurred a year after the more widely known Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. The story itself is great, and the author’s notes and photographs at the end are phenomenal. I will be purchasing a copy when it’s released in January 2024, definitely.
**I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.**

This is the story of a young girl, Lidia, who joins the resistance against the WW2 German occupation in Warsaw, Poland. When Germany drops the first bombs, Lidia and her family are visiting her grandparents in the countryside. They quickly return to their home in Warsaw where they bunker down in their cellar, hoping to wait out the bombings. Her father soon joins the Polish Army, leaving Lidia, her mother, brother, Jewish housekeeper and her mother to survive as best they can in the increasingly hostile environment of the Nazi occupation. Soon they are forced out of their home and move to the housekeeper's apartment in a less desirable area of Warsaw.

Lidia swiftly learns the fate of the Jewish people when the wall of the Warsaw ghetto springs up around her apartment. Through the window she can see snippets of their horrible lives and even witnesses the brave, yet failed Jewish uprising that occurs inside the ghetto. Unable to help her beloved housekeeper who is forced into the ghetto, Lidia does the only thing she can. She joins the network of Polish resistance fighters as a messenger. She excels beyond anyone's expectations, thwarting the Nazis again and again, carrying literature and grenades right under their noses. She also participates in the Warsaw uprising in the summer and fall of 1944, moving through the sewers and blowing up tanks. It's amazing she survived.

Nielsen's story is based on the life of a real Polish girl who worked in the resistance. I liked the story well-enough, but it isn't one of Nielsen's strongest. She tries to cram the entirety of the Polish occupation into one story, which is too much and too long. In doing so, she neglects the fine details that I've come to expect from the best historical fiction writers. I felt like I was jumping from scene to scene too quickly without the necessary details to ground me in the moment. I would have liked fewer characters, fewer scenes and a shorter time line, so what remained could be described down to the teeny-tiny bugs crawling around on the floor. For all that was here, I felt that so much was missing.

Lidia is just trying to do what she thinks is right as she becomes a hero in Warsaw’s uprising. I love when young readers get to see brave girls in history. And they don’t come braver than Lidia!

This is one of my favorite Jennifer A. Nielsen books to date. I love how she weaves historical facts and timelines in with the characters of her book. This book does a great job of showing the life of people in an occupied country during World War 2. It is about bravery, strength and drive in a young teenage girl through all the adversity life in Poland took during this time in history. Thank you so much NetGalley Jennifer A. Nielsen and Scholastic Press for the opportunity to preview this book.