Words on Fire

Lithuania has a long and complicated history with its neighboring countries; shifting borders and several occupations have meant that its people have had to preserve their cultural identity for centuries. Through Audra’s character, Nielsen explores what it means for a child to think critically about their identity and determine what they are willing to do to protect it.

Audra grows up speaking Lithuanian at home with her parents but cannot risk speaking it in public for fear of punishment by the Cossack soldiers. From an early age, she learns that fear is a powerful tool to subdue people; the threat of being beaten, arrested, or deported keeps many Lithuanians from speaking out against the Russian government. With such a widespread force constantly reminding Lithuanians that they are all “Russians now,” and that their stories, traditions, and churches will be eradicated, Audra struggles to see how “a small country of farmers and simple peasant folk” can stand up “against such a vast empire” (3). 

Without her parents’ guidance or influence, Audra must decide for herself how much she values her Lithuanian identity and to what lengths she will go to keep it. The more she learns from Lukas, Ben, and Milda about her country’s history and its legacy of freedom fighters, the more she understands her place in the broader collective.