MICHAEL GRANT

. D ISCUSS. REPEA
AD T.
RE

“ A m a gn g n i f ice
i ce n t a l ter
t er n a te h is
isto
to ry.” ”
—ELIZABETH WEIN, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF CODE NAME VERITY

About the Book SHE’S FIGHTING FOR HER COUNTRY

In this revisionist history of World War II, 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
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are average American girls from different walks of life, girls with dreams and
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aspirations, at the start of their lives, and at the start of their loves. Each
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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. NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR

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.

D i s c u ss i o n Q u e s t i o n s
1. W
 hat were Rio, Frangie, and Rainy’s main motivations to enlist in 7. D
 escribe Frangie’s military experience compared to Rio’s and
the war? How do you think their reasons are the same or different Rainy’s. Why was she segregated from Rio and Rainy?
from boys who enlisted?
8. W
 hat was Rainy’s response to the persecution of the Jews? What
2. W
 hich of these girl soldiers do you find most compelling or in- was she doing to help?
teresting, and why? Do you identify with them? Why or why not?
9. W
 hen the author did his research for Front Lines, he learned
3. W
 hy do you think it’s important to the narrator to tell her and the that the best sharp shooters in WWII were usually farm hands or
other girl soldiers’ stories? ranchers, like Rio. Why do you think that was true?

4. I f women were able to enlist and join the war in 1942, what impact 10. H
 ow would you describe Jenou and Rio’s friendship? Did it
would that have had on gender roles in American society? Discuss. change throughout boot camp? How so?

5. E
 xplain each of the girls’ ranks and roles within the war. How do 11. W
 hat does this novel show us about the brutality of war? Do you
they differ? think women should be on the front lines of combat?

6. W
 hat is Rio’s dilemma regarding Strand and Jack? Do you think 12. I f you had to pick another major historical event to alter, which
Jack is just “a fellow soldier” (p. 534)? Discuss. one would it be and why?

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