What do you think?
Rate this book
Front Lines #3
Purple Hearts
The gritty and powerful conclusion to New York Times bestselling author Michael Grant’s epic alternate history series follows the young women American soldiers as D-day approaches during the final days of World War II.
Courage, sacrifice, and fear have led Rio, Frangie, and Rainy through the front line battles in North Africa and Sicily, and their missions are not over. These soldiers and thousands of Allies must fight their deadliest battle yet—for their country and their lives—as they descend into the freezing water and onto the treacherous sands of Omaha Beach. It is June 6, 1944. D-day has arrived.
None of these women are the same naïve recruits they were when the war started. They are Silver Star recipients and battle-hardened now as they traverse the dangerous bocage country and find their way out of the forests of Hürtgen and the Eifel. Others look to them for guidance and confidence, but this is a war that will leave 60 million dead. Flesh will turn to charcoal. Piles will be made of torn limbs. The women must lead through the devastating concentration camps of Buchenwald and Dachau while attempting to hold on to their own last shreds of belief in humanity.
In this powerful conclusion to the Front Lines series, New York Times bestselling author Michael Grant vividly evokes the gritty, brutal truth of World War II: War is hell.
Courage, sacrifice, and fear have led Rio, Frangie, and Rainy through the front line battles in North Africa and Sicily, and their missions are not over. These soldiers and thousands of Allies must fight their deadliest battle yet—for their country and their lives—as they descend into the freezing water and onto the treacherous sands of Omaha Beach. It is June 6, 1944. D-day has arrived.
None of these women are the same naïve recruits they were when the war started. They are Silver Star recipients and battle-hardened now as they traverse the dangerous bocage country and find their way out of the forests of Hürtgen and the Eifel. Others look to them for guidance and confidence, but this is a war that will leave 60 million dead. Flesh will turn to charcoal. Piles will be made of torn limbs. The women must lead through the devastating concentration camps of Buchenwald and Dachau while attempting to hold on to their own last shreds of belief in humanity.
In this powerful conclusion to the Front Lines series, New York Times bestselling author Michael Grant vividly evokes the gritty, brutal truth of World War II: War is hell.
558 pages, Hardcover
First published January 30, 2018
46 people are currently reading
1657 people want to read
About the author
Michael Grant
75 books11.3k followersCo-author with Katherine Applegate of Ocean City, Making Out, Summer, Animorphs, Everworld, Remnants, Eve and Adam.
Pseudonymous coauthor with KA of Christy (the TV spin-off books), Sweet Valley Twins, Girl Talk and various Disney spin-offs.
Pseudonymous author of Barf-O-Rama.
Author of Gone, BZRK, The Magnificent 12, Messenger of Fear, Front Lines, Monster and A Sudden Death in Cyprus.
AKA Michael Robinson (restaurant reviews and newspaper features).
AKA Michael Reynolds (legal name) political media producer. (Team Blue).
Pseudonymous coauthor with KA of Christy (the TV spin-off books), Sweet Valley Twins, Girl Talk and various Disney spin-offs.
Pseudonymous author of Barf-O-Rama.
Author of Gone, BZRK, The Magnificent 12, Messenger of Fear, Front Lines, Monster and A Sudden Death in Cyprus.
AKA Michael Robinson (restaurant reviews and newspaper features).
AKA Michael Reynolds (legal name) political media producer. (Team Blue).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews
November 7, 2017
I’ve been a huge fan of this series from day one, and Purple Hearts did not disappoint. In fact, it’s probably the best ending to a trilogy I’ve ever read. THE CLOSURE WAS REAL. We got to see what the characters got up to post-war AND their obituaries so we know what they did with their lives as a whole. Thank you, Michael Grant, I’ve never been more satisfied with an ending. Not to mention, we finally learn who’s been writing these stories! (And I guessed right!)
I feel like in each book, the girls have an identity breakthrough, and I’m glad that I’ve loved a different girl most strongly in each book. In Front Lines it was Frangie, in Silver Stars is was Rainy, and in this book, I’ve rolled round to loving Rio. She’s arguably been through the most, because her character is almost unrecognisable to the girl who stepped into training. In Purple Hearts, Rio got a particularly wonderful scene about femininity and I cheered her on the whole way through. I really love the hardened person she became. She might have lost her innocent view of the world, but in the end she’s better for it.
I also loved that in the book, more than ever, it felt like the girls were interconnected. We’d often see Frangie talking with Rainy or Rio, and I love it best when they’re all aware of each other because, well…it’s just nice, isn’t it? Their moments take you out of the action, (in welcome reprieve) even though there was more explosions and death than ever before! Purple Hearts is gritty and harrowing in all the right places, perfectly capturing the terrors of war. There was also a bigger discussion on deserters and loyalty, which I don’t think has been touched on, but I’m sure if you’d asked the girls in Front Lines what they thought of deserting they’d be giving very different answers to now!
Overall, Rainy’s in top from being a bad-ass spy character, Rio has more responsibility and she handles the weight on her shoulders admirably, and Frangie’s still following close behind, patching everyone up. They all make me so proud, and I’m so pleased I picked up Front Lines, and have followed these girls on this truly epic journey.
I can’t recommend this series more, it’s got sustained action, lush, well developed characters, and brilliant narrative architecture. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go pick up Front Lines again.
I feel like in each book, the girls have an identity breakthrough, and I’m glad that I’ve loved a different girl most strongly in each book. In Front Lines it was Frangie, in Silver Stars is was Rainy, and in this book, I’ve rolled round to loving Rio. She’s arguably been through the most, because her character is almost unrecognisable to the girl who stepped into training. In Purple Hearts, Rio got a particularly wonderful scene about femininity and I cheered her on the whole way through. I really love the hardened person she became. She might have lost her innocent view of the world, but in the end she’s better for it.
I also loved that in the book, more than ever, it felt like the girls were interconnected. We’d often see Frangie talking with Rainy or Rio, and I love it best when they’re all aware of each other because, well…it’s just nice, isn’t it? Their moments take you out of the action, (in welcome reprieve) even though there was more explosions and death than ever before! Purple Hearts is gritty and harrowing in all the right places, perfectly capturing the terrors of war. There was also a bigger discussion on deserters and loyalty, which I don’t think has been touched on, but I’m sure if you’d asked the girls in Front Lines what they thought of deserting they’d be giving very different answers to now!
Overall, Rainy’s in top from being a bad-ass spy character, Rio has more responsibility and she handles the weight on her shoulders admirably, and Frangie’s still following close behind, patching everyone up. They all make me so proud, and I’m so pleased I picked up Front Lines, and have followed these girls on this truly epic journey.
I can’t recommend this series more, it’s got sustained action, lush, well developed characters, and brilliant narrative architecture. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go pick up Front Lines again.
March 2, 2018
"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fail - think of it, always."
I'm not sure how to review this one. I loved these characters, of course, but for the first time after reading a Michael Grant novel, I'm not sitting here bowled over by who they were and what they went through, because there was an even bigger story here, and that's what's got me just... sitting here. I suppose this won't be a very coherent review as a result.
The research that went into this blew my socks off. And the amount of tragedies I didn't know about bulldozed me. I didn't know about Malmédy. I didn't know about the Hürtgen Forest. I'd heard the name Battle of the Bulge, but didn't know any details. I certainly didn't know about Oradour-sur-Glane. (I read that chapter on my break at work and had to take a few extra minutes before I could go back.) But after every atrocity, I would look up the names of these places and battles, and sure enough -- these horrible things weren't the figment of someone's imagination. They really happened.
I didn't know about any of these things but I have been fascinated by World War 2 my whole life. I was born on Remembrance Day and my grandfather seemed to love that about me. He fought in the war and managed to pull men to safety despite a bullet in his head, and I didn't hear about that story until after he'd died. I never heard him talk about the war at all, and now I'm sitting here in tears because this book has given me such searing insight into what real men and women witnessed and endured and I didn't even go to his funeral because I couldn't afford the flight.
But that's not the only reason this book has made me feel kind of ripped open. It taught me so much about what really happened beyond the things we've seen in movies and showed so much more about the horrors that human beings subjected other human beings to, less than 100 years ago. And now here we are, in 2018, living in a free world that came at the cost of so many lives, and there is so much hate everywhere. There were so many lines in this about tyranny and bigotry and hatred that horrified me so much not only because of what happened so many years ago but because we are not free of it. The fact that there are people who identify as Nazis in my country and in my neighbour to the south makes me feel so sick and so helpless which is now intensified after reading this beautifully crafted book. Bless this book for not glossing over anything. We deserve to know what kind of history we are in danger of repeating.
There are so many things I want to praise, namely the range of perspectives, but I think everyone should just read it and go through it for themselves. It's important to all of us.
I'm not sure how to review this one. I loved these characters, of course, but for the first time after reading a Michael Grant novel, I'm not sitting here bowled over by who they were and what they went through, because there was an even bigger story here, and that's what's got me just... sitting here. I suppose this won't be a very coherent review as a result.
The research that went into this blew my socks off. And the amount of tragedies I didn't know about bulldozed me. I didn't know about Malmédy. I didn't know about the Hürtgen Forest. I'd heard the name Battle of the Bulge, but didn't know any details. I certainly didn't know about Oradour-sur-Glane. (I read that chapter on my break at work and had to take a few extra minutes before I could go back.) But after every atrocity, I would look up the names of these places and battles, and sure enough -- these horrible things weren't the figment of someone's imagination. They really happened.
I didn't know about any of these things but I have been fascinated by World War 2 my whole life. I was born on Remembrance Day and my grandfather seemed to love that about me. He fought in the war and managed to pull men to safety despite a bullet in his head, and I didn't hear about that story until after he'd died. I never heard him talk about the war at all, and now I'm sitting here in tears because this book has given me such searing insight into what real men and women witnessed and endured and I didn't even go to his funeral because I couldn't afford the flight.
But that's not the only reason this book has made me feel kind of ripped open. It taught me so much about what really happened beyond the things we've seen in movies and showed so much more about the horrors that human beings subjected other human beings to, less than 100 years ago. And now here we are, in 2018, living in a free world that came at the cost of so many lives, and there is so much hate everywhere. There were so many lines in this about tyranny and bigotry and hatred that horrified me so much not only because of what happened so many years ago but because we are not free of it. The fact that there are people who identify as Nazis in my country and in my neighbour to the south makes me feel so sick and so helpless which is now intensified after reading this beautifully crafted book. Bless this book for not glossing over anything. We deserve to know what kind of history we are in danger of repeating.
There are so many things I want to praise, namely the range of perspectives, but I think everyone should just read it and go through it for themselves. It's important to all of us.
June 7, 2018
War is hell. Grant completes his exceptionally well-researched WWII trilogy, continuing the stories of three women soldiers: Rio Richlin, Rainy Schulterman, and Frangie Marr during the deadliest year of the war. Starting with the landing in Normandy on Omaha Beach, Grant takes us through many of the seminal war events of 1944-1945 in Europe, such as the massacres at Malmédy and Oradour-sur-Glane , the pointless, ill-considered American campaign in Hürtgen Forest, and the liberation of Jews from Nazi concentration camps. Somehow, these three courageous women led by example. The post-war stories were a great way to end the series.
February 6, 2018
Full review to come but for now please know I am fairly sure this is my favourite series of all time.
It desperately needs more attention- nothing I've ever read has come anywhere near as close to capturing the horror and futility of war as this series.
These girls have my heart. I am broken and fixed all at once.
Rainy Schulterman is queen.
---------------------------------------
I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
See, the thing is? They don't know we're the good guys. They think they're the heroes
This book is a masterpiece.
I'm struggling to find the right words to properly articulate how I feel about this book and the series as a whole and can't compare it to anything because I've genuinely never read anything like it.
There is constant action throughout the series, the character development is absolutely incredible (especially the three main girls) and the emotions it made me feel were extreme and amazing.
Rainy is my favourite of the girls- she's so badass and just generally incredible. She goes through so much and it's all a little bit more real for her because she's Jewish.
Frangie is also unreal, she's basically fighting 2 wars. One against Nazi Germany and one against white Americans. She's graceful and helpful and lovely all the way through.
Rio is just amazing. I can't actually describe how wonderful she is. Her character development is something else entirely and she is faced with so much throughout the series, especially this final book. She handles everything so well.
Basically I can't explain how much I love these books. Everyone should read them. There is also so much closure it's the most satisfying end to a series ever.
It desperately needs more attention- nothing I've ever read has come anywhere near as close to capturing the horror and futility of war as this series.
These girls have my heart. I am broken and fixed all at once.
Rainy Schulterman is queen.
---------------------------------------
I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
See, the thing is? They don't know we're the good guys. They think they're the heroes
This book is a masterpiece.
I'm struggling to find the right words to properly articulate how I feel about this book and the series as a whole and can't compare it to anything because I've genuinely never read anything like it.
There is constant action throughout the series, the character development is absolutely incredible (especially the three main girls) and the emotions it made me feel were extreme and amazing.
Rainy is my favourite of the girls- she's so badass and just generally incredible. She goes through so much and it's all a little bit more real for her because she's Jewish.
Frangie is also unreal, she's basically fighting 2 wars. One against Nazi Germany and one against white Americans. She's graceful and helpful and lovely all the way through.
Rio is just amazing. I can't actually describe how wonderful she is. Her character development is something else entirely and she is faced with so much throughout the series, especially this final book. She handles everything so well.
Basically I can't explain how much I love these books. Everyone should read them. There is also so much closure it's the most satisfying end to a series ever.
March 2, 2018
If it was possible to award a book, indeed a series, six stars then this would have earned them. No holds barred, no glorification of war, well researched and incredible emotive.
Grant's always written good books, but this series has been a step beyond anything else he's done before. Hands down one of the best trilogies I've ever read. I know this sounds like so much hyperbole but check my Goodreads profile for the number of reviews I've written - it's not many. I tend to just give a score and move on, but the Front Lines series deserves your attention.
If I have a criticism, it's that the book finished a little abruptly... but the closing chapter or so did sum things up well.
Definitely not for the squeamish or "children", very much emphasis on the "adult" in "young adult". Also not for Holocaust deniers, but most of them are too stupid to read books anyway.
Grant's always written good books, but this series has been a step beyond anything else he's done before. Hands down one of the best trilogies I've ever read. I know this sounds like so much hyperbole but check my Goodreads profile for the number of reviews I've written - it's not many. I tend to just give a score and move on, but the Front Lines series deserves your attention.
If I have a criticism, it's that the book finished a little abruptly... but the closing chapter or so did sum things up well.
Definitely not for the squeamish or "children", very much emphasis on the "adult" in "young adult". Also not for Holocaust deniers, but most of them are too stupid to read books anyway.
February 2, 2018
What an ending. This book is powerful, graphic, gut-wrenching, and heartwarming all at once. Grant does a superb job. This series will stick with me for a long time.
January 1, 2024
This book was devastatingly beautiful. I finished it with tears in my eyes and admit to being reluctant to say goodbye to Rio, Jenou, Frangie, and Rainy. Michael Grant has written a series that matches the atmosphere of World War II. Yes, this is an alternate historical fiction where American women are on the frontlines but many of the events are true and reveal the horrors of war.
Perhaps a bizarre way to end 2023 but I do feel my reading experience was truly rewarding.
Goodreads review published 31/12/23
Perhaps a bizarre way to end 2023 but I do feel my reading experience was truly rewarding.
Goodreads review published 31/12/23
November 6, 2017
Hats off to you, Michael Grant, for writing what I hope will become a must-read trilogy for anyone.
I’ve just finished this surrounded by articles in today’s press about the furore over whether or not to wear a poppy in remembrance of those who fought in war. From this remoteness, even though we can read of atrocities committed throughout the world at the touch of a button, it’s all too easy to forget about the sacrifices of those who went to war. We should never forget.
In this final instalment of the trilogy we follow our favourites through the last push. Battles that might sound familiar, but the details we’re given here vividly bring the events to life.
At times this was hard to read. Senseless brutality, questionable moral decisions being taken and a no-holds barred account of what happened. Some of it may have been imagined, and some of it may have been far worse. But it’s important not to ignore...how else will you encourage people to stand up for what is right?
Thank you NetGalley for granting me access to this prior to publication. It was a privilege to read...and I’ve pre-ordered my copy.
I’ve just finished this surrounded by articles in today’s press about the furore over whether or not to wear a poppy in remembrance of those who fought in war. From this remoteness, even though we can read of atrocities committed throughout the world at the touch of a button, it’s all too easy to forget about the sacrifices of those who went to war. We should never forget.
In this final instalment of the trilogy we follow our favourites through the last push. Battles that might sound familiar, but the details we’re given here vividly bring the events to life.
At times this was hard to read. Senseless brutality, questionable moral decisions being taken and a no-holds barred account of what happened. Some of it may have been imagined, and some of it may have been far worse. But it’s important not to ignore...how else will you encourage people to stand up for what is right?
Thank you NetGalley for granting me access to this prior to publication. It was a privilege to read...and I’ve pre-ordered my copy.
February 19, 2018
It is very rare that I find a series where each book is better than the last, and this is one of my favorites. It is also very rare that I am overcome by tears reading WWII or YA fiction due to the fact I read so much of it ... but this book grabs the reader by the throat and heart from the first page until the last.
As WWII rages on, we are still following Frangie, Rio, Jenou, and Rainy through the trials and tribulations of women in the front of the war. This book is even more brutal than the last two, picking the reader up through the mud and minefields as new replacement soldiers are introduced, only to come crashing down as they soon thereafter gutted or maimed, shot and killed. This is one of the few WWII books (in general, not even with the YA tag) that I feel really captures the essence of the war on the front lines.
I have so many thoughts on this book - from the letters home, letters to the families of other soldiers, obituaries, the epilogue. This is one of those series that I will be re-reading again. I can’t recommend it enough.
As WWII rages on, we are still following Frangie, Rio, Jenou, and Rainy through the trials and tribulations of women in the front of the war. This book is even more brutal than the last two, picking the reader up through the mud and minefields as new replacement soldiers are introduced, only to come crashing down as they soon thereafter gutted or maimed, shot and killed. This is one of the few WWII books (in general, not even with the YA tag) that I feel really captures the essence of the war on the front lines.
I have so many thoughts on this book - from the letters home, letters to the families of other soldiers, obituaries, the epilogue. This is one of those series that I will be re-reading again. I can’t recommend it enough.
March 29, 2018
I'm not crying, you are. War is the devil's creation but men and women are to blame for not speaking up. #neveragain
November 29, 2018
Every book I read from this series, changed my perspective of the characters, and most of all, the war. While in Silver Stars, I felt like the characters' family, doing my best to understand what the war was like for Frangie, Rio, and Rainy, but knowing deep down that they were feeling emotions that I couldn't even begin to imagine. However, in Purple Hearts, I truly felt the confusion and the chaos that ensued on the battle field. The battle at Omaha Beach made my heart pound all the way through, as Rio and Frangie described the bullets constantly raining down on them. As I read through some of the battles, it was difficult to create a mental picture of what was going on, why things were happening, or what was going to happen next. It truly gave me a sense of the flurry of action occuring on real battlefields. I finally gained just a fraction of understanding about the fear that they must have felt, rather than just seeing their strength and invincibility. In addition, seeing battle after battle, and the daily struggles that each soldier had to endure just blew my mind. There was absolutely no end in sight for our heroines and I was constantly amazed at how any character in this series was able to walk away from the war at all. This book fascinated me with what war is really like today for soldiers, and if they see the same horrific and devastating scenes that Frangie Rio and Rainy experienced. I devoured this finale in all it's gruesome, barbaric glory. As sick as this may sound, the gruesome details contributed to the page-turning nature of this book, and the entire series. As I mentioned in my review of Silver Stars, the heroins of the Front Lines series are unbelievably easy to root for and fall in love with. While it was difficult at times to see my favorite girls turn into hardened soldiers, with little regard for the new recruits, it simultaneously made me fall in love with them more, seeing their ability to fend for themselves, and make a name for themselves as soldiers rather than as women. As I've said about a thousand times in regard to this series, the character development is beyond words, and in addition to the captivating action, is really what made me fall in love with these stories.
February 27, 2018
I just can’t think of a full sentence to describe this book. Beautiful. Heartbreaking. Fantastic. Michael Grant you have truly outdone yourself this time! Also Jack Stafford.
July 24, 2018
This was a great conclusion to the story. My only qualm was in the after the war section but it does resolve itself, I just don't believe it would have actually happened. Winner series.
March 22, 2019
I felt so many things with the last installment of this trilogy... Sadness, nausea, and complete horror. I wept when characters died and the camps were infiltrated. In the end I found joy and happiness to see where these brave women ended up and cried tears of elation. This story will stay with me for a very long time it's such a unique perspective on what could have been. Rio and her troops, Frangie and her healing friends and Rainy and her fierce independence will forever be with me. If you have not read this trilogy what exactly are you waiting for... Thank you Mr. Grant!
March 23, 2020
4.5 stars. This probably would have been better being two books as there is so much going on. But all together a fab series I would highly recommend!
January 14, 2019
Such a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Kudos to Grant for including an LGBTQ+ character, albeit a minor one.
March 20, 2020
“She doesn’t want to know that in her own country there are men and women every inch the moral equivalent of the Nazis.”
I remember sitting on a flight to Melbourne with friends, and the only thing I wanted to do was get started on this book! I was more than happy to ignore them and read this book instead!
This whole story has dragged you through the muddy trenches and under the firing artillery and up a god forsaken mountain, all to dump you at the finish line with a raging need for it not the end!
I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed reading a story this much, that I would spend my days off not moving from the couch with my nose stuffed into a book. And that’s a compliment! I absolutely adored this series and I desperately need a Netflix version of this!!
I remember sitting on a flight to Melbourne with friends, and the only thing I wanted to do was get started on this book! I was more than happy to ignore them and read this book instead!
This whole story has dragged you through the muddy trenches and under the firing artillery and up a god forsaken mountain, all to dump you at the finish line with a raging need for it not the end!
I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed reading a story this much, that I would spend my days off not moving from the couch with my nose stuffed into a book. And that’s a compliment! I absolutely adored this series and I desperately need a Netflix version of this!!
February 15, 2018
I can't say enough good things about this series. As a Young Adult Librarian, I am well read in the world of YA but generally, I tend to be HIST FIC averse ... especially when it has to do with WWII. But with these inescapably powerful and well developed characters (even the characters that you meet simply for an interlude), the heart and turmoil and realness that's given to their roles as soldiers, and the unique and fresh spin on WWII ... I can't praise this series enough. This was a well rounded and fantastic conclusion to overwhelmingly fantastic series.
I shop this series to all my Teen readers. And while the size of the books can be a hiccup ... once they delve into the story, they find themselves overwhelmed and invested and falling in love with the characters/story in such a way that they simply must read the next volume.
This series has been a triumph. One that I am happy to have in my collection at the library and my toolbox as a YA reader's advisory librarian. (See? I told you I couldn't say enough good things!)
I shop this series to all my Teen readers. And while the size of the books can be a hiccup ... once they delve into the story, they find themselves overwhelmed and invested and falling in love with the characters/story in such a way that they simply must read the next volume.
This series has been a triumph. One that I am happy to have in my collection at the library and my toolbox as a YA reader's advisory librarian. (See? I told you I couldn't say enough good things!)
February 13, 2018
This was an amazing end to the series. The author was very frank in his descriptions of the horrors of war. While not being overly graphic on the reality of the atrocities that happened during WWII, neither did he gloss over any of it. The book evoked very real tension, fear, and empathy you feel for those that found themselves in the middle of situations, that they would never have dreamed of being a part of. I feel as if I can better understand a small amount of what soldiers went through at the time: an extremely small part!
One thing that was very clearly put into the readers mind was, even if you think you know what you're getting yourself into; you really don't understand the reality of a situation until your in the midst of it, especially war.
I was enthralled by all three books in the series. Fortunately I found them at the time where I only had to wait a few weeks until the last book was published. Waiting any longer would have driven me crazy.
Read them, You will not regret it!
One thing that was very clearly put into the readers mind was, even if you think you know what you're getting yourself into; you really don't understand the reality of a situation until your in the midst of it, especially war.
I was enthralled by all three books in the series. Fortunately I found them at the time where I only had to wait a few weeks until the last book was published. Waiting any longer would have driven me crazy.
Read them, You will not regret it!
December 7, 2018
This book has been on my "to read" list since it came out having loved the first two books in the series. I'm glad to say it wasn't a disappointment.
One thing that always strikes me about Michael Grant's writing is his ability to capture authentic relationships and feelings. Strand and Jack's jealousy are completely different but fit each character and Rio's sense of responsibility and duty reflect how they've developed through the war.
As with the previous book, Rio, Frangie and Rainy are the main narrators who's stories run in parallel and sometimes cross over. The inclusion of the odd chapter by a new character was great as it provided another perspective and gave contrast to how the veteran narrators were, highlighting the changes from "Front Lines." With hints dropped throughout the books, the identity of the narrator in the hospital is finally revealed (if you hadn't guessed it already.)
The battles faced by the soldier girls in this book are brutal and the outlook seems bleak at times, which reflects how you can imagine the people who fought there would have been feeling! However, there are still running jokes and happy moments.
Although I didn't want the story to end as I've become attached to a number of the characters throughout the book, I thought the ending was well written as we got to know how life was after the war without having too much detail flung at us - just enough for readers to put it together in their own way.
One thing that always strikes me about Michael Grant's writing is his ability to capture authentic relationships and feelings. Strand and Jack's jealousy are completely different but fit each character and Rio's sense of responsibility and duty reflect how they've developed through the war.
As with the previous book, Rio, Frangie and Rainy are the main narrators who's stories run in parallel and sometimes cross over. The inclusion of the odd chapter by a new character was great as it provided another perspective and gave contrast to how the veteran narrators were, highlighting the changes from "Front Lines." With hints dropped throughout the books, the identity of the narrator in the hospital is finally revealed (if you hadn't guessed it already.)
The battles faced by the soldier girls in this book are brutal and the outlook seems bleak at times, which reflects how you can imagine the people who fought there would have been feeling! However, there are still running jokes and happy moments.
Although I didn't want the story to end as I've become attached to a number of the characters throughout the book, I thought the ending was well written as we got to know how life was after the war without having too much detail flung at us - just enough for readers to put it together in their own way.
April 12, 2020
This is the 3rd in the Front Lines series. I was introduced to this series via Nook Serial Reads in December 2018, and I don't know why I didn't just power through the entire series. Maybe I enjoyed it even more because I waited a year between each book.
I like WWII novels in general. I like this one even more because of the alternative telling, including these strong women as the main characters who are actively involved in the war. I've come to enjoy them all throughout the series and I think Grant did an amazing "send off" at the end, such that I literally had tears in my eyes.
Similar to the previous novels, there is a decent bit of gore and just horrifying scenes in general. I would imagine that if you or a close family member/friend has been in war, this would likely be a trigger. I kept thinking that my military wife friends probably wouldn't enjoy this at all, for example. Perhaps I could take a guess at Grant's stance on war... this novel surely just sends home the message that war is for the most part senseless. The things we ask soldiers to do and sacrifice is absolutely unfathomable. And likewise, the amount of terror and tragedy a person can survive is unfathomable. Grant did not sugar coat the scenes at all. As with the previous novels, this was told primarily through 3 POVs. Although at least 2 other POVs were temporarily thrown in. And we finally find out who the interstitial narrator is. The different perspectives made it even more real and relatable. I have to say I wasn't 100% up to speed about the purpose of the missions, the definitions of all the acronyms, or even familiar with the names of various guns and types of military vehicles etc. And I enjoyed it all the same. Unlike other WWII novels I've read, this whole series' focus is on the American solider's experience, but through the lens of female soldiers.
If you like WWII novels, spins on history, maybe even feminism.. you'd like this. Not to mention the superb characters and action-filled plot. I'm glad I stumbled across this series and plan to read more of Grant's work in the future.
I like WWII novels in general. I like this one even more because of the alternative telling, including these strong women as the main characters who are actively involved in the war. I've come to enjoy them all throughout the series and I think Grant did an amazing "send off" at the end, such that I literally had tears in my eyes.
Similar to the previous novels, there is a decent bit of gore and just horrifying scenes in general. I would imagine that if you or a close family member/friend has been in war, this would likely be a trigger. I kept thinking that my military wife friends probably wouldn't enjoy this at all, for example. Perhaps I could take a guess at Grant's stance on war... this novel surely just sends home the message that war is for the most part senseless. The things we ask soldiers to do and sacrifice is absolutely unfathomable. And likewise, the amount of terror and tragedy a person can survive is unfathomable. Grant did not sugar coat the scenes at all. As with the previous novels, this was told primarily through 3 POVs. Although at least 2 other POVs were temporarily thrown in. And we finally find out who the interstitial narrator is. The different perspectives made it even more real and relatable. I have to say I wasn't 100% up to speed about the purpose of the missions, the definitions of all the acronyms, or even familiar with the names of various guns and types of military vehicles etc. And I enjoyed it all the same. Unlike other WWII novels I've read, this whole series' focus is on the American solider's experience, but through the lens of female soldiers.
If you like WWII novels, spins on history, maybe even feminism.. you'd like this. Not to mention the superb characters and action-filled plot. I'm glad I stumbled across this series and plan to read more of Grant's work in the future.
July 30, 2018
This has been an AMAZING JOURNEY!!!! Mr. Grant thank you, thank you for this series!!!
This last book was everything and MORE!!! Thank you for making my Summer Reanding
the best.
This last book was everything and MORE!!! Thank you for making my Summer Reanding
the best.
August 28, 2018
I waited until I finished the 3-book arc before I officially announced this series as my all time favorite series!
Again, Michael Grant gives us a heavily researched, brilliant account of three "soldier girls" that were introduced in Front Lines, Rainy Schulterman, Rio Richlin and Frangie Marr.
This alternate history of WWII allows that women were able to enlist and were drafted into the Armed Services. Told in alternating chapters from each girls' point of view, this series takes us from their enlistment through the key battles as well as Rainy's time with the French Resistance.
I can't say anything more without giving away spoilers - even small ones. This series should be experienced by history lovers, young adult lovers - well-written fiction lovers.
Again, Michael Grant gives us a heavily researched, brilliant account of three "soldier girls" that were introduced in Front Lines, Rainy Schulterman, Rio Richlin and Frangie Marr.
This alternate history of WWII allows that women were able to enlist and were drafted into the Armed Services. Told in alternating chapters from each girls' point of view, this series takes us from their enlistment through the key battles as well as Rainy's time with the French Resistance.
I can't say anything more without giving away spoilers - even small ones. This series should be experienced by history lovers, young adult lovers - well-written fiction lovers.
November 29, 2019
I'm so grateful this book exists
May 16, 2019
I.... What can I say? How can I put together words to describe this....
The blurb says that this book is a powerful ending to the Front Lines trilogy. The blurb is 1000% accurate. This book and the series is the most powerful book that I have ever read about WWII. I have always rationally understood the devastation and horror of the war, the deaths, and the struggles. But this series truly helped me understand it emotionally. I know that Michael Grant has done his best to make sure that the series is as accurate as possible, which makes the story more scary. I can not praise Michael Grant enough or rave about this series enough. This is definitely a top ten series.
There are a few things that bothered me but I accept because they are accurate. Michael Grant was more trigger happy in this book which initially made me mad because I didn't understand the point of killing characters we didn't know that well. On the flip side, I think more characters that we were well acquainted with should have died to drive the point that people die in a war. Another thing that bothered me was that I was able who was writing the story which I didn't like because I would have preferred it to be a bit of a curveball. The same goes for the epilogue.
HOWEVER, it doesn't make a difference that I didn't like these things because the book was so "fugging" good. I don't know what to do now? I'm getting seriously book hungover...
The blurb says that this book is a powerful ending to the Front Lines trilogy. The blurb is 1000% accurate. This book and the series is the most powerful book that I have ever read about WWII. I have always rationally understood the devastation and horror of the war, the deaths, and the struggles. But this series truly helped me understand it emotionally. I know that Michael Grant has done his best to make sure that the series is as accurate as possible, which makes the story more scary. I can not praise Michael Grant enough or rave about this series enough. This is definitely a top ten series.
There are a few things that bothered me but I accept because they are accurate. Michael Grant was more trigger happy in this book which initially made me mad because I didn't understand the point of killing characters we didn't know that well. On the flip side, I think more characters that we were well acquainted with should have died to drive the point that people die in a war. Another thing that bothered me was that I was able who was writing the story which I didn't like because I would have preferred it to be a bit of a curveball. The same goes for the epilogue.
HOWEVER, it doesn't make a difference that I didn't like these things because the book was so "fugging" good. I don't know what to do now? I'm getting seriously book hungover...
October 24, 2017
This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
An epic tale of a reimagined World War II comes to an explosive end in this third and final book Purple Hearts. Michael Grant created an alternative history in which women were allowed to enter the army and fight alongside the men on the front lines in Europe. Having earned accolades, promotions and the right to go home to America at the conclusion of the previous book, Rio, Frangie and Rainy decide to stay for the remains of the war. It is 6th June 1944, and the battle on the sands of Omaha Beach is about to begin – D-Day.
The story rushes into the horrors of the D-Day landings where Rio, now a Sergeant, is leading her platoon through the treacherous battleground, whilst Frangie, the medic, tries to patch up fallen comrades. The author teases the reader with the introduction of new characters who promptly get killed during this fateful day and battles further along the line. There is no sugar coating the horrific experience of soldiers and civilians, regardless of whether the scenes are fictionalized or not.
The difficulty with writing a work of fiction about the final years of World War II is that the majority of readers will already know the facts. Therefore, it was impossible for Grant to compose a drastic alternative history. Despite the inclusion of women soldiers, the main events occur exactly as they did in reality, beginning with D-Day before moving on to Liberated France, the Hürtgen Forest, the Battle of the Bulge, and, eventually, VE Day.
The three main characters have undergone complete transformations since the beginning of book one. No longer are they the innocent girls mocked for the belief they could be as strong as male soldiers. As horror after horror unfolds, readers are left with only the hope that these three survive.
Throughout book one and two, the narrative was interspersed with a commentary from an anonymous female soldier in a bed at the 107th evacuee hospital in Würzburg, Germany. As promised at the beginning of the series, readers finally find out which character this nameless voice belongs to, although it is dragged out until the final pages of the book.
The title, Purple Hearts, refers to the medal earned by soldiers injured in battle. Rio, Frangie and Rainy have each received one, along with a few other characters. Unfortunately, many are killed in the battles, some who have been in the story from the start, making this an extremely shocking book. It goes to show how dangerous war is and the brutality WWII soldiers experienced. It is a surprise that as many survived as they did.
Although at this point the main focus of the story is the war, there is still the underlying theme of equality, both for women and for black people. Frangie provides the insight into the segregation of blacks, being assigned to black-only patrols and having white patients refuse to be treated by her. However, as the war gets more violent, these lines get blurred until it is (mostly) no longer important the colour of a soldier or medic’s skin.
Purple Hearts is a brilliant end to a challenging series. Readers become invested in the characters and are drawn into a story that is so true to form that it is easy to forget that women did not actually take part in the fighting. Evidently well researched, Michael Grant has penned a series that educates whilst it entertains, opening readers’ eyes to the truth about war. This is nothing like a textbook full of facts and figures, it is a moving, personal (forget the fictional bit) account of what WWII was really like. Written with young adults in mind, this is a great series for both teens and older readers.
An epic tale of a reimagined World War II comes to an explosive end in this third and final book Purple Hearts. Michael Grant created an alternative history in which women were allowed to enter the army and fight alongside the men on the front lines in Europe. Having earned accolades, promotions and the right to go home to America at the conclusion of the previous book, Rio, Frangie and Rainy decide to stay for the remains of the war. It is 6th June 1944, and the battle on the sands of Omaha Beach is about to begin – D-Day.
The story rushes into the horrors of the D-Day landings where Rio, now a Sergeant, is leading her platoon through the treacherous battleground, whilst Frangie, the medic, tries to patch up fallen comrades. The author teases the reader with the introduction of new characters who promptly get killed during this fateful day and battles further along the line. There is no sugar coating the horrific experience of soldiers and civilians, regardless of whether the scenes are fictionalized or not.
The difficulty with writing a work of fiction about the final years of World War II is that the majority of readers will already know the facts. Therefore, it was impossible for Grant to compose a drastic alternative history. Despite the inclusion of women soldiers, the main events occur exactly as they did in reality, beginning with D-Day before moving on to Liberated France, the Hürtgen Forest, the Battle of the Bulge, and, eventually, VE Day.
The three main characters have undergone complete transformations since the beginning of book one. No longer are they the innocent girls mocked for the belief they could be as strong as male soldiers. As horror after horror unfolds, readers are left with only the hope that these three survive.
Throughout book one and two, the narrative was interspersed with a commentary from an anonymous female soldier in a bed at the 107th evacuee hospital in Würzburg, Germany. As promised at the beginning of the series, readers finally find out which character this nameless voice belongs to, although it is dragged out until the final pages of the book.
The title, Purple Hearts, refers to the medal earned by soldiers injured in battle. Rio, Frangie and Rainy have each received one, along with a few other characters. Unfortunately, many are killed in the battles, some who have been in the story from the start, making this an extremely shocking book. It goes to show how dangerous war is and the brutality WWII soldiers experienced. It is a surprise that as many survived as they did.
Although at this point the main focus of the story is the war, there is still the underlying theme of equality, both for women and for black people. Frangie provides the insight into the segregation of blacks, being assigned to black-only patrols and having white patients refuse to be treated by her. However, as the war gets more violent, these lines get blurred until it is (mostly) no longer important the colour of a soldier or medic’s skin.
Purple Hearts is a brilliant end to a challenging series. Readers become invested in the characters and are drawn into a story that is so true to form that it is easy to forget that women did not actually take part in the fighting. Evidently well researched, Michael Grant has penned a series that educates whilst it entertains, opening readers’ eyes to the truth about war. This is nothing like a textbook full of facts and figures, it is a moving, personal (forget the fictional bit) account of what WWII was really like. Written with young adults in mind, this is a great series for both teens and older readers.
July 14, 2018
Boy, did that middle book have some serious "middle book syndrome", because this one brought me right back in to the fray. I literally didn't want to go to work at one point because, as I told my husband, "I have to get Rio and Frangie off Omaha Beach! It's D-Day, dammit. I can't abandon the girls!" The action moved consistently and pulse-poundingly through this entire brick of a novel (what is this thing, 600 pages? I forgot to look. Which is in itself meaningful). I stayed up until 1 a.m. to finish this because I had to know what happened to the girls. I wanted to go to sleep, but I couldn't just abandon Frangie at the gates of Dachau, could I? By the way, none of these are spoilers because seriously, it's a book about WWII: these events are known and OF COURSE our MCs are going to witness all the major events. They are our lens for viewing the Western front. On that point, I've read and seen a lot of stuff about the US and the Soviets coming upon the camps and liberating them. This hit the hardest. I've been 1800 pages in these girls' shoes, watching them fight and suffer and survive. So when Rainy, my favorite, comes across a camp filled with her own people, it was like a friend doing so. I wanted to shield her from the atrocities. But my girl didn't need me, trust me. Also, brief aside, the user of Rod Serling's cloaking monologue from the Twilight Zone episode "Deaths-head Revisited" made me happy, sad, and terrified simultaneously. It's a beautifully tragic quote from a nightmare - inducing episode. Seriously, people, it's on Netflix. Go watch it if you haven't. I'll wait.
Overall, I think this series was novel in concept, well-researched, and had easy-to-relate-to main characters with, honestly, just the dumbest names. Ever. So dumb. It kept pace pretty well, with some lulls in book two, and had a nice conclusion that answered all your questions. I wish it had left some of the romance parts out ("there's no googly eyes in here! This is a war room!") but those were luckily few and far between in this book. One nice takeaway is that I've put this in the hands of at least three male teens who love WWII books and were legitimately interested in how "fighting girls would have changed things", as one put it. I think a book with kickass female soldiers written by a man is a nice step towards getting boys to read more books with female MCs, which is a huge step towards equality in YA lit. What if more male authors wrote strong, non- manicpixiedreamgirl female protagonists? Honestly that seems as farfetched as 1940s America allowing female recruits...
Overall, I think this series was novel in concept, well-researched, and had easy-to-relate-to main characters with, honestly, just the dumbest names. Ever. So dumb. It kept pace pretty well, with some lulls in book two, and had a nice conclusion that answered all your questions. I wish it had left some of the romance parts out ("there's no googly eyes in here! This is a war room!") but those were luckily few and far between in this book. One nice takeaway is that I've put this in the hands of at least three male teens who love WWII books and were legitimately interested in how "fighting girls would have changed things", as one put it. I think a book with kickass female soldiers written by a man is a nice step towards getting boys to read more books with female MCs, which is a huge step towards equality in YA lit. What if more male authors wrote strong, non- manicpixiedreamgirl female protagonists? Honestly that seems as farfetched as 1940s America allowing female recruits...
May 10, 2018
Wow just wow this Trilogy just keeps getting better.
Purple hearts continues to Buck the cliches of World War II fiction. It refuses to shy away from the ugly reality of the racial climate in early 20th century America. It also gives sympathetic characters realistic and nuanced biases, it's clear that strand isn't the kind of virulent angry obvious sort of sexist you often see in historical fiction but rather stuck in a mindset he grew up with and now cannot reconcile the new Rio with. Rainy is shown to be stuck in her Northern bubble unaware of how bad African Americans had it. On the other hand it avoids the tendency to defang the Nazis an attempt to look at them complexly when they encountered Nazis close-up it's clear that they are people but it does not downplay the evil of their actions. It also Kills off named characters rather than choosing to keep death to nameless extras making the anguish of the characters all the more real because you have come to love these characters yourself.
The love triangle I had head issue with in the past two books is brilliantly resolved it makes perfect sense for the characters and avoids the cliche where the center of the triangle strings along to perfectly nice people because she "just can't decide"
much like in the first two books characters change in both good and bad ways Juno in particular surprise me in her development. There were a few new characters introduced and I thought most of them were very well written.
This Trilogy is remarkably Timely there was a particular segment in the very beginning in which the narrator quickly and bluntly dismantles many of the arguments you still see against women in combat. Women and minorities are still fighting to get all of their accomplishments recognized and to be taken as seriously is white able-bodied cisgendered Christian men. The social battle these characters were fighting in the fictional 40s is a battle we are still fighting in the real world 21st century and I think it's really important for fiction especially teen fiction to address this.
The only thing I could possibly think of to take issue with is the fact that there were a couple characters that seem to be introduced just to be killed off but I don't mind all that much because it helped highlight the brutality and tragedy of World War II and therefore wasn't pointless or an empty stab at being tear-jerking.
I'm really sad that I'm done with this trilogy especially because I can't seem to find anyone talking about it or writing or making art. This premise opens up so many cool options for fan media but I found next to nothing. I want a movie I'm not entirely certain how they'll fit everything in but I still want to move it. It would be so gratifying to see a War epic starring women and especially starring a Jewish woman and a woman of color. Wonder Woman and black panther have proven that female and minority lead movies can be exceptionally successful.
Purple hearts continues to Buck the cliches of World War II fiction. It refuses to shy away from the ugly reality of the racial climate in early 20th century America. It also gives sympathetic characters realistic and nuanced biases, it's clear that strand isn't the kind of virulent angry obvious sort of sexist you often see in historical fiction but rather stuck in a mindset he grew up with and now cannot reconcile the new Rio with. Rainy is shown to be stuck in her Northern bubble unaware of how bad African Americans had it. On the other hand it avoids the tendency to defang the Nazis an attempt to look at them complexly when they encountered Nazis close-up it's clear that they are people but it does not downplay the evil of their actions. It also Kills off named characters rather than choosing to keep death to nameless extras making the anguish of the characters all the more real because you have come to love these characters yourself.
The love triangle I had head issue with in the past two books is brilliantly resolved it makes perfect sense for the characters and avoids the cliche where the center of the triangle strings along to perfectly nice people because she "just can't decide"
much like in the first two books characters change in both good and bad ways Juno in particular surprise me in her development. There were a few new characters introduced and I thought most of them were very well written.
This Trilogy is remarkably Timely there was a particular segment in the very beginning in which the narrator quickly and bluntly dismantles many of the arguments you still see against women in combat. Women and minorities are still fighting to get all of their accomplishments recognized and to be taken as seriously is white able-bodied cisgendered Christian men. The social battle these characters were fighting in the fictional 40s is a battle we are still fighting in the real world 21st century and I think it's really important for fiction especially teen fiction to address this.
The only thing I could possibly think of to take issue with is the fact that there were a couple characters that seem to be introduced just to be killed off but I don't mind all that much because it helped highlight the brutality and tragedy of World War II and therefore wasn't pointless or an empty stab at being tear-jerking.
I'm really sad that I'm done with this trilogy especially because I can't seem to find anyone talking about it or writing or making art. This premise opens up so many cool options for fan media but I found next to nothing. I want a movie I'm not entirely certain how they'll fit everything in but I still want to move it. It would be so gratifying to see a War epic starring women and especially starring a Jewish woman and a woman of color. Wonder Woman and black panther have proven that female and minority lead movies can be exceptionally successful.
October 28, 2019
There are no words to truly describe how amazing this trio of books are. They were utterly superb.
December 2, 2019
It's the end of this series and it saddens me. I really enjoyed this. Grant did such a great job portraying each character and the gruesome atrocities of this war. He really brings you into the story and you begin to feel all of the emotions of each character through their journeys of these 3 years. I was upset in the end that Rio was not with Jack, but it was summed up in the obituaries at least. I would have liked to read about their story when they finally met up again. I still can't believe she actually married that POS Strand, but we have to make mistakes to learn from them eh? I really enjoyed that we came back to each character later on in their thirties and saw what they did with their lives after the war. My goodness Geer had a huge family! I will be looking into more titles from this author, after having enjoyed this series so much. I definitely recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews