• Age: 12 to 18
• Grade: 7 to 12
• Reading age: 13 to 18

When fifteen-year-old Elizabeth finds an antique doll in a garage sale, she thinks it would be a good gift for her dad who's about to ship out for Afghanistan. She doesn’t realize that the doll might be a missing (and very valuable) historical artifact. With the help of Evan, the cute guy who works at the local used bookstore, Elizabeth discovers that the doll is THE soldier doll: the inspiration for a famous World War I poem. Elizabeth becomes the newest link in an epic history of more than a century of war, her story ingeniously interwoven with a cast of characters who we follow from World War I to Nazi Germany in the 1930s, a Czech concentration camp during World War II, Vietnam in 1970, and the aftermath of September 11th.

Jennifer Gold is a lawyer and mother of two and the author of the YA novels Soldier Doll and Undiscovered Country. A history buff, she also has degrees in psychology, law, and public health. She lives with her family in Toronto.

Jennifer Gold's profile page

• Short-listed, Ontario Library Association White Pine Award
• Long-listed, YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults List
• Commended, Bank Street College's "Best Children's Books of the Year" (Historical Fiction)

Gold has developed an amazingly unbiased portrayal of recent wartime tragedies in our civilization. Teachers, librarians, and parents are encouraged to share this timely and inspiring novel with mature children and all young adults as we reflect on the 100th anniversary of World War I.

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

The ambience of the historical periods, the character’s mannerisms and attitudes from the past – I stepped into those worlds and really tasted how unfair war is. As a debut novel this one is a wonderful accomplishment and I look forward to whatever Gold comes out with next.

The Book Wars blog

Soldier Doll is an excellent book that will draw young readers into stories of the past without even noticing they're learning about history. (Starred Review)

Quill & Quire

Gold artfully weaves together relevant snapshots of past wars in Europe and Vietnam with more recent conflicts as she traces the doll’s journey… Genuine and plausible historical connections to the soldier doll coupled with a highly engaging writing style make for a compelling narrative.

Professionally Speaking

Along with penetrating insights into the feelings of those who went to fight, stayed behind or just became victims of circumstance, Gold supplies enough historical background to give readers an understanding of the complex events and rationales that drove each war. A memorable debut, both timely and universal in its themes

Kirkus Reviews

Soldier Doll is an insightful and compassionate contemplation about war that wisely does not preach or take sides, but allows each of the characters, in their unique historical settings, to speak for themselves.

AJL Reviews

[Soldier Doll] is a unique book and an interesting read....Recommended for high school and mature middle school students.

Kutztown University Book Review

While the war action is restrained, [Soldier Doll] still captures life on the battlefields and the heartaches and joys of the various people who interacted with the doll down the years…. I dove into the mystery and loved watching Gold weave the different stories together into a complete whole.

Kiss the Book blog

Gold’s gentle prose and well-defined characters from each era make the complicated plot easy to navigate... An uplifting story of high interest to historical fiction fans.

Booklist

Well-researched...virtually cinematic. Superb writing...amazingly unbiased portrayal of recent wartime tragedies in our civilization.

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

As readers are drawn into the story and the well-developed characters, they will gain an understanding of the pain caused by war and will be prompted to consider complex ideas of conflict resolution and justice.

Resource Links

[Jennifer Gold] manages to maintain a note of hopefulness and uplift.... Undoubtedly, it will provoke thoughtful discussion.

Jewish Book World

Jennifer Gold is very astute in using the doll as the focus for discussions of life and death, war and peace, and responsibility and honour.

CanLit for Little Canadians