Boris

During the Siege of Leningrad in 1942, Boris and his friend, Nadia, are trying to keep themselves and their families alive off what little food they had. Nadia's brother told her where she could find some potatoes. She and Boris went off in search of them. They never found the potatoes. Three days later Nadia died. A few weeks after Nadia died the Russians made a break in the German lines and trains were able to bring food for the children. Boris couldn't wait to share his package with his mother.

Boris, and his friend Nadia, are living through the WWII German seige of Leningrad,and Boris' father has died in the heroic effort to bring food into the city. Boris, Nadia, and all of Leningrad are starving. Bodies are carried off daily, and the children never know if they, or a family member, will be next. The children make a desperate attempt to find potatoes rumored to be in no man's land near the enemy lines. They colapse in the snow, and a German soldier risks his life to save theirs. Boris learns that even in war, sometimes the enemy can be a friend, and has the courage to show this to the people of Leningrad.The book is a powerful tale of humanity in a brutal war. Its an easy read for a 9-12 year old, but also enjoyable for adults. The postscript suggests it is a true story told to the author in later years by Boris himself.I first ran across this book because a few chapters were reprinted in a middle school literature book. They were so moving, I sought out this hard-to-come-by children's novel in the library of each new town I came to, and read it to students in the classroom.