The Nightingale Kept Singing

In June of 1941, fifteen-year-old Nadia’s life is centered around her family, writing poetry, and enjoying each day’s predictability during their summer holiday in the village of Lisy Nos. Then Hitler and his Nazis invade. Now only war and danger are predictable. Her parents must return to Leningrad for the defense of the city, and they decide that their children and elderly aunt would be safer in the village. However, Nadia is determined to help defend her homeland. She sneaks away and lies about her age to dig trenches near the western front. She is wounded when enemy pilots attack and is befriended by a medic. Within weeks, German troops and tanks surround the city, their bombers destroy the food warehouses, and they blockade Leningrad to stop the entry of food and supplies and the evacuation of civilians. More than two million citizens struggle to defend their beloved city, report to work, and survive on shrinking rations. In Lisy Nos, Nadia and her family forage for edible roots and plants, making soup with whatever they can find, including wallpaper, mice, even their pet goat. It is not enough. Her sister and her elderly aunt die. The last thing she expects is the appearance of her friend Misha, injured and blanketed with snow. He too is weak from hunger, but his companionship cheers both Nadia and her little brother, in spite of their grief. But they have no food or fuel for the stove. Their cannot stay in Lisy Nos, but home in Leningrad is 30 kilometers away. She’s not sure the three of them have the strength to endure such a trip, but Nadia is determined. She will do whatever she has to--whatever the risk--to save her family from starvation and the war.