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, deciding their children and elderly aunt should stay safely in the village. However, Nadia sneaks away to dig trenches near the western front, is wounded when enemy planes attack, then befriended by a medic. Soon German troops and tanks surround the city, the food warehouses are destroyed, and they blockade Leningrad so no food can enter nor civilians be evacuated. More than two million citizens struggle to defend their beloved city, report to work, and survive on shrinking rations. In the village, when their food is gone, Nadia and her family forage for edible roots and plants. The last thing she expects is the appearance of the same medic, injured and blanketed with snow. His companionship cheers Nadia, in spite of her grief and worries. They will surely starve or freeze to death if she doesn't decide what to do next, but she is determined--whatever the risk--to save her family.