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.

Historical fiction

Boris is a child in Leningrad during the Siege of 1942-43. His fight for survival, not simply in body but also in spirit, is extraordinarily well-written by Dutch historian Jaap ter Haar. The gruesome aspects of the 500 days are softened without losing authenticity or the power to move the reader to a broader view of compassion in war.

My 5th and 6th grade students are astounded by the child's experiences and his eventual view of war and human goodness. When reading Boris we also watch the World At War segment on the Siege of Leningrad. Some of the scenes in the newsreel footage seem to include Boris.

Written in graceful prose, it is a favorite among our readers. Boris is quite a compelling way to look at human rights and how in the midst of war and hatred some people manage to live honorable lives.

Chosen book of the year in Holland. Boris should be reprinted by Dell Yearling.

I remember finding this book because of the illustrations. Rien van Poortvliet, then popular because of his Gnomes books, had illustrated this volume of Arthurian tales. I cannot say enough about it. Here, stripped down to its essentials, is the entire heart, spirit, and soul of the tales, painfully and lovingly told. I remember going through a period of wanting to learn Dutch in order to read it in the original. From Arthur's birth, to the founding of the Round Table, to the search for the Grail, and the final crashing days of despair, this book follows the warp and weft with an unerring honesty and brilliance matched by few writers. If you are looking for a one-volume overview of the legends, look no further. Read this! Oh, and the illustrations are good, too.