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=__** City of Thieves **__= =__** By: David Benioff **__=

**__About the Book:__** //City of Thieves//, by David Benioff, was published in 2008 by Penguin Group. This story takes place in Russia during WWII. The two main characters, Lev and Kolya, meet each other after Lev is thrown in jail for looting off of a dead Nazi soldier. When the two go to be sentenced to their punishments, the Russian colonel gives them a task to redeem themselves. Because there is little food left, due to the German blockade, the colonel sends the boys on a mission to find a dozen eggs for his daughter’s wedding cake. Lev and Koyla, eager to escape the death penalty, gladly accept and head on their way. On their expedition, they encounter a variety of people, from old friends to cannibals. The two grow closer together, as they draw closer to what will inevitably save their lives.

__**About the Author:**__ David Benioff is a graduate of Dartmouth College with a degree in English. He has written other books, such as //25th Hour// (2001) and //Stay// (2005). Though these books were popular, most readers agree that //City of Thieves// is his greatest literary achievement. Before he was a writer, he worked as a bouncer and a DJ for his local bars and clubs. He currently has a wife Amanda, and two daughters, Molly and Frances. In addition to books, Benioff also writes screen plays, and was involved in the making of "The Kite Runner" and "Game of Thrones." He won the SFX Award in 2011 for Best New TV Show for his work with "The Game of Thrones."

__Lev__: A young boy from the town of Piter. He is the son of a locally famous Russian poet and was left in Piter while the rest of his family fled the country to escape the Nazis. He is arrested for looting and meets Koyla in jail. He and Kolya then travel to find eggs for the colonel. He is a short, skinny boy with dark hair and a big nose. He is also Jewsish. This background of his also puts him in danger due to the halocaust.
 * __ Main Characters: __**

__Koyla__: An ex-Russian soldier. He was arrested for deserting his troop. When he meets Lev, he acts like a grown-up, because he is older than Lev. He attempts to teach Lev about grownup things, but Lev rarely listens because Koyla is usually unreliable. He is tall and muscular with blonde hair and a carasmatic personality.

**__Conflict__**: The two boys are sent on a mission to find the eggs for the colonel’s daughter’s wedding cake. They go on a search all throughout Russia in order to find these eggs, and run into all sorts of danger along the way. For example, they are attacked by a family of cannibals in the beginning of the novel. Not only are there dangerous people, but is also during the worst winter in Russian history, and they only have eight days to find 12 eggs. Eggs are not only fragile, but are rendered useless when frozen. The boys soon realize that a few days to locate and return twelve of the hardest items to find may be the only way to save them from certain doom. Once being led on a wild goose chase in Leningrad, they travel behind the German lines in order to find the eggs that they desperately need. This ups the danger for Lev, because he is Jewish.

**__Theme__**: Though two people may seem to come from differing backgrounds, their common struggles can pull them together and bring them closer to accomplishing a common goal.

**__Style Analysis__**: This book uses vivid imagery, as well as some "colorful" language, to convey the importance and the danger of the events taking place in this story. Obviously an attempt at the nearly impossible is a big deal, but it becomes bigger when lives are on the line. The use of these words in Lev and Koyla's dialogue indicates to the reader the ugency of the events taking place. The imagery in this novel also helps the reader to see the impact the setting has on the saftey of the characters. The boys find themselves in a market in one scene. The imagery used by Benioff helps to show how erie and possibly dangerous the people and objects in this place are. Another example is when they enter the cannibal's house. The description of body parts hanging from chains is a good example of how the Benioff amplifies the danger of the setting with his imagery. The book is also told from the point of view of an older Lev, who is explaining the experience to his grandson David. Benioff inserts himself in the story, which adds to his array of stylistic elements.

__** Interview with the author of this novel: **__ [|DAVID BENIOFF on City of Thieves - Interview, Part I] [|Part II] [|Part III]

__** Awards won: **__ Alex Award (2009), Booklist Editor's Choice: Adult Books for Young Adults (2008)

**__My Review:__** In //City of Thieves//, David Benioff tells the story of two Russian boys that meet each other in prison during WWII. These two boys, rather than being put to death, are given a challenge by the Russian Colonel. Their task is to collect a dozen eggs before his daughter's wedding in a matter of five days. This would be an easy task, if it weren't for the German blockade that cut off all of Russia's imports. When they accept their challenge, they encounter everyone from old friends to cannibals. This story of teamwork and tradgety is one of the best books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. David Benioff's tale of two Russian boys traveling throughout their country to accomplish the impossible is simply wonderful. Good luck putting it down.

__** Works Cited: **__ Benioff, David. //City of Thieves.// New York: Penguin, 2008. Print.

Fishman Boris. "Wartime Rations." Review of //City of Thieves//. New York TImes, 6 July 2008. Web.