https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl Burhan Brula en-us 2017-10-12 17:39:21 UTC 2025-10-24 02:55:15 UTC hello@padlet.com burhanulhaq_brula https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/197129907 2017-10-15 16:30:33 UTC https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/197129907 burhanulhaq_brula https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/197130488 The setting is 1942 Leningrad, during World War 2 and the peak of the war. The Germans have invaded Russia and most Russians are struggling for survival, many died from starvation.
"In June 1941, before the Germans came, we thought we were poor. But June seemed like paradise by winter."
"There was no more scrap wood in Leningrad." 
"The pigeons were missing, caught and stewed..."
"No one could afford to feed a pet, so they decided to let the pet feed them."]]> 2017-10-15 16:35:29 UTC https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/197130488 burhanulhaq_brula https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/197132739 The main character is Lev Beniov,  a skinny, 17 year old boy who is stuck in his idea of his his own heroic destiny. When the Germans invaded, he decided to stay and help defend the city instead of fleeing like his mother and sister.
"I was a runt from birth, big nosed, black haired, skin scribbled with acne..."
"I would defend my city, I would be a Nevsky for the twentieth century."
"I believed in the cause; I would not flee the enemy; I would not miss out on the triumph."]]> 2017-10-15 16:53:53 UTC https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/197132739 burhanulhaq_brula https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/197136646 2017-10-15 17:26:56 UTC https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/197136646 burhanulhaq_brula https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/197136767 The antagonists in the book are nature and World War 2. This is because World War 2 caused all the problems to begin with, but nature makes his task-which is to find a dozen eggs- all the much harder. 
"In peacetime eggs were everywhere. Now people forget what eggs even are."

"It felt as if everything was going against us, we just needed some damn eggs."]]> 2017-10-15 17:27:46 UTC https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/197136767 burhanulhaq_brula https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/197137827 2017-10-15 17:36:52 UTC https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/197137827 burhanulhaq_brula https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/197167614 The theme of the story is that growing up isn't easy, you have to embrace many changes both physically and psychologically.

I think this because, at the beginning of the book, Lev always dreams about being a Russian hero and is always lost in his own heroic destiny. As he grows up, he learns that not everyone can be great, but he, like many others, need to play their parts.

"But I wasn't leaving Piter. I was a man, I would defend my city, I would be a Nevsky for the twentieth century."

"So many great Russians endured long stretches in prison. That night I learned I would never be a great Russian."

"Don't worry, my friend. I won't let you die."
I was seventeen and stupid and I believed him.

]]> 2017-10-15 21:59:58 UTC https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/197167614 burhanulhaq_brula https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/197485034 2017-10-16 17:38:55 UTC https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/197485034 burhanulhaq_brula https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/197489356 Overall, I think that the book was very good. Although the book was very much for adults, which can be explained by the characters knack for the opposite gender and the swear words on every other page, it was a good book. The writing style of the author was really smooth, he made everything blend together and every part of the story connected with another. The book was very well organized too. Every event in the story interlocked with the previous. The book was surprisingly believable, although the objective of the characters was unlikely. The ending was also a big twist-and a good one. It may have been sad but it gave more meaning to the story. The story would not have been complete without it. I would recommend this book to anyone above the age of 13 due to its use of explicit language and use of "affection" towards the opposite gender. Despite that, however, the storyline of the book was very intriguing and made the reader want to keep reading. The book also teaches you a lot about life and changes your outlook on certain topics. Overall, I would certainly recommend this book.]]> 2017-10-16 17:45:23 UTC https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/197489356 burhanulhaq_brula https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/199274757 2017-10-21 15:04:32 UTC https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/199274757 burhanulhaq_brula https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/199274966 2017-10-21 15:06:33 UTC https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/199274966 burhanulhaq_brula https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/199275128 2017-10-21 15:08:12 UTC https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/199275128 burhanulhaq_brula https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/199275244 One character who displayed leadership was the main characters new best friend, Kolya. He was the driving force behind the entire journey. He has a knack for getting out of tight situations, which came in handy numerous times. His wisdom for survival was unparalleled by any other character. He is also always very cool, calm and collected. Even after Lev and Kolya ran out of the cannibals' (People ate whatever they had to to survive) house (They were tricked into coming in) he was still calm.
"We ran, and whenever I faltered or nearly tripped on a slick step, Kolya's hand was there to steady me. I heard the shouting above us, the monstrous cannibals thudding down the steps behind us., but I never ran faster. In the midst of all that terror, the shouts and the footfalls and the squeal of our heels on the wooden steps, there was something else, something strange. Kolya was laughing."

Another example is when Lev and Kolya met up with some other Russians and were planning to assassinate a squad of German officers. 
"No one argued with Kolya, we all knew that he knew what he was doing."

Overall, Kolya was a very good leader. Without him, it is highly unlikely Lev would've survived at all. He carried the team with his confidence, wisdom, and humor. He was a very likable guy too. His only real downside was, like most characters, his habit of getting a little too close with the opposite gender. ]]> 2017-10-21 15:09:44 UTC https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/199275244 burhanulhaq_brula https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/199278654 2017-10-21 15:49:35 UTC https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/199278654 burhanulhaq_brula https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/199278766 2017-10-21 15:51:06 UTC https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/199278766 burhanulhaq_brula https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/199278877 2017-10-21 15:52:17 UTC https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/199278877 burhanulhaq_brula https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/199279301 2017-10-21 15:56:22 UTC https://padlet.com/burhanulhaq_brula/swcrz18ed2wl/wish/199279301