This is not my usual read however now I am literally making people read this novel. I was transported into Lev's world during that horrible Russian winter and I experienced all that he saw and did. This story alternated between making me laugh at their teen boy antics to being disturbed at the horror the characters see/hear. I think Zoya's death will stay with me for a long time, when it happened I had to put the book down and walk away. I don't think I've hated a character as fast as I did Abendroth. The relationship between Lev and Kolya are the utter highlight of the novel until you can't imagine a time when they were not friends. You'll laugh, get angry and cry.