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Shurik: A WWII Saga of the Siege of Leningrad
During the Siege of Leningrad in World War II, a young Russian nurse finds Shurik, a near-starved orphan boy, in the rubble of a bombed-out apartment house. How she saves him, cares for him, and eventually submerges her feelings to give him a better life is half of the true story call Shurik. The other half details a boy's journey from a frightened orphan to a young adult capable of caring for others. Together, two victims of larger forces create a family with enough love and sacrifice to endure seemingly endless hardships. Through lively, colorful characters and vivid details, Shurik unveils a WWII saga of unprecedented compassion and perseverance. (51/4 X 81/4, 220 pages, b&w photos, maps)
220 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 29, 2016
My 13 yo was assigned to read this for an online WWII class this term. I was intrigued. I've never read anything about what happened in Russia during WWII.
This book was written for the YA crowd so it wasn't too graphic or horrifying (circumstances, yes, but overall feel, no). The author wrote another book for adults on the 900 day siege of Leningrad that might be more terrifying in detail, maybe? I would say this book is suitable probably for the over 12 crowd who aren't prone to panic attacks or nightmares. It's not as graphic as The Hiding Place if that gives you any indication.
I must humbly admit that I am not a history buff, and certainly not a war history buff. I'm sure my husband and son would have many things to say about this terrible time in Russia, but I had no idea there even was a 900 day siege in Leningrad (oh, so shameful). Anyway, it was horrifying. In the introduction it estimated that of the 3 million prewar inhabitants maybe, maybe 1/3 survived the bitter cold and starvation. The first winter of siege was the coldest winter in memory, often -45 F. All the electricity was gone, the pipes were all frozen, the people were burning all their furniture and having to go to the dirty, polluted river to break the ice for water. Their food ration was 2 pieces of bread a day, bread made of sawdust, flour swept from dirty mill floors, cellulose, rotten barley, whatever they had.
Anyway, despite that this book, like The Hiding Place is about a horrid, horrid time in history, the feel of it was very hopeful and enriching. I came away from it with positive feelings about humanity's power of endurance and compassion. I wasn't ready for it to end because I had become so engrossed in the characters. This is a true story, written as it was lived by the author. I want to know more about what happened to Shurik and what happened to Kyra for the remainder of the war and afterward. She very nonchalantly describes her duties and how she lived during that time, but to me, it seems absolutely heroic and absolutely not typical.
All in all this is one of those books that make one feel that personal trials are not very tough. We're at -8F here today and I have so much to be grateful for, especially a working furnace and running water and abundant FOOD! Not to mention clean water, adequate clothing, healthy family, sufficient finances, safe transportation, oh, and how about peace...
This book was written for the YA crowd so it wasn't too graphic or horrifying (circumstances, yes, but overall feel, no). The author wrote another book for adults on the 900 day siege of Leningrad that might be more terrifying in detail, maybe? I would say this book is suitable probably for the over 12 crowd who aren't prone to panic attacks or nightmares. It's not as graphic as The Hiding Place if that gives you any indication.
I must humbly admit that I am not a history buff, and certainly not a war history buff. I'm sure my husband and son would have many things to say about this terrible time in Russia, but I had no idea there even was a 900 day siege in Leningrad (oh, so shameful). Anyway, it was horrifying. In the introduction it estimated that of the 3 million prewar inhabitants maybe, maybe 1/3 survived the bitter cold and starvation. The first winter of siege was the coldest winter in memory, often -45 F. All the electricity was gone, the pipes were all frozen, the people were burning all their furniture and having to go to the dirty, polluted river to break the ice for water. Their food ration was 2 pieces of bread a day, bread made of sawdust, flour swept from dirty mill floors, cellulose, rotten barley, whatever they had.
Anyway, despite that this book, like The Hiding Place is about a horrid, horrid time in history, the feel of it was very hopeful and enriching. I came away from it with positive feelings about humanity's power of endurance and compassion. I wasn't ready for it to end because I had become so engrossed in the characters. This is a true story, written as it was lived by the author. I want to know more about what happened to Shurik and what happened to Kyra for the remainder of the war and afterward. She very nonchalantly describes her duties and how she lived during that time, but to me, it seems absolutely heroic and absolutely not typical.
All in all this is one of those books that make one feel that personal trials are not very tough. We're at -8F here today and I have so much to be grateful for, especially a working furnace and running water and abundant FOOD! Not to mention clean water, adequate clothing, healthy family, sufficient finances, safe transportation, oh, and how about peace...
August 18, 2010
I didn't want this book to end. The characters were alive and real through the utilization of all the senses and efficient words. My knowledge of The Siege of Leningrad and the history surrounding WW2 is limited and this book presented a good opportunity to get a glimpse. The author must possess a beautiful soul; she found the blessing in the darkness and shared it with us. It is a love story that I cherish. I hope everyone will read "Shurik."
The author lived through the 900 days. She served Leningrad in her late teens and early 20's. She found Shurik, a boy approximate aged 10 who was searching for his mother amidst the rubble of his blown up apartment building, on a bleary walk home from a day of work at the hospital. This personal account is beautiful and straightforwardly written. War is an ugly experience and the author dedicates this book to her grandchildren with hope that they will never have to experience the heartache of it.
The author lived through the 900 days. She served Leningrad in her late teens and early 20's. She found Shurik, a boy approximate aged 10 who was searching for his mother amidst the rubble of his blown up apartment building, on a bleary walk home from a day of work at the hospital. This personal account is beautiful and straightforwardly written. War is an ugly experience and the author dedicates this book to her grandchildren with hope that they will never have to experience the heartache of it.
April 12, 2018
What a book.
It's amazing and shocking to think everything recorded in here really happened. Because of the writing style, I honestly thought this was historical fiction for most of the book, rather than an autobiography.
Now knowing it's an autobiography, this makes the events of the book that much sadder (especially the ending). I can't even imagine being taken away from a creative career in order to become part of a hospital's staff, and then taking in a young boy when you're not even receiving enough food for yourself... While the note at the end talks a little about what happened to her after, I have to wonder where Shurik ended up. He did so much to help the lives of others just by being himself.
This book shows that even in the worst of times, there can be goodness and good people.
It's amazing and shocking to think everything recorded in here really happened. Because of the writing style, I honestly thought this was historical fiction for most of the book, rather than an autobiography.
Now knowing it's an autobiography, this makes the events of the book that much sadder (especially the ending). I can't even imagine being taken away from a creative career in order to become part of a hospital's staff, and then taking in a young boy when you're not even receiving enough food for yourself... While the note at the end talks a little about what happened to her after, I have to wonder where Shurik ended up. He did so much to help the lives of others just by being himself.
This book shows that even in the worst of times, there can be goodness and good people.
May 6, 2025
I first read this little book when I was in the 8th grade, and I've never forgotten it. It was fun to find a copy and read it again, to see what had made such an impression on me. The setting of the siege of Leningrad is unforgettable, with all the privations, violence, and courage that entails. Shurik, and the little puppy, are also much as I remembered them. I wish I knew what happened to Shurik after the war, if he and Kyra were ever reunited, how he fared in the long aftermath of WWII (we know that Kyra made it to the U.S. and had a long life).
This is a small, deeply human story from a terrible hour of history, and I'm not surprised it made a deep impression on me in my adolescence.
This is a small, deeply human story from a terrible hour of history, and I'm not surprised it made a deep impression on me in my adolescence.
May 19, 2020
Incredible story. I read this aloud to my husband. I really knew nothing of the Siege of Leningrad so just factually I found it interesting, but the story itself of Kyra finding an orphan boy in the rubble, their relationship and his character was very moving. I wish I knew more about what happened to him.
September 25, 2019
5* easy! I couldn’t put this book down. What a story! Well written and the fact it’s based on a true story makes it that much better.
Read
April 1, 2021Wow, that was so interesting and factual. I was so excited to read about the ways they managed to exist on what they had. I was happy that Shurik ended up with a good life.
August 9, 2010
I didn't want this book to end. The characters were alive and real through the utilization of all the senses and efficient words. My knowledge of The Siege of Leningrad and the history surrounding WW2 is limited and this book presented a good opportunity to get a glimpse. The author must possess a beautiful soul; she found the blessing in the darkness and shared it with us. It is a love story that I cherish. I hope everyone will read "Shurik."
The author lived through the 900 days. She served Leningrad in her late teens and early 20's. She found Shurik, a boy approximate aged 10 who was searching for his mother amidst the rubble of his blown up apartment building, on a bleary walk home from a day of work at the hospital. This personal account is beautiful and straightforwardly written. War is an ugly experience and the author dedicates this book to her grandchildren with hope that they will never have to experience the heartache of it.
The author lived through the 900 days. She served Leningrad in her late teens and early 20's. She found Shurik, a boy approximate aged 10 who was searching for his mother amidst the rubble of his blown up apartment building, on a bleary walk home from a day of work at the hospital. This personal account is beautiful and straightforwardly written. War is an ugly experience and the author dedicates this book to her grandchildren with hope that they will never have to experience the heartache of it.
July 1, 2012
This is the autobiography of Kyra Petrovskaya, a Russian actress, who reveals the early details of her life with a focus on the Siege of Leningrad. The story intrigues me because you follow a series of events which take the Russians from a near European lifestyle to and through the German invasion of Russia. It is like a "you were there" look at the siege of a city. In the sequel, Shurik, she goes into more detail of the siege, the starvation, the forced labor, the shortages, the horrific winters with no water, no power, no heat, no food. She takes you for walks through the destroyed city, stepping over corpses, rescuing the injured while struggling for the survival of body, mind AND spirit. Very moving accounts.
January 29, 2016
This is the story of a young boy during the German siege of Leningrad during World War II. The city was surrounded for 900 days and the people dropped dead on the streets from starvation. Even leather belts and briefcases were boiled and eaten. Precious books were used as firewood. In 2000 we visited the city and saw the museum that honors the people of that time. A sample bread ration was displayed that looked about the size of a stick of butter. During this time experts were trying to save the Hermitage Museum and its masterpieces. One that disappeared was the room of amber. Russia still says that the Germans took it and it has never been found.
July 12, 2012
This true story gave a very interesting first-hand account of the siege of Leningrad during WWII. The highly-descriptive narrative and style did not gel with my personal taste. Characters felt two-dimensional. I desired a brief epilogue to follow-up with Shurik, Kyra and/or the people of Leningrad as a whole after the siege ended. Half of the book takes place apart from Shurik's story, so the title really should have been Kyra, not Shurik.
January 13, 2016
The author lets her readers know from the beginning that she and Shurik lost touch after the war, and that's all I could think about as I finished this book. It made the ending even sadder.
This was very eye-opening for what the people of Leningrad endured during the siege, and it was also a great story about a remarkable (and remarkably lucky) boy. It was also very steeped with Russian culture and morals, which were fascinating.
This was very eye-opening for what the people of Leningrad endured during the siege, and it was also a great story about a remarkable (and remarkably lucky) boy. It was also very steeped with Russian culture and morals, which were fascinating.
September 5, 2014
I read the first edition of this real-life story about the siege of Leningrad 30+ years ago and it really opened my world view. While I found it in my 6th grade classroom, it could be unsettling to some kids who aren't aware of the realities of war, especially to civilians. It made enough of an impact that I thought a reread was in order.
December 30, 2023
I was read this book in Grade 7 by my grade 7 English teacher in Canada. I remember not wanting it to end. Now a teacher myself, I am reading it to my grade 7/8/9 English students. Of all the books we’ve read, this one is definitely one of their favourites. I work in a bilingual school in Switzerland and also teach History.
July 4, 2008
My mom attended an author discussion of this book many, many years ago, when I was in junior high school. She purchased a copy for me and had it autographed by the author. And so begins my obsession with owning autographed books!
March 24, 2008
Childhood Favorite
August 11, 2016
read it as a child, no memory of it.
September 21, 2022
One of my all time favourite books from my childhood. Searched everywhere and was so happy when internet shopping made it possible to find this again and own it.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews