This story of twins, separated when Moscow is evacuated during the Second World War, is told through their fictional diaries, which themselves have been annotated by a fictional communist official tasked with deciding whether they are innocent or gulity of crimes agaist the state. The premise itself communicates clearly the ludicrous level of surveillance and punishment - even of children - that went on in Russia at the time, and adds an extra layer of interest for the reader. This intrigue keeps you reading, especially at the start when the story is a little slow and the writing - perhaps due to the translation, perhaps due to the impersonation by the author of 11 year old children - a little laboured. Patience is rewarded, though, as the storytelling picks up pace and we see Russia under Nazi control through the eyes of the most daring. loyal and brave of children. It really is an experience to read this book - one that leaves you with a feeling of having lived through something yourself, with icy fingers and memories of a harrowing journey left etched on your mind. For teens already with a interest in WW2, and a love of historical fiction, this is something a little bit out of the ordinary, and well worth a read.