Sounds of War
Author: Cindy Chen
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Date Published: September 19, 2014
Book Description:
People were dying. Bodies were lying along the streets. Air raid sirens were about to go off at any moment. Nobody was shown any mercy. For Anna, life had always been about music. An aspiring pianist and composer, she studied at the renowned Leningrad Conservatoire under some of the greatest musicians to ever walk the face of the Earth. Her studies came to a halt, however, when Nazi troops surrounded Leningrad in September, 1941, intending to shell and starve the city into submission. She watched as her oncebeautiful city transformed in front of her eyes: people became living skeletons, their only food being a mere 125 grams of ration bread a day; buildings were reduced to rubble, pieces of bricks and broken glass strewn along the streets; cats, dogs, rats, and horses disappeared as people chose to eat them instead. One by one, the citizens of Leningrad were losing hope, and Anna was desperately trying to find a reason to hold on and a way to continue… Sounds of War is a poignant tale about the strength of human determination and the power of great music.
Author: Cindy Chen
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Date Published: September 19, 2014
Book Description:
People were dying. Bodies were lying along the streets. Air raid sirens were about to go off at any moment. Nobody was shown any mercy. For Anna, life had always been about music. An aspiring pianist and composer, she studied at the renowned Leningrad Conservatoire under some of the greatest musicians to ever walk the face of the Earth. Her studies came to a halt, however, when Nazi troops surrounded Leningrad in September, 1941, intending to shell and starve the city into submission. She watched as her oncebeautiful city transformed in front of her eyes: people became living skeletons, their only food being a mere 125 grams of ration bread a day; buildings were reduced to rubble, pieces of bricks and broken glass strewn along the streets; cats, dogs, rats, and horses disappeared as people chose to eat them instead. One by one, the citizens of Leningrad were losing hope, and Anna was desperately trying to find a reason to hold on and a way to continue… Sounds of War is a poignant tale about the strength of human determination and the power of great music.
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EXCERPT
Isaak spoke like there was no danger in Leningrad, like his life would simply continue on as it always had, with classes and schoolwork and music and discussions. Like the only difference would be that I wouldn’t be there to play duets with him before class, or to greet him at the tram in the mornings, or to walk with him to the station when classes were over.
We walked the rest of the way in silence, and as we passed the Hermitage, I saw the artworks in the museum getting packed up and taken away. I couldn’t help but remember the times my father took me to the museum to “broaden my horizons” beyond music. I learned a few days ago that the museum, once emptied, would serve as a bomb shelter.
I didn’t know what terrified me more: the possibility that the city would be bombed or that I wouldn’t be with my mother and Isaak if it happened. The authorities assured us that the city was well prepared for anything the Germans might attempt, but I wasn’t ready to take their word for it.
About the Author
A Taiwan native, Cindy Chen immigrated to the United States when she was 9 and lived there ever since. She started writing at age fourteen and started writing longer works of fiction in 2013 when she first participated in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). At age sixteen, she was awarded second place at the Georgia PTA Reflections contest in the literature category with her short story “To Believe,” and at age seventeen, she published her first book titled Sounds of War as part of her high school senior project. Though currently a student at Cornell University with the hopes of pursuing a career in the medical field, she enjoys playing the viola, blogging, and making youtube videos in her spare time and considers writing one of her greatest passions.
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***GIVEAWAY***
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The book description and excerpt sounds intriguing. Thanks for sharing. Love the cover too.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting
ReplyDeleteI like that it sounds very interesting and captivating!
ReplyDeletei actually really like the use of language, it sort of sounds like the way my dad talks.
ReplyDeleteI would love to read this book because most of my family are musicians and we appreciate the power of music.
ReplyDeleteI like the synopsis it sounds very good ix of history and music
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued by the setting: the siege of Leningrad was an incredible forge for testing the human spirit.
ReplyDeleteI'm fascinated by the siege of Leningrad .
ReplyDeleteseeing how people act when trying to survive
ReplyDeleteI do love Historical Fiction. Terrifying to be in Leningrad at that time.
ReplyDeleteThe seine of Leningrad.is interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe seine of Leningrad.is interesting.
ReplyDeleteI've never read a book like this before, but it sounds interesting. I like that it's abut a young musician.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds like it would make history real. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteIt is intriguing to me because I am into anything ww2. The premise kind of reminds me of the movie Pianist with Adrian Brody. I will definitely read this
ReplyDeleteThe time period intrigues me.
ReplyDeleteI love the year this would have taken place.
ReplyDeleteTotally the cover :)
ReplyDeleteThe cover is intriguing
ReplyDeleteThe book description sounds very interesting. I'm impressed that it was written by someone so young.
ReplyDeleteThe excerpt is what most intrigues me about this book.
ReplyDeleteThe time period and setting intrigue me. Anna sounds like a good character.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting.
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued to learn how music will play a part to save them! And will it be Anna's own music to do so!
ReplyDelete