Benioff turns his grandfather's stories of surviving the infamous Siege of Leningrad into a wise and touching novel of coming of age. The 17-year-old Lev and his charismatic buddy Kolya, held captive by the Germans, are sent out to bring back a dozen eggs in order to save themselves from execution, just one thrilling mission in this page-turning tale. By turns insightful and funny, thrilling and terrifying, City of Thieves is a gripping, cinematic World War II adventure and an intimate coming-of-age story with an contemporary feel for how boys become men.  (RUS380, $15.00)