City of Thieves, the second novel by David Benioff, is one of the most original books I have read in a long time.

The story of main character Lev Beniov and sidekick Kolya as they scour through Leningrad during the Nazi siege of the city in search of a dozen eggs is funny, gripping and heartbreaking.

Lev is just an average Leningrad teenager, but once he's arrested for looting the dead body of an ejected pilot, his whole world is turned upside down. After spending a night in prison, Lev and his cellmate, Kolya, a deserter, are granted their freedom on one condition: They must find a dozen eggs for the wedding cake of a powerful Soviet colonel. It's an impossible task that eventually leads the pair into Nazi occupied territory.

As Lev and Kolya attempt to secure the eggs, they are faced with all sorts of different challenges. They barely escape the jaws of a couple of cannibals and temporarily join forces with a group of Russian partisans.

Not only is City of Thieves a thrilling read, but it's also a touching coming of age story with quite a few laughs thrown in. I was really excited to read this book and thankfully, it didn't disappoint. I guess it's a New York Times Bestseller for a reason.

Tori Velarde is a senior at Santa Fe High School. You can reach her at tori@velardenm.com