The Boy on the Bridge

The Boy on the Bridge by Natalie Standiford follows Laura who is living in Leningrad for a semester abroad in 1982.  She is living a strange life, always watched by those around her.  One day while walking she meets a boy Alexi and with him as her guide she discovers the real Russia.  Can she get away with leaving the carefully controlled world that she's allowed to live in as an exchange student?  Is Alexi really in love with her or is he just using her.

I adored this book, Standiford did a fantastic job of putting the reader in cold war Russia.  You could feel the poverty, paranoia and cold.   Laura was a bit naive and foolish and I kept yelling at her to think but couldn't help but understand the love and adventure she felt with Alexi.  I coudn't put the book down and hope to read more by the author. 

Appropriateness:  Laura is a grad student so there's a touch of adult content.  It is still very much a YA book and I would recommend it to readers 13+