I didn't even realize this was considered "young adult" history, but I guess the style is less dense than "adult" history books. Still, adults will benefit and enjoy this book equally well since Anderson tells this story in a very colloquial, conversational manner. I highly appreciated that pictures were scattered around the text instead of lumped together in the middle, because you could easily reference them, though I wish there was some way to do so with the music - I resorted to YouTube to play the symphonies and string quartets as they were being discussed. Even so, I could really feel the power that Shostakovich's music had for Leningrad, Russia, and the Allies in such a devastating time. I'm equally glad that Anderson framed it as a sort of biography of both Shostakovich and the city of Leningrad, speaking of them before the war and post-war, because I think that helped me understand why his seventh symphony resonated so strongly. A highly recommended read for anyone (young or not young) who is interested in Russian or WWII history and/or music.