The Burnt-Out Town of Miracles — Roy Jacobsen

It is 1939, and the Soviets have invaded Finland. As everyone else in his village flees, burning down their houses in their wake, Timo remains behind. He is unable to imagine life anywhere else, unable to conceive of doing anything else besides felling the trees near his home. As Finnish forces prepare to take on the brunt of the Soviet army and Timo watches on, the citizens of a nation find themselves dragged into conflict and desperate to find a path back home. Filled with unexpected bravery, feats of survival, and the powerful and forbidden friendships forged during war, this is a powerful novel about the struggle to belong.