Monday, July 13, 2015

"Between Shades of Gray" by Ruta Sepetys

Title: Between Shades of Gray
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Published: March 22, 2011
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction

"Have you ever wondered what a human life is worth? That morning, my brother's was worth a pocket watch."


'Lithuania, June 1941: Fifteen-year-old Lina is preparing for art school and looking forward to summer. In the dark of night there is a knock at the door and life is forever changed. Soviet secret police arrest Lina her mother, and her younger brother, tearing their family apart. The three are hauled from their home and thrown into cattle cars, where they soon discover their destination: Siberia. Separated from her father, Lina embeds clues in her drawings and secretly passes them along, hoping they will reach her father's prison camp. In this dramatic and moving story, Lina desperately fights for her life and the lives of those around her. But will love be enough to keep her alive?'


I have always been a fan of Historical Fiction, especially stories about WWII. Almost everyone knows about the Holocaust and the atrocities that Hitler committed during the war. What made me want to read this particular book is that it deals with a little-known facet of the war. Hitler wasn't the only leader to transplant and murder millions of people. Joseph Stalin, the leader of Russia at the time, also displaced people who were considered to be anti-Soviet from the countries of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. This included doctors, military servicemen, teachers, lawyers, business owners, and their families. Many were forced into work camps located in Siberia, and those who weren't killed outright, succumbed to the crummy conditions.

Sepetys' novel is written from the perspective of Lina, one of the many who were arrested and taken form their homes.  The book chronicles her journey from prison camp to prison camp, detailing the hardships and loss faced by her and her family. The things she faces are horrifying to read about, and when you consider for a moment that they are based on true facts, it's difficult to not feel a tinge of sadness. 

Lina's character is one that I love to read about in YA novels. She's brave, rebellious, loving, but also distrusting of others who aren't in her immediate family. She is the kind of character that YA readers will find themselves rooting for. Throughout the book, her strong-willed nature and animosity towards the Russians who occupied her country get her into trouble. However, Lina comes to find that things aren't always black and white; she learns instead that world is a more complex shade of gray, which is a lesson that I think we all need to be reminded of once in a while.

The strong characters and wonderful storytelling, in combination with a fascinating historical period and a dash of romance, make Between Shades of Gray a compelling read that any YA and Historical Fiction fan should add to his/her reading list.

Kaylee says:



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