Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Nov.17, 2013, under Historical Fiction, Sam's Reviews, War
Who would like this book? Serious readers, age
The goods on this book: The Soviet Union invaded Lithuania in 1939 and proceeded to round up many Lithuanians, ultimately causing a third of the entire population to lose their lives. The mother of the author, Ruta Sepetys, survived this ordeal, and her experiences were the inspiration for this very important book. The main character in the story is 15-year-old Lina. Her father, a university professor, is arrested by the Soviet police and taken away. Soon after, Lina, her mother, and her younger brother are forcibly taken from their comfortable home and jammed into a train with other refugees. Living under inhumane conditions with barely enough food and water to stay alive, they are shipped to Siberia and forced to build their own shelter by scavenging materials while working for the Soviet guards who live in comfort. Lina’s mother leads her children and others in maintaining dignity throughout their severe mistreatment, and Lina narrates their story with honest clarity that is heartbreaking and profoundly moving. Lina, through her drawings and descriptions, risks much as she seeks to document the atrocity. Her captivating story is full of details about her own feelings and about the people sharing her ordeal. The Lithuanian genocide did not come to light until after the Soviets lost power in the 1990s, and it is a nightmare that is still not widely known. This book, therefore, is vitally important to read and pass on.
The details: 344 pages; 2011 Review by Samrarian
