Between Shades of Gray

Heartwrenching... beautiful... a story everyone will love

When I flipped over the last page of Between Shades of Gray, all I could say was "WOW".

Everything about Ruta Sepetys's YA debut was heartwrenching and, at the same time, beautiful. There were times when I would smile, but tears would threaten to spill at the same moment.

Throughout the story, I kept thinking back to Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl. But Between Shades of Gray stands out. The story of Anne Frank and all the hundreds of thousands of Jews prosecuted during the Nazi regime is well-known throughout history.
The people from the small countries of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and other countries suffered almost the same way. Sure, they weren't gassed and thrown in concentration camps for the whole world to know. But that's what made it so horrible. The whole world didn't know.

I don't usually re-read books, but so many things happened in Between Shades of Gray that I want to relive to remind myself that the cold winters we face in our warm houses are nothing, compared to what Lina and her people faced. To remind myself that when there isn't enough salt in my lunch, I shouldn't complain.

I recommend Between Shades of Gray to anyone who has read Anne Frank's diary and felt something for her. And if you haven't read her diary, you should still pick this book up.

The efforts Ruta Sepetys put in for researching and compiling such a powerful historical fiction debut have not gone in vain. Pick up a copy of Between Shades of Gray when it debuts in March and relive the events of Stalin's Reign of Terror through a whole new perspective - the eyes of fifteen year old Lina Vilkas.

To me, the cover suggests the heart-wrenching sorrow to follow. It's beautiful, sad, and suggests hope at the same time!

11 out of 11 people found this review helpful.

Don't Miss This Book

When I started to read the outstanding reviews for this book I knew I had to read it. This was a part of history I had never heard of. Stalin had anyone who he thought was anti-communist deported and hauled off to Siberia where they endured some horrible conditions. Some of those deported were lawyers, teachers, bankers..just every day people living their lives. The story is told by Lina, a 15 year old Lithuanian girl. The year is 1941 when the NKVD or Secret Police stormed into Lina's childhood home and rounded up Lina Vilkas, her brother Jonas, and her mother Elena. Her father was feared to have been arrested and taken to prison. They were led away in cattle cars and taken to a prison camp. Conditions there were extremely harsh. Eventually they are taken to basically a piece of land north of the Arctic Circle where conditions were unfit for animals let alone humans. The group of captives had to band together and become family to survive. Lina, being an artist kept track of their captivity by drawing pictures. I could feel Lina's hope throughout the story and found myself amazed at her will to survive. I'm not sure I could be as strong or as brave as she. The book is beautifully written. The subject matter can be uncomfortable at times but I think it is an important part of history that must be told. At one point the family is almost separated and Lina's brother is bought back by giving up a family pocket watch. When I read that I couldn't stop the tears. To think this went on and the world had no clue it was happening was just shocking to me. Why hadn't I been taught about this in school? I would like to thank Ruta Sepetys for opening our eyes and our hearts to this story. The story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. If you read only one book this year, let it be this book. It is an emotional but an important read. This is a book that will stick with me forever.

8 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

Couldn't put it down

One of the best books I've read in a while. So sad and heartwrenching throughout but I couldn't wait to finish it to see what happened to them all. Thanks for the last chapter, I needed to know.........

7 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

Moving book about a not-often discussed history

Clearly, this book is not a pick-me-up, but the spirit of endurance that Lina, her family, and her friends exhibit is inspiring. Between Shades of Gray tracks the slow progress of Lina, her brother Jonas, and their mother Elena from their home in Lithuania to a work camp in Trofimovsk in the Arctic Circle. They suffer many indignities (to put it mildly) at the hands of their Soviet captors (so many and so much that I stopped marking them in my copy). The beginning of the book, especially, is very similar to the beginnings of many other stories about this time in Europe. The lists, the beatings, the cattle cars.

I could go on and on about how the Vilkas and their group suffer. I could draw many parallels between their experience and those of Holocaust survivors. I could talk about how, at times, the weight of what they go through is crushing, but I don't want to. I want to talk about the points of light in this book that made the rest of it bearable (and when I say bearable, I mean in terms of the subject matter. The whole book is beautifully and compellingly written). Lina's memories of her father and of her cousin Joanna certainly help her through her trials, as does her art which she continues, and uses to her advantage in many ways, throughout the book. A sweet, little romance doesn't hurt either. But what really makes the work camps tolerable is what the deportees do for each other.

Between Shades of Gray is an important book about a not-often-talked about event in history. For this reason, it will appeal to historical fiction lovers, and WWII aficionados. It's also an emotional read, with dashes of suspense and romance mixed into Lina's experience of oppression and, ultimately, loss. I highly recommend this powerful debut and look forward to whatever Sepetys has in store for us next!


Book source: ARC provided by the publisher through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

review taken from One Book At A Time

I must have had a great history teacher in high school because this subject is suppose to be buried and not very well known. But I remember learning about the atrocious acts against his own people that Stalin commited during World War II. All of these while an ally of of the US, Great Britain, etc. But then Russian history in the 20th century is bloody and cruel. I think anyone who thought otherwise was kidding themselves.

I held my breathe the day the NKVD came into Lina's house and took her family. It's one of those things that you know what's coming and you can't help but feel that panic and confusion that Lina and her family must have felt. These people were treated in the same manner that the Jews were by Hitler. Only the world wasn't watching in horror. They were loaded on to trains like cattle with little food and water. They died from diseases that could have been prevented or cured. They were forced thousands of miles from their homes all because Stalin had labeled them political prisoners, or accused them of crimes they had never committed. They were forced to work long and hard hours for the little amount of food they were given and nothing more. They had to beg and steal from the soldiers and guards watching them just to survive.

It was horrible reading about it. I'm surprised I didn't cry throughout this book. But, I think it's because I've learned throughout history that the human race is not always kind to it's fellow man. It's something that should not be forgotten, but sadly I'm sure history at some point will repeat itself. The way ray of light throughout this story is Lina herself. She never gives up hope. She's surprisingly resilient for a 15-year-old girl. She continues to try and send letters and pictures to her father in the hopes that one day they will be reunited. She stands her ground and doesn't lose herself or her principles in her struggle to just survive. And through it all she finds love.

I really wanted to give this 5 stars, and the story itself is a must read. But, I didn't really like the ending. I knew it wouldn't have happy one, because really how could it. But then ending gave you the hope that things were going to be better, that they were saved. And yet, you know that Lena and her family don't go home for many more years after that by the epilogue. Were things better after that fateful arrival or was it many more years of the same?

5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

One of THE BEST YA Novels I've Ever Read!

Incorporating true accounts and experiences from survivors, this fiction novel follows one girl, fifteen-year-old Lina, and her mother and younger brother through the aftermath of the Non-Agression Pact and Stalin's plans. It's a frightening story. With the NKVD guard watching, the transported Lithuanians were sentenced to work on a kolkhoz, a working farm, and sentenced for ten years and longer. Farming for beets, digging holes, and only rationed 300 grams of bread per day, Lina and her family struggled to survive. There is no medicine and no warmth during the cold Russian winters at their gulag. Prisoners are starved, humiliated, and die. Lina's artwork was always startlingly realistic for her age. As several prisoners did based on true accounts that Sepetys gathered during her research, they documented tragedies through writing, drawing, and wood carvings. Throughout Lina's "sentence" in the camps, she tries to draw as much as she can, atrocities forever etched on the scraps of paper she can find. Fearful for what may happen, though, should they be caught, this evidence was destroyed or buried in the ground and never spoken about. Even after they were released years later, survivors were still afraid of being charged with another crime and returning back to the prisons, so they kept their stories buried. This is probably one of the best Young Adult books I've ever read. It's an intense and tough subject matter of unspoken history, and the writing is both vividly descriptive and heart-wrenching, but also maintains the authenticity that this is told from a teenager's point of view. Sections that struck me the hardest at times were those that recognized that even in the depths of sadness, there were moments of hope and love.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

ughhh

I made the mistake again of listening to other peoples reviews and buying books. Even though mostly everyone lovesss this book I didn't share the feeling. There was no romance in it and for us hopeless romantics that is a must! there one some parts that i wish werent there that made me cringe reading. I admit it was a well written sob story but it still wasnt what I thought when i first saw the back cover.

3 out of 15 people found this review helpful.

Beautifully written

What I liked the most about this book is although it focuses on World War II, it's from a different perspective than what most readers are used to when reading something from this particular era in history. I think that although learning and reading about the Holocaust is important, let's not forget other tragic incidents that also happened during this time frame as those victims should not be forgotten as well. Personally, I have not found many fictional accounts concerning this time frame (and geared towards younger readers) and I am hoping Between Shades of Gray will be the one that will open the doors to a lot of readers on this particular subject. For one thing, it's good to know and good to let others be aware of this moment in history. Also, it's good because it sets the stage for other writers to write about this subject.

This book has the most beautiful writing I have ever read so far. It's beautiful, yet at the same time, it's sad and the sense of loneliness, isolation, and helplessness is felt all throughout the book. It certainly does feel as if Lina and all the rest of the prisoners have indeed been forgotten by the world - considering they're placed in a camp in literally what looks to be in the middle of nowhere. What's ironic is they're labeled as thieves and prostitutes, and some of the prisoners have actually become that way as a means of survival. Lina and her mother are major beacons of hope throughout the story and it's through their unbelievable strength that they attempt to survive through this ordeal.

What I also liked about the book is the several flashbacks Lina has, to contrast between how she lived before she gets taken and arrested. They almost seem trivial compared to what she goes through in the camp. When Lina finds love in the camp, it's what propels her to survive through this moment in her life. I thought Lina's relationship with Andrius was the main reason why she kept hanging on. Although she had plenty of courage to show, she needed something else to cling on so she won't lose hope.

It's a bleak story, and gets worse later as the book progresses. The writing in this novel is excellent and makes the reader feel what Lina feels, the detail in the setting and atmosphere is well done and also adds to the feeling of the book. It's not until literally, the last few pages of the book where Lina's outcome is revealed, and leaves the reader with the feeling of hope, however with a melancholy feeling to it as well.

One of the best books I've read so far this year, I greatly recommend reading this. The writing is beautiful, and the story although tragic, focuses on Lina's strength to survive and shows how courageous and hopeful one can be while enduring awful horrible events such as the one Lina went through herself.It's definitely not a subject for everyone to read, however it's not one to forget either.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

One of the Best Books I have read in a long time...

This book was truly beautiful. This story really moved me. It really showed the world what really happened when Joseph Stalin took reign. I will defintely read this book again and again. I would defintely recommend this book if you like history, but even if you don't, I think it would be a good read. This book inspires people to get back up when someone knocks you down. This book was amazing.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Highly Recommended - It needs to become a movie!

A part of history I never knew. This made cry for these poor people. I truly am changed by this book. Be greatful for everyday. We are so lucky. I would love this book to made into a movie. I would also love for school children to read this. It is so worth their time. I think it will change you.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Best Book I've read in a long time...

This book changed the way i look at life and it made me think of things that are important to me that i take for granted. This book is one of the best books i've read in a really long time and i read a lot of books... If your looking for a book that u wont be able to put down until you've finished it then get this one. I stayed up reading it all night because i couldnt stop. It's really good so get it!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Powerful and moving.

I'm 16 years old and my father got me this book. Instantly I fell in love with the characters and plot and ended up finishing it in two days. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys books that incorporate real experiences or just wants a good read. Theres a video clip and even though its long, you should watch it;I assure you that it is worthwhile. I am glad that I read this because otherwise I wouldn't have known what happened to Lithuania.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

highly recommended!

between shades of gray, by Ruta Sepetys was a fantastic book. I am not much of a reader and this book kept me interested through the whole story. With the author writing about her family history I felt like that gave the story more depth. I could feel the emotional side come out and it made me cry multiple times. I love to read historical fiction and Sepetys made it an easy read. I would pick this book up and read it again. The imagery makes you feel like your right there experiencing the same things the characters are. I developed a connection with all of the characters as I read about their journey through the Holocaust. I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy reading historical fiction.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

MUST READ!

Look i understand if u dont lik history books but u HAV to read this. Im a teenager and it still kept me reading for hours wanting to know what happened next. AMAZING!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Amazing! Must Read!!

The details in this story are so realistic and so moving it makes for a very captivating story. There were several times when I just couldn't stop reading it. Definately check this book out!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Harrowing

This book tells about the struggle of a girl trying to survive while everything around her falls apart. She is forced into situations not fit for animals, but through her drawings manages to keep her sanity. This is a book you can't put down because you have to know what happens to the characters. Captivating.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Highly recommended!

Highly engaging!

PERFECT or is it?

I LUV IT but the one about the mom and the baby was sad!!

Between Shades of Gray

Good read about a little known part of history for many.

Excellent read

I could not put this book down. Vey moving.