Between Shades of Gray // Ruta Sepetys

Between Shades of Gray // Ruta Sepytys

!!Spoiler Free!!

Genre ~ Historical, YA, Fiction

Page # ~ 344

ISBN ~ 0399254129

Published ~ 03/22/2011

Rating ~  ★★★★☆

Synopsis ~ 

     Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.

     Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously—and at great risk—documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives. Between Shades of Gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart.

Thoughts ~

     So, we had to read any historical fiction book for my English class, and I happened upon this one in my school library. I can truthfully say that this is the book that turned me into such a historical fiction nerd. It is such a beautiful and terrifying look into what happened in Russia and Lithuania during WW11. there are so many books on what happened in Germany and America during the war, but this is the first one I've seen that looks into Russia and the iron curtain countries. This was such a refreshing standalone read, and I loved it.

     The book follows Lina and her mother and brother as they are forced to leave their country and go to different work camps in Russia and Serbia. It was already so scary to see what they had to go through in these camps and on the trains, but being a young girl during this time was definitely a struggle as well.  She had to deal with the horrible climate of Serbia, handsy and disrespectful soldiers, terrifying leaders, and the loss of so many close people. I definitely cried during this read, for Lina and for all the people that didn't make it. I took one star off for the sole reason that it was a little slow, not boring, just slower than it could've been. Sometimes the days were a little repetitive, but that's understandable for the story, especially since the book takes place over a couple of months, maybe even years (I can't quite remember). Otherwise, this was an amazing and eye opening read.

               This is a very haunting read and it portrays a part of war we don't see a lot, and it can be hard to read at some moments, but I think that makes it so much better.

Things I loved ~

-The storyline and really getting to see firsthand some horrible things that happened during this war that arent brought up enough

-The setting, we get a train car with some interesting characters, freezing cold Serbia, and then the fricken arctic circle (scary!)

-ANDRIUS!❤ I loved this man, he was so cute and so kind to Lina, and (spoiler) their reunion at the end made me soooo happy and I was dying to read more

-The stones 💕😍😭

-Jonas. That's all. He was so cute and I miss him

-(spoiler) The letter at the end from the future and Lina saying her HUSBAND Andrius ahhhhhh

-(spoiler again)THE FRICKEN BOOK HE LEFT HER AND THE LITTLE NOTES❤❤❤

-KRASIVAYA

-The way it made me cryyy (iykyk) I love when books make me cry because it proves I can feel something lmao

Things I didn't love ~

-The cliffhanger that really isn't a cliffhanger but I need more anyway

-The pacing wasn't too bad, but I still wish it was faster and there was a little more

-Again, I need more

Characters ~

-Lina Vilkas

"You stand for what is right, Lina, without the expectation of gratitude or reward."

     I loved Lina mostly because I could see a little bit of me in her. She reacted to all of the troubles in her life just like I think I would, not wondrously brave or with no fear, but actually being a scared kid who has no idea what's going on and being so worried for my family. I'm not saying Lina is a weak character, she is so so strong and learns to live with everything that's going on, but she just seems so realistic in the way she acts. Anyway, I liked her a lot.

-Andrius Arvydas

"Good men are more practical than pretty,"  said Mother. "Andrius just happens to be both."

    Oh lord, Andrius was wonderful. I love him he was such a good person and a great addition to the story. I LIVE for romance, and seeing these two together really made me smile. They helped each other through so much and were always there for each other, even if they were on opposite sides of the world. He was so kind to Lina and he made her smile and laugh even when they were in these horrible conditions, and I love him for that. Their little inside jokes and the little things with them made me wish I had a relationship (the stones, the book, kasivaya, just everything with these two). He was such a good comfort character and I can only hope we all find someone like him.

Quotes ~

"We'd been trying to touch the sky from the bottom of the ocean."

"Sometimes there is such beauty in awkwardness."

“Whether love of friend, love of country, love of God, or even love of enemy—love reveals to us the truly miraculous nature of the human spirit.”

"Was it harder to die, or harder to be the one who survived?"

"I planted a seed of hatred in my heart. I swore it would grow to be a massive tree whose roots would strangle them all."

Do I Recommend?

     Yes, as I said before, this is the book that got me into historical fiction, so if you love historical/war books, then this one is for you!

     Fun Fact ~ This book was made into a movie called Ashes In the Snow, which was actually very accurate and very good! Check it out if you loved the book!

Similar Books ~

Salt to the Sea - Ruta Sepetys

Memories of My Future - Ammar Habib

A Night Divided - Jennifer A. Nielson

Thanks for showing up and checking out my review! Next one coming out soon! ❤❤

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