Between the Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Book Review by Twisha

This historical fiction book is based on a real genocide that killed many people from the Baltic region upon orders of Stalin and the Soviet Union. June 14 is now remembered by Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and other countries who had their citizens deported. 

Summary:

Lina Vilkas' world was always filled with imagination and happiness. Her fifteen-year-old mind loved the arts and had a great future planned in that field. Her brother Jonas, her mother Elena, and her father Kostas, lived in Lithuania in their loving home, surrounded by nothing but joy and prosperity. It only took twenty minutes on a June night in 1941 to change all that. NKVD officers barged into their home, demanding they pack up and go with them. Lina, who was in the middle of writing a letter to her cousin, is led out of the house with her brother and mother, confused. Her father is nowhere to be found. She is told by her mother and other Lithuanians that they will eventually go home-- will they? She climbs onto a train car meant for animals with several other people who are wondering why they are being labeled as criminals. She survives on little food and water, trying to get along with the others for almost two months. When the train arrives at its destination, they find themselves at a labor camp-- sentenced for twenty-five years of labor. Lina works all day, only to get a small piece of bread in return. On one hand, the NKVD officers are trying to make her sign a contract that says she will work for twenty-five years, and on the other hand, she tries to send letters and drawings to her father. Meanwhile, she learns the reason for her deportation, but doesn't know whether to blame her best friend or her father. She meets kind people, like Andrius, who saved her brother's life, but also rude people, like her shack's owner, who collects tax-- even after knowing that Lina has nothing left to give. After about a year, she hears that her father has been shot, but doesn't have time to grieve since she is sent close to the Arctic Circle to continue working, where most of her fellow deportees die of sickness and starvation because of the cold-- including her mother. With no parental figure, Lina has to work with a doctor to save her brother from sickness, and help as many people survive as possible. All hope is lost, and Lina is sure that she will not go home until after Stalin, who is leading the NKVD officers, is defeated. In the epilogue, Lina is said to have escaped the grasp of Stalin and his soldiers, and to have married Andrius after finding him again. Lina's letters and drawings were found under a construction site by some workers, who then knew to spread the word of such a horrific event. Although this story was fictional, it was based on the true experiences of many Baltic deportees. 

Details:

Page Count: 338 

 Author: Ruta Sepetys

Date of Publication: March 22, 2011

This book was made into a movie called Ashes in the Snow.

Genre: Historical Fiction 

 Before reading this book, try reading about Baltic deportations and Stalin.

Video For More Info:

In this video, the author of this stellar novel discusses the history behind it and other fascinating details. 

Link: https://youtu.be/GPiQ_LuKtDE

Exclusive Movie Clip:

This video shows an exciting clip from the movie based on Between the Shades of Gray.

Link: https://youtu.be/sKw8z6FFznQ