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pastorscratchy1reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Self harm, Racial slurs, War, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Genocide, Death of parent, Death, Violence, Deportation, Torture, Physical abuse, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Antisemitism, Cursing, Blood, Child abuse, and Alcohol
annabelle_bookie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Antisemitism, Classism, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Blood, Murder, Physical abuse, Deportation, Genocide, Hate crime, and Pedophilia
chelle22's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Death, Deportation, Murder, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Blood, Violence, Suicide, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, War, Sexual violence, Torture, Cannibalism, Confinement, Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Dysphoria, Genocide, Deadnaming, Death of parent, and Excrement
sapphicreaderlucy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Death, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Genocide, Death of parent, Antisemitism, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, War, Torture, and Gore
megs_baer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Murder, Death, Death of parent, Antisemitism, Torture, Gore, Grief, Police brutality, Trafficking, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Slavery, Classism, Colonisation, Hate crime, Racial slurs, War, and Child death
carissa230's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Lina and her family are being deported from Lithuania for "crimes". They have no idea what they did, but they haven't seen their father in a long time. While being transported on the train to the prison camp we meet many other families that are also being deported for unknown crimes.
Lina's story is about survival. About the horror that humans can endure and survive. About the lengths that people will go to in order to survive.
Graphic: Violence and Kidnapping
Moderate: War and Rape
jojo50's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Physical abuse, Murder, Kidnapping, Bullying, Confinement, Hate crime, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Police brutality, Forced institutionalization, and Genocide
Moderate: Xenophobia, Torture, Violence, and War
_mya_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child death, Confinement, Excrement, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, and War
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Antisemitism, Hate crime, and Miscarriage
Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, Cursing, Pregnancy, and Vomit
ashylibrarian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Between Shades of Gray tells the horrific and grueling story of hidden Lithuanian history during World War II (2). Set in 1941 Lithuania, readers follow the Vilkas family who is startled by an aggressive knocking on their door one evening, followed by an invasion of Soviet guards telling them that they have just twenty (20) minutes to pack their belongings and abandon their home. Told from the perspective of fifteen (15)-year-old Lina, readers follow her, her mother Elena, and her brother Jonas as they are shipped like cattle across countries to serve in labor camps across Siberia.
Ruta Sepetys crafts an emotional, rawfully honest, and historically accurate story that gives readers just a glimpse into the hidden history of the Lithuanian genocide that happened in World War II (2) at the hands of Joseph Stalin. This is the third time I have read this story (once from the graphic novel edition which I highly recommend), however, before reading Between Shades of Gray, I was ignorantly unaware of the atrocities that happened across Easter Europe in the Baltic States.
There are a few lines from the beginning of the book that are so full of emotion and honesty about what was happening in these countries - the injustice and confusion, the inconceivability and anger:
"A newborn. The child had been alive only minutes but was already considered a criminal by the Soviets." (21)
"Have you ever wondered what a human life is worth? That morning, my brother's was worth a pocket watch." (27)
Being told from the perspective of a fifteen (15)-year-old really helps this story become relatable to the intended young audience (though just as equally impactful to an older audience, as well). Often times history is told from the perspective of adults, giving only one type of narrative and making it a bit more difficult for young readers to fully comprehend what people have lived through. By using a teenager as the main character, Sepetys is able to share this story and event through the eyes of those who make up about 1.2 billion people in our world population.
I enjoy reading the author's notes and acknowledgments at the end of the book because, to me, it really shows the purpose and power of this book. I commend Sepetys for the research and dedication she puts in each of her hidden history stories and the fact that she takes the time to recognize that the stories are not hers but she is here to share them for those who have not been able to do so themselves. Sepetys takes time to talk with those who have the stories to tell and learns as much as she can about the event while writing. That is what historical fiction is all about.
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Suicide attempt, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Suicide, Slavery, War, and Xenophobia
Minor: Antisemitism and Religious bigotry
maximauve's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, War, Kidnapping, Murder, Slavery, Antisemitism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, and Suicide