Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Ashes in the Snow by Ruta Sepetys

28 reviews

calamitywindpetal's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, War, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Child death, Police brutality, Xenophobia, Grief, and Death

Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Rape, Murder, Slavery, Sexual harassment, and Gun violence

Minor: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Cursing

ashylibrarian's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• 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

"Sure, we are safe. Safe in the arms of hell." (179)

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.

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Content Warnings

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

challenging emotional informative sad fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

misssophiereads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicide, and Violence

solaris_zip's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

The first book I have ever read from Sepetys was “salt to the sea” and I immediately fall in love with the writing style, the character, the flow of the words. Today I had the pleasure of finishing “between shades of grey “ and it did not disappoint. From the writing, to the character development Sepetys always knows what she is doing. The story is heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time, you can feel Lina’s emotions on your own skin. The desire of freedom, that little spark of hope that never fully dies in her. The book shows, in a way or another, just a small portion of what 1000, it not more, people had to go through during WW2. And how those events scarred them and the generations to come. The book itself brings awareness to something that should be spoken more about, not just the moral of the book per se, but also about the tragic situation that those people where put in. What they went trough, what they had to see, what they had to leave behind and what they have lost in between. Rita Sepetys never fails to amaze me.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Death of parent, and Sexism

Minor: Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Gaslighting, and Slavery

brookey8888's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“Have you ever wondered what a human life is worth? That morning, my brother's was worth a pocket watch.”


This book broke my heart. This is a very important book to me though because I am Lithuanian and my great grandmother was born there. I learned a lot. Like I didn’t even know this happened and it disgusts me. Like how did the world come to that? Everyone should read this!! I’m going to be shoving this down everyone’s throat telling them to read it.

Reread
I honestly enjoyed this more the second time. I think it’s because of the state of the world. I just love all the characters and how strong they are. I just can’t believe this even happened. I loved how these people found happiness or hope in little things to keep going. It’s very inspirational. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Antisemitism, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Suicide, Blood, Bullying, Colonisation, Death of parent, Excrement, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Child death, Confinement, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and War

awells96's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Death, Child death, Death of parent, Child abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Xenophobia

my_username's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Trafficking, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Kidnapping, Hate crime, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Death, Confinement, Child death, and Child abuse

Moderate: Abandonment, Violence, Torture, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Murder, Rape, Gun violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Abortion

TRIGGER WARNING: One of the characters mother needs to prostitute herself to save her son. That was honestly the hardest part for me to read