Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Ashes in the Snow by Ruta Sepetys

79 reviews

lizziaha's review against another edition

3.0

I found it hard to connect with the characters, and the end felt unsatisfying. I almost wish that we had seen at least a little of the twelve years after the end of the book. And while this book is definitely not about romance, since romance was part of the epilogue, I wish we’d seen a little more of it throughout the book. I think that Sepetys always includes characters that don’t exist within comfortable lines of morality, but in this book it felt rushed and not fleshed out enough. I do kind of want to reread Joana’s story in the other book though. I didn’t remember enough from my read several years ago. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, War, Suicide, Torture, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Deportation, Rape, Death of parent, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Xenophobia, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Child death, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Antisemitism

Minor: Animal death

oceanwriter's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring 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? No

5.0

I don’t think I will ever find a book Ruta Sepetys has written that I don't adore. Her books have set my expectations for all historical fiction astronomically high that I’m at the point where I’m okay if she’s the only historical fiction author I ever read again. 

 

Lina and her family are forcibly removed from their home in Lithuania by the Soviets in the midst of World War II. They are deported to Siberia along with several other families. Lina holds out hope that her father will come to rescue them and even attempts to get coded messages to him. With her drawing talents, she also creates secret documentation of the cruelties she and her fellow deportees are forced to endure. 

 

I think I say this every time I read one of Ruta Sepetys’ books, but I absolutely love that the story follows a part of World War II history that is not as well known as others. I consider myself fairly well-studied in this time period and I knew nothing of the atrocities discussed in the book. On top of that, the characters are so marvelously fleshed out, flaws and strengths and all. They felt as authentic as their situations, which can be difficult to find, especially in this genre. 

 

It’s safe to say I am head over heels in love with these plots and the writing. I’m curious to see the movie (retitled Ashes in the Snow) but I know it will shatter my heart. I can bear a lot more of this kind of content in books than I can on screen. Honestly though, it might be worth it if it remains true to the book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Child death, Gun violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: War, Sexual assault, and Suicide

chelle22's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

katrinaburch's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

What a book... I was a little worried because, while well written, I wasn't a huge fan of Between the Salt and the Sea. This book is much better and excellent. While not quite my favorite (That would be The Fountains of Silence), this was so good. My only issue is that

I wish we could have known if Lena's father survived. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Torture, Violence, Genocide, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Bullying, Deportation, and Rape

alexxrose's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Very interesting and informative, even for fiction this was something I felt learned a lot from. I'd recommend it for sure, but I feel like it comes with some homework that you have to do on your own. 

I struggled to connect with the main character's love of the artist Edvard Munch. This might be because I'm not well versed in art but I also felt like the paintings were supposed to be in reference to things happening in Lina's story but I couldn't make the connections very well. 

I felt like the book shied away from some of the horrors of these camps. I don't know if this was a specific choice give the fact its a YA novel, or if the author didn't feel like it would be appropriate but it felt like it took away from the story. I don't need to see misery and death exploited on the page but it felt like there were grim undertones that were being purposefully looked away from. Which did disappoint me given the topic of the book. 

The book also ended very abruptly.

once the doctor arrives and helps the prisoners at the camp, I thought there would be more about their continued survival at the camp or how they eventually left. Yes there was a set prison sentence but the text also implied it was indefinite, so its very unclear how one would leave a labour camp like this. I also wish there had been more closure with Lina's father and her relationship with Andrius and the sympathetic soldier. All of these end abruptly or get a one line wrap up that tells us nothing.</spoilers> 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Death of parent, and Child death

Moderate: Excrement, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: War, Animal death, Sexual assault, and Suicide

brittsbooknook's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

What an eye-opening, heartbreaking story portraying the experiences of the Lithuanian people during this time of WW2 (and on) at the hands of the Soviets.

POV - Lina, back & forth between her present time and her memories of before their wrongful imprisonment in Siberian labor/prison camps.

Lina's mother - what a heroic character. She did not let bitterness overtake her.

"His eyes found mine. "I'll see you," he said. " 😭

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Violence, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual assault

The ending was abrupt and then jumped ahead in time. I did want to read about how characters were reunified, but that being said, the way it ends makes you feel all those years and time that were lost to people.

danileah07's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Child death, Antisemitism, Deportation, Suicide, and Sexual assault

Minor: Excrement and Vomit

lostintheplot's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deportation, Forced institutionalization, Child death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Gore

Moderate: Suicide, War, and Gun violence

Minor: Sexual assault

bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad 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? No

5.0

I read this as part of 12 from 12, another great rec! The book tells the story of Lina and her family during WWII as they are deported from Lithuania to work camps in Siberia, as well as sharing past memories which foreshadow events to come/mirror the current events. 

I liked the short chapters and it was a quick read that pulled me in immediately. The characters are well written and I especially loved how Jonas’ voice/dialogue changed as the novel went on.

I read this in a single day, WOW WHAT A STORY! It’s a sad, emotional novel but mixed into the dark passages is a glimmer of hope. I never knew this piece of history and I think it’s a book everyone should read and educate themselves about!

Definitely another favorite for the month ❤️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Torture, Genocide, War, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual assault, Child death, Body horror, and Gore

Minor: Antisemitism, Injury/Injury detail, and Rape

tinaxx2's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Blood, Violence, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Death