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nebraskanwriter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
The book begins immediately with Lina and her brother and her mother getting taken to start working in a camp.
The story is told rather methodically, “I said this, she did this, this happened then that happened” which I did not think I would like. However, I enjoyed the simplicity and that there weren’t a lot of purple prose or anything, nothing to distract you from the direct words you were reading.
This is Ruta’s first published book and it definitley sounds/reads different than her others that I’ve read. But I still enjoyed it, as much as one can enjoy such a heart breaking book.
I am not a crier but I did cry at the end, it moved and touched me so very deeply.
As Ruta is Lithuanian, this felt like an homage to those who endured in silence for so long. I’m so glad light is being shed on the truth of what so many that suffered in silence went through for so many years...
Quotes:
“Have you ever wondered how much a person’s life is worth? That morning, my brother’s was worth a pocket watch.”
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Police brutality, War, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Antisemitism, Abandonment, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Violence
my_username'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? Yes
3.5
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