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de23's review against another edition
4.0
This story of a Soviet holocaust is compelling and very well written. I read it all in one evening, partially due to wanting to know what happened, and the easy-to-read writing style, but also partially so as not to prolong the anguish in the story.
seventhchariot's review against another edition
5.0
Rating: 5/5
WHY DOES EVERY RUTA SEPETYS BOOK MAKE ME CRY!!!
This was the last book by Ruta Sepetys that I had left to read and now I am all caught up on her works! I've loved every book and this one was no exception!
Between Shades of Gray is heartbreaking. It takes place in Lithuania during WWII but it follows events that most people don't know about.
I don't even know what all to say about this book besides the fact that this was sooo sad and beautifully written! I couldn't stop reading and I was so attached to every character!!
Highly recommend everyone read this so we can all cry together!
WHY DOES EVERY RUTA SEPETYS BOOK MAKE ME CRY!!!
This was the last book by Ruta Sepetys that I had left to read and now I am all caught up on her works! I've loved every book and this one was no exception!
Between Shades of Gray is heartbreaking. It takes place in Lithuania during WWII but it follows events that most people don't know about.
I don't even know what all to say about this book besides the fact that this was sooo sad and beautifully written! I couldn't stop reading and I was so attached to every character!!
Highly recommend everyone read this so we can all cry together!
lettieredrose89's review against another edition
5.0
What can I say? This book is a testament to its author. The characters were so believable and I found myself so emotionally invested in the book which is the first time in years of reading. I find myself amazed at how the author has drawn me in, kept me reading and I could have carried on. The only criticism is that I found the ending a little weak and sudden. It could have been developed.
spirallycoiled's review against another edition
5.0
This book is about the mass deportation of the people of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to slavery in Siberia by Stalin's USSR. I had not heard or read of this side of the story before. So it was very new to me. My heart started to feel heavy right from the first chapter. I frequently imagined myself and my family in that situation and thought what we would do, how we would survive. I didn't even know when tears rolled down my face. Lina's mom is a hero. In fact, all mothers are heroes.
The author summed it up perfectly in her note at the end.
Some wars are about bombing. For the people of the Baltics, this war was about believing. In 1991, after fifty years of brutal occupation, the three Baltic countries regained their independence, peacefully and with dignity. They chose hope over hate and showed the world that even through the darkest night, there is light. Please research it. Tell someone. These three tiny nations have taught us that love is the most powerful army. Whether love of friend, love of country, love of God, or even love of enemy—love reveals to us the truly miraculous nature of the human spirit.
The author summed it up perfectly in her note at the end.
Some wars are about bombing. For the people of the Baltics, this war was about believing. In 1991, after fifty years of brutal occupation, the three Baltic countries regained their independence, peacefully and with dignity. They chose hope over hate and showed the world that even through the darkest night, there is light. Please research it. Tell someone. These three tiny nations have taught us that love is the most powerful army. Whether love of friend, love of country, love of God, or even love of enemy—love reveals to us the truly miraculous nature of the human spirit.
njn's review against another edition
4.0
Oh wow. I read this after reading Salt to Sea, and realized that there is a correlation between the two books. I have to say I felt deeply for Lina's story, more so than Joana's; Ruta's writing here seems to be more lyrical, and you could feel what the characters are going through, and enduring. I loved it, and actually didn't realize that I had reached the end until I saw the epilogue. I do wish there was more to the ending, I wish I could follow Lina into her triumph of survival. Thank you Ruta again, for opening our eyes to a little known part of history.
bv94's review
4.0
Another well researched gut wrenching historical fiction by Ruta Sepytys of lesser known Lithuanian (Balkan) genocide. So hard to comprehend what happened under brutality of dictatorship
melissa_j_heinig's review against another edition
4.0
A beautifully written story about a dark time that seems to evade history. Share this story!
Word to the wise.... Do not watch the Amazon prime movie. It's awful and does nothing for the story. It leaves out some of the most important characters, plot lines and so much more. It's just.... So bad.
Word to the wise.... Do not watch the Amazon prime movie. It's awful and does nothing for the story. It leaves out some of the most important characters, plot lines and so much more. It's just.... So bad.
dhmohler's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was a chapter of the war that was new to me. I was not familiar with Stalin's invasion and subsequent near eradication of Lithuania. While hard to read at times due to it's horrible storyline... I never for a moment lost interest or wanted to put the book down. I found the telling to be inspirational and encourage others to read this selection.