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alexklinect's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Violence, and War
Minor: Excrement, Vomit, and Sexual harassment
jem_carstairs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, and Stalking
Minor: Domestic abuse
arthomas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Excrement, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
lovelymisanthrope'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? It's complicated
4.5
"I Must Betray You" follows 17-year-old Cristian in 1989 Romania. Cristian aspires to be a writer, but in Romania, there are other plans for people. Nicolae Ceaușescu is the dictator over Romania, and he rules his people by instilling fear and isolating them from the rest of the world. Cristian does not want to live this way anymore, and as he begins to learn more about what is happening in the world, he grows the urge to fight back and do something for the country he loves.
This was a difficult story to read because Cristian's life is made so difficult by a cruel and unjust leader. what is even more devastating, is that this book is historical fiction, and events like these occurred so recently. There were moments I was appalled and wanted to put the book down, but at the same time I was entranced by what was happening. I needed to know how Cristian's story ended.
I really enjoyed that this was written for the young adult sphere. I think it is important for young adults to be exposed to history, and historical fiction books are a great, entertaining way to do so. There were moments of violence and gore that were challenging to read, but again, I think it is important to learn that the world is not all sunshine all the time.
Ruta Sepetys is an immensely talented author, and I really enjoyed my first taste of her writing. Her eloquent prose is both beautiful and does not shy away from the truth. She writes raw stories about real hardship, but she does so in a way that makes it impossible to put the book down.
I could feel Cristian's stress radiating from the page, and I wanted to scream at him the truth that was just beyond his grasp. He is a strong protagonist, and I enjoyed his point of view. He was brave in the face of adversity, and he always sought the truth, even when that seemed impossible to do.
I highly recommend this book to everyone, and I cannot wait to pick up more from Ruta Sepetys in the near future.
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail
mformato's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Not a full five stars because of personal reasons. I felt like there was a lot of telling rather than showing in the beginning. Also Cristian felt a little too American for the story. Plot points happened a bit too much out of convenience.
But overall I enjoyed the story and would recommend the book to someone who enjoys reading about revolutions, noir, and an undying spirit of hope in a hopeless land.
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
adireadsbooks's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, and Medical content
araiapapaya's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
silver_lining_in_a_book'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
5.0
Paradise: If communism is Paradise, why do we need barriers, walls, and laws to keep people from escaping?
Like any of Ruta Sepetys' books, I Must Betray You is a masterpiece of historical fiction and should serve as a reminder to other historical fiction authors of the responsibility they have to accurately and honestly portray the experiences of people who have lived through the true historical events. This specific story was very close to my heart as one side of my family is Romanian and had to live through the oppressive communist regime that suffocated many different nations and communities.
How could we expect others to feel our pain or hear our cries for help when all we could do was whisper?
I was a little disappointed when at the start of this book as the dry writing style and the slow, uneventful nature of the book grated on me. It did not quite feel like the previous books I have read from this author, but I do think this served a purpose. It put me in the mind of Cristian, our protagonist, and the muted, grey atmosphere he was constantly living in. The beginning feels cold, dull and suffocating because that is very much what life under Ceausescu was like.
Good luck comes at a price. Bad luck is free.
The more I read, the more I fell in love with these characters, who felt real and - more notably - absolutely terrified. The nagging sensation that you were being spied on, monitored and manipulated was a constant and Sepetys captured it so well. The entire scope of the story is not visible to the reader - not even having reached the end of the book - and that is so representative of the lack of clarity and closure that many Romanians had to deal with following Romania's fight for independence.
An old woman is fast asleep when she hears a knock at the door.
Who is it? she whispers, terrified.
It is death, the voice answers.
Oh, good. I thought it might be the Securitate.
The interactions in this book were so human, which was what really stood out for me. People were not fighting or dreaming of a better life, they were simply doing the best that they could to survive. It is important to note that this novel is intended for a younger audience than myself, so certain parts of the book did feel a little bit simplified or sugar-coated to allow for these readers to digest the information. I would love to have seen a more in-depth exploration of this period in time, but - for what Sepetys intended - I think this book was successful.
As the saying goes, better to die standing than live kneeling.
I do not think that this book is perfect. I think there are some issues with the characterisation of certain characters, its pacing and how easily certain issues are brushed over. However, I do think that it is very important. The longer I sit with this book, the more I feel that it has had a profound impact on me -- I feel like I am living in 1989 Romania and I can feel the fear and paranoia that many of my family members experienced. I am incredibly grateful to Ruta Sepetys for creating this work of art; it is a time period and a people that do not get as much consideration and attention as they deserve.
You’re wrong. They steal our power by making us believe we don’t have any. They’re controlling us through our own fear.
Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Sexism, Police brutality, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal cruelty, Xenophobia, and Vomit
chocolatechump's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Murder, and War
ktame001's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, and War
Moderate: Cancer, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Excrement, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail