Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Between Shades of Gray-- A Review by Sarah Gnefkow




Between Shades of Gray
by Ruta Sepetys

*** Stars

Lina is a sixteen year old who has a normal life just like any Lithuanian girl. She does normal activities, she lives the same way as everyone else, and she even likes boys. All is normal until the Russian Invasion tears apart everything that her and her family has ever known by barging in their home one night. Lina is separated from her father and shoved in a train car with her mother and her brother. The three of them head to the coldest work camp in Northern Siberia. While they are in this work camp they have to dig for beats and fight to stay alive under the horrible conditions they are given to survive. Lina has been drawing to try and communicate with her father who is at a different work camp thousands of miles away. Will her will to survive be enough? Or will the harsh conditions of work camp life defeat her?

Between Shades of Gray was a pretty good book. Sometimes it got way too boring but overall it was pretty interesting. Keeping up with what was going on was sort of a challenge but if you like work camp stories I really do think you will like this. 


Here is a video of the author discussing her novel. (added by Ms C)
http://vimeo.com/12589530

5 comments:

TheBookNurse said...

This sounds kind of depressing, but probably important to read if you are interested in that war in that country.

Joshua Madden said...

this book sounds interesting a little sad though. It seems like everybody around that time period had tragic stories.

Anonymous said...

Sounds a bit intersesting. If you said it is hard to keep up with what is going on, it probably isn't the book for me. Seems like it would be one of those stories that would pull you in and have you want to see what is next.

Anonymous said...

This book sounds pretty boring and depressing. I would not like to read this book. I am more interested in happy books.

Anonymous said...

Historical fiction books, especially fiction, are not ones that I've ever had particular liking for. But I've heard nothing but fantastic reviews applauding this book. Even if it sounds depressing, I tend to learn towards the sadder books, or the ones touching on depressing themes so that's not a problem. Not very high on my list, but if I ever need a book and don't have anything on me already, I will definitely pick this one up. I haven't read a tear jerker in awhile it this seems like a good one.