Fifteenyearold lina, her mother, and her younger brother are dragged from their home and packed into a train car in the opening pages of this harrowing novel that begins in lithuania on june 14, 1941. But between shades of gray is also a profoundly moving and inspiring book, as lina discovers first her own capacity for courage, then her ability to use art to overcome challenges, and finally her desire for both love and survival. I feel grateful for a writer like ruta sepetys who bravely tells the hard story of what happens to the innocent when world leaders and their minions choose hate and. With this debut novel, sepetys endeavors to tell the story of the baltic states. This novel is part survival story, part romance, and part tragedy. Any book that gives the reader an idea of life and culture in lithuania. It follows the stalinist repressions of the mid20th century and follows the life of lina as she is deported from her native lithuania with her mother and younger brother, and the journey they take to a labor camp in lithuania. In the book between shades of gray, a lithuanian family is forced out of their home and forced into a new life. When the soviets invaded they sent all of the educated people to labor camps most of them died, but the ones that lived were held for up to 15 years.
The suffering experienced by lina and her companions is shocking and often difficult to read. Between shades of gray brings to light a period of ww2 history that has been overlooked or forgotten. It takes place during ww2 and shows the untold story of lithuania during the war. Ya debut award nominee 2012, ala teens top ten nominee 2012. A moving and haunting novel for readers of the book thieffifteenyearold lina is a lithuanian girl living an ordinary lifeuntil soviet officers invade her home. Between shades of gray book report timeline created by sarahjohnson1. Oct 06, 2011 or maybe reading the book is enhanced by having heard the music beforehand. We know a lot about what is happening in america and germany during wwii, but what is happening in lithuania. Between shades of gray book report timeline timetoast. In between shades of gray, classification is shown by. This election cycle, with its exacerbated islamophobia, makes author mills positively beautiful, 2015 fictive meditation on 911 and the 15 years after especially timely.
Between shades of gray, her most popular book, describes the deportation of lithuanians by the soviet union during world war ii through. Apr 25, 2012 in 1941, lina and her family are taken from their home in lithuania and sent to siberia where, despite horrific conditions, lina maintains hope that she will survive. Between shades of gray by ruta sepetys, paperback barnes. Cultures all over the world have their own way of classifying people based on their nationality, race, or religion. Mar 12, 2015 in the book between shades of gray, ruta sepetys doesnt alter the settings of the novel. This was definitely another pageturner and extremely hard to put down.
There is a lot of things lithuania accomplished and a lot things lithuania needs to finish. Lina fights for her life, vowing that if she survives she will honor her family, and the thousands like hers, by burying her complete story in. Her family consists of her, her brother, and her mother, all three of them are thrown into cattle carts and shipped off to altiia. Ruta sepetyss between shades of gray hits the big screen. The family is given very little time to pack before they. In the book between shades of gray, what does lina believe the two possible outcomes of siberia are. Official book website for between shades of gray by ruta sepetys. The series traces the deepening relationship between college graduate, anastasia steele, and young business man, christian grey. I gave between shades of gray by ruta sepetys five out of five stars.
We spoke with the author about seeing her historical ya novel adapted for. In the book between shades of gray the main character, lina is taken from her home in kaunas and put in a labor camp in siberia for 12 years. Before the 2nd ww began the communist dictator stalin, knew war with the nazis was looming and had concerns about the baltic countries abilities to protect the russian border from. Between shades of gray by ruta sepetys librarything. Her awardwinning debut novel, between shades of gray was inspired by her familys history in lithuania and is published in 40 countries. James, initially a trilogy consisting of fifty shades of grey 2011, fifty shades darker 2012 and fifty shades freed 2012. In 1941, fifteenyearold lina, her mother, and brother are pulled from their lithuanian home by soviet guards and sent to siberia, where her father is sentenced. Learn more at about the author born and raised in michigan, ruta sepetys is the daughter of a.
Between shades of gray takes its title from the complex nuances of morality that lina, the teenage protagonist and narrator, experiences and must grapple with during her years of imprisonment in the harsh soviet labor camps of siberia during world war ii. Ruta sepetys ashes in the snow lithuanian film premiere. Between shades of gray book hennepin county library. Few books are beautifully written, fewer still are important. The soviets not only displaced countless lithuanians, latvians and. Before reading this book, i was unaware of the mass deportations carried out in lithuania by. Ruta sepetyss between shades of gray is now the film ashes in the snow. While this book has been wellreceived since its publication in 2011, it has already been. The idea for between shades of gray came when she was visiting relatives in lithuania in 2005 and learned more about the soviets forced deportation of. Before reading this book, i was unaware of the mass deportations carried out in lithuania by stalin during and after the second world war. Between shades of gray is a wonderful historical fiction novel. The total area is 65,300 square kilometers, which is a little bit bigger than west virginia. Did you know between shades of gray has been published in over fifty countries. As elevator pitches go, lithuanian teenager starving to death in.
Her new novel, out of the easy is set in the french quarter of new orleans in 1950. It was a great book and i literally just finished it but linas mother died in siberia where lina and her brother were held for 12 years she did end up after being returned her. In the book between shades of gray, what stops the bald man from killing himself. Between shades of gray book report timeline created by. The book opens with travis mclaurin, a 19yearold white man trying to protect alia susanto, a 16yearold hijabwearing indonesianamerican muslim, from the debris caused by the south towers destruction. Between shades of grey by ruta sepetys fifteenyearold lina is a lithuanian girl living an ordinary lifeuntil soviet officers invade her home and tear her family apart. An introduction to lithuanian literature in 8 books. The memoirs were thought to be lost, but in 1991, the jar was discovered and unearthed. Between shades of gray is a novel aimed at the young adult but has appeal to older readers also that follows the experiences of 15yearold lina, her 10 yearold brother and their mother in 1941.
Nov 23, 2018 the idea for between shades of gray came when she was visiting relatives in lithuania in 2005 and learned more about the soviets forced deportation of thousands of people from lithuania, latvia. Between shades of gray was a gamble that we felt proud to take. Between shades of gray is a beautiful and sometimes heartwrenching book. Learn more at about the author born and raised in michigan, ruta sepetys is the daughter of a lithuanian refugee. Between shades of gray is a riveting novel that steals your breath, captures your heart, and reveals the miraculous nature of the human spirit. Lina and her family are taken from their home in lithuania and sent to siberia where, despite horrific conditions, lina maintains hope that she will survive. Between shades of gray book report timeline timetoast timelines. Between shades of gray tells the individuals story that makes such cold facts meaningful. Fifteenyearold lina, her mother, and her younger brother are dragged from their.
Sep 10, 2010 between shades of gray is a riveting novel that steals your breath, captures your heart, and reveals the miraculous nature of the human spirit. Most world war ii films focus on the atrocities committed by hitlers german forces, but this adaptation of ruta sepetys novel between shades of gray reminds us of the evils under stalin and the russian seizure of the baltic states. Klein also draws credible portraits of linas mother, brother, and fellow prisoners. In this book, you will venture with lina as she goes through many hardships, emotional and physical. Lithuania has a lot of different cultures mixed, including polish, russian, belarusian, and of course lithuania people. She is arrested alongside her mother, elena, and tenyearold brother jonas. The story follows a 15yearold lithuanian girl in 1941 who is taken from her home with her mother and younger brother by the nkvd soviet secret police. Precedent, says green, was on their side in the form of that miraculous, international wonder, the book thief. Richard peck, newbery awardwinning author of a year down yonder between shades of gray is a story of astonishing force. It follows the stalinist repressions of the mid20th century and follows the life of lina as she is deported from her native lithuania with her mother and younger brother. Recommended resources discussion guide between shades of gray.
Reading between shades of gray reminded me, once again, the importance of reading books. Between shades of gray author talks totalitarianism and stalin. Author ruta sepetys talks about the true history behind. Separated from her father and forced onto a crowded train, lina, her mother, and her young brother make their way to a siberian work camp, where they are forced to.
Between shades of gray book page the baltic states. We are just getting into stalins reign in history, so im not sure what we will learn. Classroom lesson plans for between shades of gray exploring the novel through writing and research 1. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. Vilnius, lithuania author appearance and book signing 5. Perhaps her most famous novel, between shades of gray, is a historical fiction that gives readers a harsh look into life as a lithuanian exiled to siberia during soviet occupation. She met with family members, survivors of the deportations, etc. Apr 03, 2012 between shades of gray is a document long overdue. Ruta sepetys was born and raised in michigan in a family of artists, readers, and music lovers. Between shades of gray by ruta sepetys is a deeply moving, compelling, heartwrenching, and a powerful read which is beautifully written that captured my heart from the very first chapter.
Despite seeing lithuanias symbol of power overtaken by the nkvd, the lithuanian deportees are determined to express their patriotism. Sepetys is drawing crowds interested in her ya novel about a young lithuanian girls unspeakable struggles but shes also getting confused. Between shades of gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. When i first heard about this book, i was captivated by the actual background of the novel ruta sepetys is the daughter of lithuanian emigrees, and between shades of gray was inspired by sepetys father, a refugee who escaped lithuania as a young boy. This young adult novel explores a lithuanian familys trials under stalin. Title of a book, article or other published item this will display to the public.
Childrens books between shades of gray by ruta sepetys the. Between shades of gray follows lina vilkas, a fifteen year old girl who is torn from her life in kaunas and exiled with her family to siberia. Over spring break i read between shades of gray published march 2011, a young adult historical fiction novel by ruta sepetys. When the soviet union occupied lithuania, many locals were actually deported to. Aug 15, 2012 when i first heard about this book, i was captivated by the actual background of the novel ruta sepetys is the daughter of lithuanian emigrees, and between shades of gray was inspired by sepetys father, a refugee who escaped lithuania as a young boy. Relief comes as well in the welldrawn, wellacted vignettes of linas formerly happy life in lithuania. Tai pirmasis knygu ir filmu trilogijos fifty shades of grey gerbeju puslapis lietuviu kalba. Lithuania is located in eastern europe it borders the baltic sea, and is between latvia and russia. If the material is there and it certainly was and the faith is sound, its just a matter of mobilizing forces and realizing that there is no losing. Their educational value cannot be underestimated whether its fiction or nonfiction. Promoting empathetic reading with between shades of gray. Sepetys gives light to an almost unknown episode in baltic history through the eyes of a fifteen year old girl who never gives up. Kostas vilkas clearly was a tremendous source of leadership for his daughter and for the community of kaunas, lithuania.
Between shades of grey tells the story of lina vilkas, whose family is deported from lithuania and spends many year in multiple gulags. A historical tale of secrets and lies, out of the easy is. Oct 19, 2011 between shades of gray was a gamble that we felt proud to take. Jul 19, 2016 in america, we grew up hearing about hitler and the holocaust, but stalin, the leader of one of our allies, was carrying out mass deportations, too, and many of those people died in the work camps and prisons they were sent to. In writing between shades of gray, sepetys traveled to lithuania twice to interview survivors. In june of 1941, fifteenyearold lina vilkas is arrested by the soviet secret police, the nkvd, from her home in kaunas, lithuania.
Lina is just like any other fifteenyearold lithuanian. Can be historical, historical fiction, novels, poetry, etc. Writer ruta sepetys approached musician and recording artist gavin mikhail and asked him to write a piano score for her first book, between shades of gray. Buy a cheap copy of between shades of gray book by ruta sepetys. Between shades of gray summary from litcharts the creators. A behind the scenes clip of the ashes in the snow film premiere in lithuania with comments from the author, actors, director, producer and screenwriter. It follows the stalinist repressions of the mid20th century and follows the life of lina as she is deported from her native lithuania with her mother and younger brother, and the journey they take to a labor camp in siberia. In 1941, fifteenyearold lina, her mother, and brother are pulled from their lithuanian home by soviet guards and sent to siberia, where her father is sentenced to death in a prison camp while she fights for her life, vowing to honor her family and the thousands like hers by burying her story in a jar on lithuanian soil. Whatever the link between the music and the book, mikhails between shades of gray is a collection of beautiful piano compositions that will reward any listener regardless of whether or not you have read the book. Her father kostas has been arrested earlier, and they dont know where he is.
Mar 28, 2011 the suffering experienced by lina and her companions is shocking and often difficult to read. Need help with chapter 10 in ruta sepetyss between shades of gray. Praise for between shades of gray han important book that deserves the widest possible. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. Before writing the book, ruta took two trips to lithuania. Between shades of gray by ruta sepetys read by emily klein. In the book between shades of gray, ruta sepetys doesnt alter the settings of the novel. Between shades of gray themes from litcharts the creators. Between shades of gray is written by ruta sepetys and focuses on the cruel fate of a small girl who was exiled to siberia, where she had to face separation from her family and devastating living conditions in order to survive. We usually dont learn the personal stories of people during the time of an event. This book, published by peirene press, is an english translation of grinkeviciutes original memoirs that provided the general framework for between shades of gray. It was a great book and i literally just finished it but linas mother died in siberia where lina and her brother were held for 12 years she did end up after being returned her writings and pictures by andrius in which she marrys him. Between shades of gray book douglas county libraries. It follows the stalinist repressions of the mid 20th century and follows the life of lina as she is deported from her native lithuania with her mother and younger brother.
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