Theres no shortage of books for young readers about nazism and the holocaustand thats as it should be. In my opinion, this wouldnt be the book for younger children, because it has a some abusing in it. Book talk between shades of gray the nameless book blog. 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 oppression.
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. 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. Their educational value cannot be underestimated whether its fiction or nonfiction. Lina is just like any other fifteenyearold lithuanian. Ruta sepetys, authors note, between shades of gray.
One thing i didnt like about the book was, that lots of people died. Between shades of gray quotes showing of 115 have you ever wondered what a human life is worth. Dec 22, 2014 between shades of gray by ruta sepetys. I chose this book because my international literature for children and young adults described it as a world war ii novel that examines a lesserknown side of the war.
And between shades of gray is read in middle school and all the way up to the university level and then by elderly people. Ruta sepetyss between shades of gray hits the big screen. Historical facts and fiction for between shades of gray prezi. The story explores the violence against lithuanians during stalins. This 352 paged book has inspired many teens to acknowledge the genocide of baltic people. This is an exceptional book telling a horrifying story. Official book website for between shades of gray by ruta sepetys. As chapter 29 opens, the vilkas family is surveying the ten by twelve foot shack that is to be their home when the young blond guard comes to summon elena to meet with the commander. Between shades of gray by ruta sepetys 681 words 123. 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. Between shades of gray by ruta sepetys between shades of gray is a harrowing story about a young girl, her family and her neighbors being. But next january, a story that could be summed up that way will make its debut in theaters, capping the extraordinary journey of a little novel. Richard peck, newbery awardwinning author of a year down yonder between shades of gray is a story of astonishing force.
Between shades of gray reading after midnight reading. This is one of the focal inquiries of a book that looks at the barbarism of the soviet system. This book is not easy to read, as what lina and her family had to endure was completely horrifying and brutal. Between shades of gray by ruta sepetys, paperback barnes. While reading the book i listened to the soundtrack, which is as amazing as the story itself and i recommend it with all my heart. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple faq for additional information. Between shades of gray is a story about family, suffering, survival, hope, evil, and friendship. Between shades of gray by ruta sepetys 681 words 123 help me. This response to unfairness intensified my view of mankind. Lina is just like any other fifteenyearold lithuanian girl in 1941. Why is the story of the baltics so much less familiar to.
Between shades of gray is partly based upon the stories sepetys heard from survivors of soviet repressions in the baltic states during a visit to her relatives in lithuania. Thank you so much for sharing your activities for between shades of gray. In 1941, fifteenyearold lina is preparing for art school, first dates, and all that summer has to offer. The first reason is, the kids found there dad on a train that was going to siberia. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel. I would give the book, between shades of grey 5 stars out of 5. Despite the situation lina is placed in at the young age of fifteen, she audaciously chooses to write about the terrible cruelties the soviets are doing to those around her as well as her family and herself. This article was first published on april 16, 2012.
Between shades of gray by ruta sepetys book club ideas. While this book was hard to read, lina is an incredibly strong, likeable heroine and her mother, elena, was the voice of optimism, hope, and kindness. Nov 23, 2018 but next january, a story that could be summed up that way will make its debut in theaters, capping the extraordinary journey of a little novel that could. Book talk on between shades of gray by ruta sepetys. Readers also get to read about people who were on the other side of the war and this teaches readers that there are many sides to a war. Theres a great deal of misery in between shades of gray and other stories of government oppression, such as the holocaust. She is arrested alongside her mother, elena, and tenyearold brother jonas.
Book talk on between shades of gray by ruta sepetys youtube. And, since ive been in a historical fiction type of mood, i steeled myself for a harrowing, difficult read about the lithuanian experience in wwii. However, ruta sepetys did an incredible job telling this story of resilience. During world war 2, the soviet union red army and the germany nazis were battling over the baltic states for power. Aug 15, 2012 additionally, between shades of gray made a number of best of 2011 lists including many of our own smugglivus guest authors and bloggers all this prompted me to buy the book. Despite the situation lina is placed in at the young age of fifteen, she audaciously chooses to write about the terrible cruelties the soviets are doing to those around her as well as. Based on the authors family, includes a historical note.
Overall, i believe that the book between shades of grey is a wellwritten and important story that teaches readers valuable lessons. As one would expect, this wartime story is horribly sad and disturbing. It was nominated for the 2012 cilip carnegie medal and has been. Critically acclaimed, international and new york times bestseller. However, there are moments in the imprisoned peoples lives where they remind. The end historical fiction keeping dignity the guards looked at one another, dumbfounded. Determine which chapters, themes and styles you already know and what you need to study for your upcoming essay, midterm, or final exam. The between shades of grey quiz meet your next favorite book.
Several weeks ago, i received a telling email from my 29yearold sisterinlaw. Teen, 15 years old written by al watson august 9, 2019. Between shades of gray isnt the type of book id normally read, but im extremely glad that i decided to read it. Ruta sepetys was inspired to write a fiction book instead of a nonfiction book based on the stories she heard from survivors of the genocide during a. But one night, the soviet secret police barge violently into her home, deporting her along with her mother and younger brother. Families can talk about parallels between this story and accounts by holocaust survivors. 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. Few books are beautifully written, fewer still are important. Reading between shades of gray reminded me, once again, the importance of reading books. Between shades of gray important quotes with page number.
Listen to between shades of gray by ruta sepetys at. The women who is currently having a baby in the hospital, we are waiting for so. The family is given very little time to pack before they. Between shades of gray by ruta sepetys 2011, historical fiction selfreflection.
Take our free between shades of gray quiz below, with 25 multiple choice questions that help you test your knowledge. Between shades of gray themes from litcharts the creators. Between shades of gray by ruta sepetys, is one of the most famous historical fiction books ever written. Recommended resources discussion guide between shades of gray.
Between shades of gray is told in first person by lina, a fifteen year old lithuanian girl. Between shades of gray summary from litcharts the creators. Between shades of gray by elizabeth anderson on prezi. Her father kostas has been arrested earlier, and they dont know where he is the family is given very little time to pack before they are loaded onto a bus full of other arrested. Jonas and lina were told that they were not allowed to talk to anyone. In june of 1941, fifteenyearold lina vilkas is arrested by the soviet secret police, the nkvd, from her home in kaunas, lithuania. Until one night when soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life theyve known. Her father kostas has been arrested earlier, and they dont know where he is. Between shades of gray is not an uplifting book, although it is intended to inspire its reader to consider the nature of good and evil.
Apr 07, 2011 between shades of gray is a story about family, suffering, survival, hope, evil, and friendship. I have read this book about 3 times now, and i love it even more. The washington postfrom new york times and international best seller and carnegie medal winner ruta sepetys, author of salt to the. She said that many people know what hitler did but forget what stalin did. Between shades of gray by ruta sepetys fiction is so. At the book events, whats been so incredible is seeing people of. Between shades of gray is one of the best novellas ive ever come across. The epilogue, which i am of two minds about, clearly states the authors mission for the book, which is a good one, but is perhaps a bit too forceful when stated directly. They battled back and forth soviet occupation1940 nazi occupation soviet. A moving and haunting novel perfect for readers of the book thief.
This book gets a strong 3 for a variety of reasons. The women who is currently having a baby in the hospital, we are waiting for so the n. Between shades of gray is a harrowing story about a young girl, her family and her neighbors being forced from their home in lithuania and imprisoned in a brutal siberian encampment under stalins rule. The question and answer section for between shades of gray is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.
The nkvd, which i learned was a precursor to the kgb, is deporting linas family along with hundred of thousands of other people from lithuania, latvia, estonia, and finland. Download the full discussion guide read an excerpt. Mar 28, 2011 between shades of gray by ruta sepetys thanks in part to the large body of wellwritten, honest accounts both fictional and nonfictional about the holocaust, americans now grow up both knowing of, and being rightly horrified by, the atrocities committed by the nazis during world war ii. D took the family and threw them into the truck with everyone else who was going to this mysterious place.
It additionally features the moderate chipping ceaselessly of life down to its barest structure that the vilkas involvement with the hands of the nkvd, trading valuable treasures for the desire for staying together for a brief period longer. Related posts about between shades of gray important quotes with page number. 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. There is no real resolution or end to the story it just stops without allowing the reader to gain any sense of where the main character or anyone else is at the end. May 07, 2015 and between shades of gray is read in middle school and all the way up to the university level and then by elderly people. It will be our first book this month in my high school book club. 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. I will incorporate many of your wonderful ideas, activities, and information. An international best seller, a numberone new york times best seller, and now a major motion picture ruta sepetyss between shades of gray is now the film ashes in the snow.
That morning, my brothers was worth a pocket watch. Every historical fiction lover, but i honestly think every body should read this because its a beautiful story. This book has nothing to do with that shamble of a series called 50 shades of awful. There were only two possible outcomes in siberia, notes lina. 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. Watch the moving and poignant author video at discussion questions as the novel opens, lina explains that though the signs were in place, she has little understanding that her parents had planned to attempt to escape lithuania. Sepetys decided she needed to write a fiction novel rather than a nonfiction volume as a way of making it easier for survivors to talk to her. Why is the story of the baltics so much less familiar to people in the west.
Between shades of gray starts off in 1941 and follows. Until one night when soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life. Between shades of gray, her most popular book, describes the deportation of lithuanians by the soviet union during world war ii through. Jan 29, 2016 between shades of gray by ruta sepetys 2011, historical fiction cover of the first edition. In 1940, josef stalin, the leader of the soviet union, annexed lithuania to make it part of the soviet union. Children, at a certain age, ought to begin learning about the ghastly events that. Between shades of gray is a 2011 historicalfiction novel by lithuanianamerican author ruta sepetys. I have become obsessed with her books and her outstanding level of writing. Apr 01, 2020 ruta sepetys, authors note, between shades of gray. Sepetys reminds us of what could be if we turn our backs on the world and continue to focus only on our own individual lives. Official book website for between shades of gray by ruta. Between shades of gray, a new york times best seller, is the debut novel of american novelist ruta sepetys. One that seems to be forgotten when people talk about the atrocities that occurred during world war ii. She is told one day by her mother to pack a bag, and to hurry.
Between shades of gray author talks totalitarianism and stalin. Feb 11, 2014 between shades of gray by ruta sepetys. Between shades of gray original soundtrack based on the novel by ruta sepetys, an album by gavin mikhail. Between shades of gray is a riveting novel that steals your breath, captures your heart, and reveals the miraculous nature of the human spirit.