Between Shades of Gray

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. Published by Penguin Group, 2011.

Lina is Lithuanian. Her family is forced from their home by Soviet soldiers. Lina has no idea where her father was sent or even if he is alive. Lina is sent with her mother and younger brother to a work camp in Siberia. Conditions are terrible- they work numerous hours and they don’t get enough food. They aren’t even given enough wood to stay warm. When people get sick, they are sent to an isolation house, and rarely return.

Lina is a wonderful, perceptive young lady. She nicknames people based on their personalities- for example the man who repeats everything said is called The Repeater. She is determined to protect her family and others in her hut, even at great personal risk. Lina and her mother strive to make conditions around them better for everyone.

Her artistic nature is clear through her interpretations of things around her. She is a huge fan of Edvard Munch and refers to his work frequently as she draws the horrific events around her.

This is a standout in the field of historical fiction. It tells the story of some of the people who were political prisoners during the brutal reign of Joseph Stalin. It is based on the author’s own family history.