68 pages • 2 hours read
Between Shades of Gray
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Book Brief
384
Novel • Fiction
Siberia • 1940s
2011
YA
12+ years
HL490L
Super Short Summary
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys follows fifteen-year-old Lina Vilkas, an artist deported from Lithuania to Soviet labor camps in Siberia during Stalin's regime. Told from her first-person perspective, the story chronicles her family's arrest, their harrowing journey, and the intense hardships they face, showcasing Lina's growth and the power of love and resilience amid immense suffering. The book includes themes of forced labor, starvation, and grief.
Melancholic
Dark
Emotional
Bittersweet
Challenging
Reviews & Readership
262,839 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys is a poignant historical novel lauded for its emotional depth and compelling recount of a lesser-known part of WWII history. Readers praise the character development and evocative prose. However, some criticize it for its intense and graphic depictions of suffering. Overall, it’s considered a powerful, though harrowing, read.
Who Should Read Between Shades of Gray?
Readers who are captivated by historical fiction and narratives of resilience will find Between Shades of Gray appealing. Comparable to The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and Salt to the Sea by the same author, this novel is ideal for those who appreciate poignant, character-driven stories set against the backdrop of World War II.
262,839 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
384
Novel • Fiction
Siberia • 1940s
2011
YA
12+ years
HL490L
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