Between Shades of Gray

Between Shades of Gray (2011) by Ruta Sepetys. Between Shades of Gray tells the previously untold story of Stalin's invasion and dispersion of the population of Lithuania in 1939, just before Hitler came to kill all the Jews. The story is told through the tale of Lina, a Lithuanian girl of 15, who with her family is forced to leave her comfortable home and travel by filthy box car to Siberia, where she is imprisoned and very nearly dies. This book is targeted at the youth audience, and there are some elements which might leave an adult feeling slightly unsatisfied, but in general I found it to be good reading and very moving. It is one of the saddest books I have read. The most amazing thing about it is that it is largely true, and is based on the Odyssey of Sepetys' ancestors. It has a satisfying ending, and the Epilogue and Author's Note at the end provide a much needed and very useful summing up of the historical events that surrounded the events in the book. Very, very good. Grade: B+