Between Shades of Gray

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

This story which is Historical Fiction takes place during WWII. The main character is a young Lithuanian girl who goes by the name of Lina. Something most people don't delve into about WWII is that when the Russians (who were on the same "side" as the Americans) were just as bad to the people as the Germans were, the Russians raped, killed, and enslaved hundreds of thousands if not millions of people who were completely innocent in Hilter's mass scheme. The Russians, which this book focuses on is how the captured innocent people put them on trains and sent them to work camps. Where if they were lucky would only be malnourished, not dead instead. This book focuses on Lina (who if you have not read Salt to the Sea, another Ruta Sepetys novel is the cousin of Jonna. The review for Salt to the Sea is earlier on in my reviews and will list a link at the end of this review to that page), who is taken from her father, and forced to leave her home in the middle of the night with whatever she can pack in only 10 minutes. Not a lot of time to sort through all your important possessions.

Later on, in the book, you learn what they go through and understand the struggles of everyone in the war whether it be trying to escape the Russians, who were just as bad as the Nazis, or trying to flee the Nazis to the Allied forces of France, Brittian, and the US. I think that Between Shades of Gray does an excellent job of depicting (along with Salt to the Sea) what the people East Front actually went through during the WWII. Since the history books don't normally talk about it, even though they should since there were just as many heroes, survivors, brave men, and women who helped the war effort from there as in the West Front.

Overall this book was a great read, I would recommend to anyone with an interest in history whether it be fiction or non-fiction. I would recommend to anyone interested in WWII and most of all anyone who is interested in the story of a brave young woman who has the courageous heart to stand up for herself, family, and what she believes in.

Salt to the Sea: Review


Thank You,
Natalie