Scan barcode
lilycastle's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
eponineeurydice's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. This book was a true message of hope and triumph and goodness. It deeply saddens me to think that such evil could even exist in the world, that people could have so little compassion for human hearts and lives, but there will always be light and it will always overcome the darkness. This was an eye-opening book, and I think it's so important to look at our history, to remember all those millions of souls who died and to show compassion and kindness to combat that evil. This book was truly illuminating and I really enjoyed it. I almost wish it had more to it; I know the ending was intentionally open-ended but it was still sad not to see more details about Lina. Otherwise I thought this was such a good book. You know that phrase "tugs on your heartstrings?" I think I understand that a little more after having read this book.
wendythegeekgoddess's review against another edition
4.0
SYNOPSIS:
In this powerful historical fiction novel, Sepetys writes about unspoken history, Soviet union death camps where millions were killed. One night, teenage lithahuanian Lina is forced along with her mother and brother to a labor camp where they endure hardships, conflicts, starvation, illness, and much more. Lina and her family are separated from her father and she tries to make contact with him and help him find them by drawing and sending him pictures with clues as to where they are and how they are doing. So much happens over the course of merely one year, will Lina and her family ever be together again? Will they make it out alive?
Characters:
Lina: Our main character has such a strong personality. I love how she refused to be broken all the way to the very end. She chose to keep pushing, keep moving and hope for the best, she never gave up hope and helped keep her family together. She was such an amazing and inspiring character, the example of what a true hero is.
Jonas: Lina's brother showed the most character development over the course of the novel. Like his sister he was strong willed and strong headed but over the course of the novel we see him strengthen all these positive qualities and refusing to let the negative voice in his head take over. For such a young child he quickly matured mentally dealing with all the conflicts he and his family had to face.
Andrius: A boy close to Lina's age who takes Jonas under his wing and teaches him how to be stronger. He was a great character and had such a beautiful good spirit, he tried to keep everyone optimistic even though he to had many hardships to endure. I really loved his loving personality, and that ending, *tear*
REVIEW:
A book has not made me shed a tear in over 3 years and after finishing the Epilogue, I found myself on the verge of tears. The author not only puts you into the story but makes you live it! I could connect with Lina and her family, I felt such hate for the NKVD officers, such love for Lina and her family, such heartbreak for the many people that lost their lives. This is not a light novel, it is heavy with truth of the horror many people faced in real life. This makes a reader look at this piece of history a lot differently and instead of just brushing off the past, this book makes these camps hard to ignore. Never again will I ever just think "oh how awful" and then brush off when I hear of these labor camps because now that I've connected with these characters, these lives, I can feel the hardships and it saddens me. I loved how powerful and moving this novel was and I flew through these pages.
You'll enjoy "BetweeN Shades of Grey" if you enjoyed (Or vice versa):
1. [bc:Salt to the Sea|25614492|Salt to the Sea|Ruta Sepetys|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1437084512s/25614492.jpg|27126244] [b:Salt to the Sea|25614492|Salt to the Sea|Ruta Sepetys|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1437084512s/25614492.jpg|27126244] By: [a:Ruta Sepetys|3407448|Ruta Sepetys|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1344869981p2/3407448.jpg]
2. [bc:Night|1617|Night (The Night Trilogy, #1)|Elie Wiesel|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1391969340s/1617.jpg|265616] [b:Night|1617|Night (The Night Trilogy, #1)|Elie Wiesel|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1391969340s/1617.jpg|265616] By: [a:Elie Wiesel|1049|Elie Wiesel|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1255518412p2/1049.jpg]
3. [bc:Sarah's Key|556602|Sarah's Key|Tatiana de Rosnay|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1438863728s/556602.jpg|2523229] [b:Sarah's Key|556602|Sarah's Key|Tatiana de Rosnay|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1438863728s/556602.jpg|2523229] By: [a:Tatiana de Rosnay|305400|Tatiana de Rosnay|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1224254891p2/305400.jpg]
4. [bc:The Boy in the Striped Pajamas|39999|The Boy in the Striped Pajamas|John Boyne|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1366228171s/39999.jpg|1148702] [b:The Boy in the Striped Pajamas|39999|The Boy in the Striped Pajamas|John Boyne|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1366228171s/39999.jpg|1148702] By: [a:John Boyne|7195|John Boyne|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1439062965p2/7195.jpg]
In this powerful historical fiction novel, Sepetys writes about unspoken history, Soviet union death camps where millions were killed. One night, teenage lithahuanian Lina is forced along with her mother and brother to a labor camp where they endure hardships, conflicts, starvation, illness, and much more. Lina and her family are separated from her father and she tries to make contact with him and help him find them by drawing and sending him pictures with clues as to where they are and how they are doing. So much happens over the course of merely one year, will Lina and her family ever be together again? Will they make it out alive?
Characters:
Lina: Our main character has such a strong personality. I love how she refused to be broken all the way to the very end. She chose to keep pushing, keep moving and hope for the best, she never gave up hope and helped keep her family together. She was such an amazing and inspiring character, the example of what a true hero is.
Jonas: Lina's brother showed the most character development over the course of the novel. Like his sister he was strong willed and strong headed but over the course of the novel we see him strengthen all these positive qualities and refusing to let the negative voice in his head take over. For such a young child he quickly matured mentally dealing with all the conflicts he and his family had to face.
Andrius: A boy close to Lina's age who takes Jonas under his wing and teaches him how to be stronger. He was a great character and had such a beautiful good spirit, he tried to keep everyone optimistic even though he to had many hardships to endure. I really loved his loving personality, and that ending, *tear*
REVIEW:
A book has not made me shed a tear in over 3 years and after finishing the Epilogue, I found myself on the verge of tears. The author not only puts you into the story but makes you live it! I could connect with Lina and her family, I felt such hate for the NKVD officers, such love for Lina and her family, such heartbreak for the many people that lost their lives. This is not a light novel, it is heavy with truth of the horror many people faced in real life. This makes a reader look at this piece of history a lot differently and instead of just brushing off the past, this book makes these camps hard to ignore. Never again will I ever just think "oh how awful" and then brush off when I hear of these labor camps because now that I've connected with these characters, these lives, I can feel the hardships and it saddens me. I loved how powerful and moving this novel was and I flew through these pages.
You'll enjoy "BetweeN Shades of Grey" if you enjoyed (Or vice versa):
1. [bc:Salt to the Sea|25614492|Salt to the Sea|Ruta Sepetys|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1437084512s/25614492.jpg|27126244] [b:Salt to the Sea|25614492|Salt to the Sea|Ruta Sepetys|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1437084512s/25614492.jpg|27126244] By: [a:Ruta Sepetys|3407448|Ruta Sepetys|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1344869981p2/3407448.jpg]
2. [bc:Night|1617|Night (The Night Trilogy, #1)|Elie Wiesel|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1391969340s/1617.jpg|265616] [b:Night|1617|Night (The Night Trilogy, #1)|Elie Wiesel|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1391969340s/1617.jpg|265616] By: [a:Elie Wiesel|1049|Elie Wiesel|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1255518412p2/1049.jpg]
3. [bc:Sarah's Key|556602|Sarah's Key|Tatiana de Rosnay|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1438863728s/556602.jpg|2523229] [b:Sarah's Key|556602|Sarah's Key|Tatiana de Rosnay|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1438863728s/556602.jpg|2523229] By: [a:Tatiana de Rosnay|305400|Tatiana de Rosnay|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1224254891p2/305400.jpg]
4. [bc:The Boy in the Striped Pajamas|39999|The Boy in the Striped Pajamas|John Boyne|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1366228171s/39999.jpg|1148702] [b:The Boy in the Striped Pajamas|39999|The Boy in the Striped Pajamas|John Boyne|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1366228171s/39999.jpg|1148702] By: [a:John Boyne|7195|John Boyne|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1439062965p2/7195.jpg]
tomikorobson's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
rene_'s review against another edition
5.0
This book was so so beautiful, krasivaya , despite being the ugliest of stories; it tells the story of a Lithuania family during WWII and the hope that they clung onto. That the most misunderstood people turn out to be so so kind. I'm in pain.
ceenamonroll's review against another edition
5.0
Tragic, heart-wrenching, gut-twisting, and more.
I randomly picked this for an English project but I ended up loving it.
I randomly picked this for an English project but I ended up loving it.