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akhgrubbs's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
cassmccaff's review against another edition
4.0
I lived in the Baltic countries for a year and a half, serving the people of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Learning Russian, as well as their native languages. I honestly had no idea what their past had held until I lived there.
This book is good. It tells the story well, it is sad but not too terribly graphic. The characters are well developed and I was interested. I wouldn’t say that this book is so captivating or a page turner but the story that it tells is very important to me. And the authors story of why she wrote it at the end is also really good.
I gave this book 4 stars because the book itself was just fine. The true story however, is what one that needs to be told.
It’s important to understand that this is not a story about the holocaust. This is not Hitler and the Jews. This is Stalin, and his mission to wipe out all of the Baltic people that he did not believe were devoted to him. And they weren’t liberated at the end of WWll like the other death camps. They were there for much longer, some of them never even returned. Russia occupied the Baltics up until 1991. Over 50 years, they were under Russia’s command. The Baltic people have quite a history. I visited there labor camps and there were beautiful. Every camp left you with a message of hope, that we will not be broken. I found that very inspiring despite what they have been through.
This is a piece of history that is not talked about often enough. So I do recommend this book. I believe this story is very important to know.
This book is good. It tells the story well, it is sad but not too terribly graphic. The characters are well developed and I was interested. I wouldn’t say that this book is so captivating or a page turner but the story that it tells is very important to me. And the authors story of why she wrote it at the end is also really good.
I gave this book 4 stars because the book itself was just fine. The true story however, is what one that needs to be told.
It’s important to understand that this is not a story about the holocaust. This is not Hitler and the Jews. This is Stalin, and his mission to wipe out all of the Baltic people that he did not believe were devoted to him. And they weren’t liberated at the end of WWll like the other death camps. They were there for much longer, some of them never even returned. Russia occupied the Baltics up until 1991. Over 50 years, they were under Russia’s command. The Baltic people have quite a history. I visited there labor camps and there were beautiful. Every camp left you with a message of hope, that we will not be broken. I found that very inspiring despite what they have been through.
This is a piece of history that is not talked about often enough. So I do recommend this book. I believe this story is very important to know.
creolelitbelle's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Parts of history are not taught or discussed as often as others, and those are the times and events I enjoy most reading about. Sepetys's books are always eye-opening and emotional, but I appreciate the peek inside fictional accounts of what real people experienced. Between Shades of Gray (or Ashes in the Snow, depending on the edition) is no different. Multiple scenes brought tears to my eyes. What Lina, her family, and others with her suffer is heartbreaking, but she manages to never lose hope or love. Flashbacks of her memories connect to her current events very well and give a solid contrast between the warm, safe life Lina used to know and the bitter, cold life she suffered at the hands of Soviets. I love how her art and writings are incorporated into the narrative and tie into how deportees really chronicalized their trauma.
The strangest deja vu feeling crept over me while reading the book, making me feel like I'd read it before. I hadn't, and I can only explain that feeling by thinking back to an adult historical fiction book by Heather Morris that was set in a Soviet labor camp or gulag.
The strangest deja vu feeling crept over me while reading the book, making me feel like I'd read it before. I hadn't, and I can only explain that feeling by thinking back to an adult historical fiction book by Heather Morris that was set in a Soviet labor camp or gulag.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Genocide, Deportation, Death, Racial slurs, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Confinement, Murder, Chronic illness, and War
Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Alcohol
Minor: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Suicide
jenmangler's review against another edition
4.0
As a history teacher, I'm ashamed to say that I knew very little about the forced deportations depicted in this wonderful book. I knew generalities, but not the true extent of the horror. Just knowing the number of people killed in Stalinist Russia is not enough.
As human beings, we so often look away when someone is in trouble. It's easier that way. The characters in the book often are confronted with this, and so often choose to aid each other. As an engaged reader, I so often asked myself, "What would I do?" when reading about the situations that Lina found herself facing. Those are the best kinds of books, because they make you think not only about the world but about the role you want to play in that world.
Ms. Sepetys has written a beautiful, moving book, and I highly recommend it.
As human beings, we so often look away when someone is in trouble. It's easier that way. The characters in the book often are confronted with this, and so often choose to aid each other. As an engaged reader, I so often asked myself, "What would I do?" when reading about the situations that Lina found herself facing. Those are the best kinds of books, because they make you think not only about the world but about the role you want to play in that world.
Ms. Sepetys has written a beautiful, moving book, and I highly recommend it.
ag1997's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sereia8's review against another edition
5.0
What a beautifully written book. I didn't know this unbearably sad, tragic story from the not-so-distant past and it deeply touched me.
chloelliss's review against another edition
5.0
This book is traumatising and heart wrenching, my heart pains for everyone that was in their situation.
It was beautifully written, and the characters had so much depth to them.
Lina was a strong character, who actually had personality and strong beliefs. The first person narrative actually brought another insight to her character, actually bringing something to the table. This differs to the first person narrative read in other books recently, which felt more like it came to a dead end. This story definitely needed that personal touch, especially that of a rebellious young girl.
Please read this, it truly gives you another horrific viewpoint of WW2 that people seem to forget about.
It was beautifully written, and the characters had so much depth to them.
Lina was a strong character, who actually had personality and strong beliefs. The first person narrative actually brought another insight to her character, actually bringing something to the table. This differs to the first person narrative read in other books recently, which felt more like it came to a dead end. This story definitely needed that personal touch, especially that of a rebellious young girl.
Please read this, it truly gives you another horrific viewpoint of WW2 that people seem to forget about.
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.