When was between shades of gray published?

Between Shades of Gray, a New York Times Best Seller, is the debut novel of American novelist Ruta Sepetys.

Is the book Between Shades of Gray a true story?

Based on the true stories of Baltic citizens, Between Shades of Gray is a detailed, riveting, and thought-provoking story of the terrors that the Baltic people faced during WWII under Stalin. In 1939, the Soviet Union occupied Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and annexed them as part of the USSR.

Is there a movie for the book Between Shades of Gray?

After years of anticipation, the film adaptation of Ruta Sepetys' critically acclaimed historical novel Between Shades of Gray (2011) is opening January 11th. The film premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival last September under the title Ashes in the Snow, and this weekend marks its wide release.

What war was the book Between Shades of Gray about?

This novel begins just after the invasion of Lithuania by the Soviet Union during World War II, and graphically portrays the hardships endured by those who were sent off to Soviet labor camps.

Do Lina and Andrius get married?

Though Andrius and Lina are separated after Lina and her family are moved from the first camp, Lina's letter in the epilogue shows that the two survived, reconnected, and eventually married.

Author Ruta Sepetys talks about the true history behind Between Shades of Gray

What does NKVD stand for in Between Shades of Gray?

Ruta Sepetys's stunning debut novel begins on June 14, 1941, as the NKVD (the Soviet secret police) pound on the door of the Vilkas family's home.

Is there a part 2 to Between Shades of Gray?

Although I don't currently have plans for a sequel to "Between Shades of Gray" you never know what will happen in the future. :-) My forthcoming novel, Salt to the Sea, will be published in February and it features one of the characters from "Between Shades of Gray." So it could be considered a companion novel.

Is ashes in the snow the same book as Between Shades of Gray?

Ashes in the Snow is a World War II drama film based on The New York Times best selling novel Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys.

Why is the title Between Shades of Gray?

Morality, Integrity, and Sacrifice. Between Shades of Gray takes its title from the complex nuances of morality that Lina, the teenage protagonist and narrator, experiences and must grapple with during her years of imprisonment in the harsh Soviet labor camps of Siberia during World War II.

How long was Lina imprisoned?

In the epilogue: A man find letters written by Lina in a glass jar that was in a chest. Lina and Jonas survived, they were imprisoned for 12 years. Lina married Andrius.

What happens to Lina and Andrius?

(view spoiler) Lina and Andrius both survived. They found one another again when they returned to Lithuania and they got married.

What is Luna's last name in Between Shades of Gray?

Lina Vilkas Character Timeline in Between Shades of Gray.

How old is Jonas in Between Shades of Gray?

Jonas, Lina's brother, is ten years old when he is deported. Sweet and caring in his nature, Jonas' purity is exemplified from the start of the novel, when he dresses neatly for school as the NKVD arrive at the home and demand that the family get ready to leave.

Why Between Shades of Gray is a good book?

While Between Shades of Gray is a powerful and important story, Sepetys' debut novel lacks the skill with words and raw emotional resonance that would make it truly, hauntingly unforgettable. Lina's narrative is simple and direct, emotions layered on one two-dimensional plane without deeper nuance or gravitas.

How old is Jonas in ashes in the snow?

Lina, her 10-year-old brother Jonas and their mother Elena are ordered to pack only necessities from their home in Lithuania by Soviet officers and charged as criminals.

Was ashes in the snow a true story?

Ashes in the Snow is based on the 2011 novel Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys, a Lithuanian-American writer who based it on the true story of Irena Spakauskiene, a 13-year-old Lithuanian girl who was deported from Lithuania to Siberia in 1941.

How does between shades of GREY end?

Lina's story ends when she sees sunlight on the horizon, and she knows they have successfully survived the winter despite the best efforts of the NKVD to have them perish. In an epilogue, construction workers in Kaunas in 1995 find letters and drawings Lina has buried in 1954.

Where does the book between shades of GREY take place?

In the book Between the Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys gives a very compelling account of the Soviet invasion of the country of Lithuania in 1941.

How does Lina change in Between Shades of Gray?

Throughout the course of Sepetys' Between Shades of Gray, Lina changes from a naive and artistic child to a strong-willed survivor.

What does Peerestan mean in English?

Peerestan- Russian word that means stop.

What does Kretzsky give Lina?

Though Kretszky is one of the guards who is cruel to the deportees, he begins to show signs that he questions the actions of the NKVD. Lina and Jonas are not sure why Elena speaks to him, but it appears that he has some sympathy for the deportees, since he gives Lina and Jonas firewood.

Who is Janina in Between Shades of Gray?

A young girl who is deported along with her family. Janina loses her doll, and often pretends that the doll's ghost speaks to her. She, like Jonas, develops scurvy and is only saved at the very last moment by Dr.

Who is Elena vilkas?

Elena Vilkas is Lina's mother, and is still a woman in the prime of her life when she is deported from her home in Lithuania. Though she is a homemaker and relies on Kostas' income from the university to support the family, Elena was sent to Moscow for her schooling and is considered highly educated.