Who is the author of Between Shades of Gray?

Ruta Sepetys is a Lithuanian-American writer of historical fiction. As an author, she is a #1 New York Times and international bestseller and winner of the Carnegie Medal.

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.

What war was the book Between Shades of Gray about?

Between Shades of Grey takes place in the 1940s in Lithuania where it highlights the journey of a young girl as her life is torn to shreds by World War II. It demonstrates a part of the war that is seldom talked about.

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 long was Lina imprisoned?

Lina was released in December 1933 but then rearrested in 1935 after refusing to give the names of other Communists to the Gestapo. She spent the next four years in various prisons, including Lichtenburg, a camp for women.

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.

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.

How long does it take to read between shades of GREY?

The average reader will spend 6 hours and 24 minutes reading this book at 250 WPM (words per minute).

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

Lina Vilkas Character Timeline in Between Shades of Gray.

Is there a movie between shades of GREY?

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.

Who is the gray haired man in Between Shades of Gray?

Rimas, and Aleksandras Lukas (a gray-haired man who was once a lawyer, often seen winding his watch, who is the voice and soul of reason).

Why is the title Between Shades of Gray?

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.

Is there romance in Between Shades of Gray?

Though the events portrayed in Between Shades of Gray were tragic and heart-breaking, the tone of the story told from Lina's point of view was so filled with hope, love, life and perseverance, the story felt more light than dark. As for those of you wondering if there is romance in this book, the answer is yes.

Is between shades of GREY about the Holocaust?

Between Shades of Gray is the story of the genocide of the Baltic people of Eastern Europe by the Soviet Union, one that is significantly less well known than the genocide of the Jews and other minorities in the Holocaust.

How do you pronounce Ruta Sepetys?

When you talk about our current, multiple award-winning author Ruta Sepetys—and oh you will! —you'll want to pronounce her name correctly: Roota Suh-pettys.

Who dies in between shades of GREY?

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.

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.

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.

What does Peerestan mean in English?

Peerestan- Russian word that means stop.

What are some symbols in Between Shades of Gray?

Who is Jonas vilkas?

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.