Review: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Between Shades of Gray

by Ruta Sepetys

Philomel (Penguin)

http://www.rutasepetys.com

http://www.betweenshadesofgray.com

ISBN: 9780399254123

Release Date: March 22, 2011

from the official book site: 

In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina is preparing for art school, first dates, and all that summer has to offer. But one night, the Soviet secret police barge violently into her home, deporting her along with her mother and younger brother. They are being sent to Siberia. Lina's father has been separated from the family and sentenced to death in a prison camp. All is lost. 

Lina fights for her life, fearless, vowing that if she survives she will honor her family, and the thousands like hers, by documenting their experience in her art and writing. She risks everything to use her art as messages, hoping they will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. 

It is a long and harrowing journey, and it is only their incredible strength, love, and hope that pull Lina and her family through each day. But will love be enough to keep them alive? 

my thoughts: 

 

I'm not sure I can properly put everything Between Shades of Gray made me feel into words. The emotions of Lina and her family were so palpable that I sometimes had trouble separating myself from the story. Reading the story of Lina and her family I felt their fear, anger, and confusion. Even writing about it now, it's all coming back. 

 

Lina is a fabulously strong character. Despite everything she and her family endure, she holds onto herself and her hope and finding her father again. Strong as Lina is though, it is her mother's strength that astounds me. Through it all, Mrs. Vilkas is a pillar of strength for all of the deportees. She holds everyone together when they are ready to fall apart.  

I don't think there is a single character in Between Shades of Gray that I didn't find myself caring about in some way. Everyone's fate mattered to me; they felt that real.

 

This is a story that needs to be read. This is a history that needs to be told. Lina and her family may be fictional, but these things did happen, and we should honor the memory of those who suffered and died by sharing their story. I'm so glad that Ruta Sepetys sat down to write Between Shades of Gray and share these events with the world. I admit being of Lithuanian ancestry makes me even more emotional about this story; it felt very personal, even knowing that my family came to America prior to Stalin and his atrocities.

And now for the fun part: 

 

Because I believe so strongly that this story needs to be read. I'm giving away not one, but two copies. To enter to win just leave a comment on this post. You can talk about this book, you can talk about another book that really touched you, just say something. I'll announce the winners sometime Tuesday May 10 (specific time will depend on when I get up). If you're like me and you think you'll forget to check back please leave your email in your comment so I can contact you.

Eyecatcher: Die for Me by Amy Plum

Die for Me

by Amy Plum

HarperCollins

http://www.amyplumbooks.com

ISBN: 9780062004017

Release Date: May 10, 2011

from the author's site: 

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier’s parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life—and memories—behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate’s guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he’s a revenant—an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

why it caught my eye: 

Die for Me popped up as a recommend on Amazon. I love the catchy title and gorgeous cover. I'm intrigued by the plot. I love paranormal stories and this one sounds different from the typical. I can't wait for Die for Me's release so I can check it out further.  

Review: Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender

Bad Girls Don't Die

by Katie Alender

Hyperion

http://www.katiealender.com

ISBN: 9781423108771

Release Date: June 22, 2010

(ISBN & Release date are for the paperback edition)

from the author's site: 

When Alexis’s little sister Kasey becomes obsessed with an antique doll, Alexis thinks nothing of it. Kasey is a weird kid. Period. Alexis is considered weird, too, by the kids in her high school, by her parents, even by her own Goth friends. Things get weirder, though, when the old house they live in starts changing. Doors open and close by themselves; water boils on the unlit stove; and an unplugged air conditioner turns the house cold enough to see their breath in. Kasey is changing, too. Her blue eyes go green and she speaks in old-fashioned language, then forgets chunks of time. 

Most disturbing of all is the dangerous new chip on Kasey’s shoulder. The formerly gentle, doll-loving child is gone, and the new Kasey is angry. Alexis is the only one who can stop her sister — but what if that green-eyed girl isn’t even Kasey anymore? 

my thoughts: 

I read Bad Girls Don't Die for the YA book club that I run at work. I'm so glad this one won the vote, because it was an awesome book and I love that I finally got a chance to read it. Bad Girls Don't Die is an intense read, but it's a quick read. I flew through it. I was up until 1:30 in the morning finishing it. I told my boyfriend how freaky the book was and he tried to get me to stop reading it so late at night. My response: "I can't stop now!" Yes it was that good. I don't normally like being scared, but I wasn't about to put Bad Girls Don't Die down for anything. I can't wait to read Katie Alender's future releases. I highly recommend Bad Girls Don't Die to anyone and everyone!

You Recommend Wednesday

Hey there lovely readers! What's everyone reading this week? I need some suggestions for my Tuesday Eyecatcher feature. I know there are plenty of books out there that I want to read, but with my airhead brain I don't have any of them written down. :) So I need your help. What do you want to recommend to me?

You Recommend Wednesday

Hey there lovely readers! How's things? I know I've been a little MIA lately and I'm sorry. School tends to get in the way of everything. :) I'm working on getting caught up. If you sent me an email that I haven't responded to, I'm sorry about that also. I'm hoping to get caught up on those in the next week or so here.

Ok, now to the point, it's You Recommend Wednesday, which means it's your turn to tell me what to read. So let's have it. What are you reading that I need to check out?

Eyecatcher: When Stars Go Blue by Caridad Ferrer

When Stars Go Blue

by Caridad Ferrer

St. Martin's Griffin

http://www.caridadferrer.com/

ISBN: 9780312650049

Release Date: November 23, 2010

from the author's site:

A dancer driven to succeed.

A musical prodigy attempting to escape his past.

The summer they share.

And the moment it all goes wrong.

Dance is Soledad Reyes’s life. About to graduate from Miami’s Biscayne High School for the Performing Arts, she plans on spending her last summer at home teaching in a dance studio, saving money, and eventually auditioning for dance companies. That is, until fate intervenes in the form of fellow student Jonathan Crandall who has what sounds like an outrageous proposition: Forget teaching. Why not spend the summer performing in the intense environment of the competitive drum and bugle corps? The corps is going to be performing Carmen, and the opportunity to portray the character of the sultry gypsy proves too tempting for Soledad to pass up, as well as the opportunity to spend more time with Jonathan, who intrigues her in a way no boy ever has before.

But in an uncanny echo of the story they perform every evening, an unexpected competitor for Soledad’s affections appears: Taz, a member of an all-star Spanish soccer team. One explosive encounter later Soledad finds not only her relationship with Jonathan threatened, but her entire future as a professional dancer.

why it caught my eye:

As usual, this was a title I found while shelving books at work. I honestly can't remember at this point if it was the title or the cover that caught my atention first. I was a dancer when I was younger and dreamed of dancing professionally, so yeah, that's another plus. :) When Stars Go Blue is another addition to my wishlist. I'm looking forward to checking it out. Anyone read this one? Any thoughts?

Eyecatcher: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Between Shades of Gray

by Ruta Sepetys

Philomel (Penguin)

http://www.rutasepetys.com

http://www.betweenshadesofgray.com

ISBN: 9780399254123

Release Date: March 22, 2011

from the official book site: 

In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina is preparing for art school, first dates, and all that summer has to offer. But one night, the Soviet secret police barge violently into her home, deporting her along with her mother and younger brother. They are being sent to Siberia. Lina's father has been separated from the family and sentenced to death in a prison camp. All is lost. 

Lina fights for her life, fearless, vowing that if she survives she will honor her family, and the thousands like hers, by documenting their experience in her art and writing. She risks everything to use her art as messages, hoping they will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. 

It is a long and harrowing journey, and it is only their incredible strength, love, and hope that pull Lina and her family through each day. But will love be enough to keep them alive? 

why it caught my eye: 

I read about Between Shades of Gray in Publisher's Weekly, while on lunch break at work. The minute I finished the article I ran out to the sales floor and pre-ordered my copy. I don't normally read books of such a serious nature, but I know this is one I need to read. Part of the reason for such interest on my part is that I'm of Lithuanian descent and it's not often that I find books about Lithuanians. Not only that, but Ruta Sepetys is writing about a part of Lithuanian (and Latvian and Estonian) history that many people know nothing about. I think it's great that this story is being told. I can't wait to get my copy and start reading it. I recommend you check it out today, or rather,  a week from today when it releases. :)