

BOOK: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
“We’d been trying to touch the sky from the bottom of the ocean. I realized that if we boosted one another, maybe we’d get a little closer.”
Where my Ruta fans at?! Salt to the Sea is one of my all-time favorite books, but I haven’t read anything else by Ruta Sepetys until now. I don’t know why I waited so long…perhaps because my TBR stack is eight thousand titles long. The struggle is real. Anyway, Between Shades of Gray is set during the terror of Stalin’s reign and its effects on the country of LIthuania. When they are forced from their homes and taken to a Siberian labor camp, Lina and her family must fight for their lives in unfathomable ways. Desperate to communicate with her father–who was taken to another, unknown location–Lina uses her artistic gifts to slip hidden messages into the mail. New horrors await Lina’s family–and the family they’ve made for themselves at the camp–at every turn. Hope for survival is slim, but Lina hopes her strength, determination, and cleverness will be enough to outlast the terror that encompassed her life.
Like most historical fiction I read, this novel taught me a lot about an unthinkable time in history. I’ve read a lot of war novels over the years, but never any about the terror and devastation faced by Lithuanians during the time of Stalin’s rule. I couldn’t believe some of the things that happened to Lina and her family in this novel. Her resilience amidst the destruction, sadness, and cruelty going on around her is astounding. Her story will stick with you long after you put this one down; it’s still on my mind so many days later. Any fans of historical fiction will find this one to be worth the read. [[RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars]] I liked Salt to the Sea better, but this one was still very moving heart-wrenching.
LOOK: Dress – Old Navy
This dress is perfect piece for transitioning to spring. I love the long sleeves and the simple tie at the waist. Old Navy can be so hit-or-miss sometimes, but they have some super cute new arrivals that are worth checking out, including lots of on-sale items!
Happy Reading! xo, Amy