16 shades of gray book lithuania

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. Classroom lesson plans for between shades of gray exploring the novel through writing and research 1. One of the men tells lina why their family was deported. According to what ive read, the nkvd officers appear to be cruel. Their educational value cannot be underestimated whether its fiction or nonfiction. A lot of people probably bypassed this book due to the fact it coincidentally sounds very similar to 50 shades of grey, a notorious adultsonly book. Lina fights for her life, vowing that if she survives she will honor her family, and the thousands like hers, by burying her complete story in. In the book between shades of gray, a lithuanian family is forced out of their home and forced into a new life. Her family consists of her, her brother, and her mother, all three of them are thrown into cattle carts and shipped off to altiia. In the book between shades of gray the main character, lina is taken from her home in kaunas and put in a labor camp in siberia for 12 years. Sep 16, 2015 between shades of gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart. She traveled to lithuania twice, interviewed dozens of survivors, and even spent a weekend living inside a camp meant to replicate as far as is possible the experience of those who were forcibly deported.

In the book between shades of gray, where did andrius hide dombey and son. Germany, already at war with poland, is on the verge of invading the ussr. Jul 19, 2016 now, thanks to between shades of gray ashes in the snow, the history of that part of the world is much more vivid. Lina vilkas is just 15 when her family is deported from lithuania as part of the baltic annexation of 1940. Any book that gives the reader an idea of life and culture in lithuania score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.

The title of the book is between shades of gray, and these shades of gray can refer to several things. This fictional story is based on true accounts of lithuanians who survived stalins. Between shades of gray is written by ruta sepetys and focuses on the cruel fate of a small girl who was exiled to siberia, where she had to face separation from her family and devastating living conditions in order to survive. It also mentioned how hitler was taking over the country of lithuania, which was a. Two years earlier, the soviet union had annexed the baltic states lithuania, latvia, and estonia.

I probably knew some of lithuanias history during that time period from school, but it was something vague in the back of my mind. Can be historical, historical fiction, novels, poetry, etc. Apr 07, 2011 reading between shades of gray reminded me, once again, the importance of reading books. Between shades of gray book report timeline created by sarahjohnson1. Between shades of gray by ruta sepetys central rappahannock. Few books are beautifully written, fewer still are important. The washington postfrom new york times and international bestseller and carnegie medal winner ruta sepetys, author of salt to the sea, comes a. Between shades of gray book report timeline timetoast timelines. It is june, and the countryside of lithuania is beautiful. Between shades of gray brings to light a period of ww2 history that has been overlooked or forgotten.

A discussion of between shades of gray and book signing. I feel grateful for a writer like ruta sepetys who bravely tells the hard story of what happens to the innocent when world leaders and their minions choose hate and. Now, thanks to between shades of grayashes in the snow, the history of that part of the world is much more vivid. December 15 nashville, tn edmondson pike branch of the nashville library 6. Before the 2nd ww began the communist dictator stalin, knew war with the nazis was looming and had concerns about the baltic countries abilities to protect the russian border from. Reading between shades of gray reminded me, once again, the importance of reading books. Sep 10, 2010 between shades of gray is a riveting novel that steals your breath, captures your heart, and reveals the miraculous nature of the human spirit. The movie for this book, which released in 2018, is called ashes in the snow.

Between shades of gray book page the baltic states. Andrius gives her dombey and son, a book by charles dickens. Shades of gray by carolyn reeder, tim obrien, paperback. Jan 16, 2015 between shades of gray is the story of fifteenyearold lina vilkas and her uppermiddle class lithuanian family. When the soviet union occupied lithuania, many locals were actually deported to siberia. She is arrested alongside her mother, elena, and tenyearold brother jonas.

In 1940, josef stalin, the leader of the soviet union, annexed lithuania to make it part of the soviet union. Between shades of gray is a riveting novel that steals your breath, captures your heart, and reveals the miraculous nature of the human spirit. A discussion of between shades of gray and writing historical novels. Between shades of gray ashes in the snow plugged in. Her father kostas has been arrested earlier, and they dont know where he is. I feel grateful for a writer like ruta sepetys who bravely tells the hard story of what happens to the innocent when world leaders and their minions choose hate. Between shades of gray symbols and motifs supersummary. Between shades of gray archives the lithuania tribune.

Between shades of gray, ruta sepetys 9780399254123 penguin books usa. Between shades of gray summary from litcharts the creators. Mar 19, 2015 in between shades of gray, it is set in 1941 during the reign of joseph stalin. Though she has never visited, lina recalls learning the history of vilnius at school. Over spring break i read between shades of gray published march 2011, a young adult historical fiction novel by ruta sepetys. In the book between shades of gray, to whom does lina give the drawings that she made at altai labor camp. Books of lithuania 39 books meet your next favorite book. Sep 29, 2010 between shades of gray, ruta sepetys 9780399254123 penguin books usa. Between shades of gray, ruta sepetys 9780399254123 youtube. I read somewhere that the author says the book is about love. It borders the baltic sea, and is between latvia and russia. 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. In between shades of gray, it is set in 1941 during the reign of joseph stalin.

Research the political climate in lithuania in 1941. Any book that gives the reader an idea of life and culture in lithuania. The first is linas mothers gray coat, into which she has sewn jewelry, papers, silver, and other valuables 31 in preparation for the familys escape from sovietoccupied lithuania. The series traces the deepening relationship between college graduate, anastasia steele, and young business man, christian grey. Mar 28, 2011 between shades of gray by ruta sepetys thanks in part to the large body of wellwritten, honest accounts both fictional and nonfictional about the holocaust, americans now grow up both knowing of, and being rightly horrified by, the atrocities committed by the nazis during world war ii. Richard peck, newbery awardwinning author of a year down yonder between shades of gray is a story of astonishing force. The people throw a surprise birthday paarty for lina. When the soviets invaded they sent all of the educated people to labor camps most of them died, but the ones that lived were held for up to 15 years. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Her father kostas has been arrested earlier, and they dont know where he is the family is given very little time to pack before they are loaded onto a bus full of other arrested. Between shades of gray by ruta sepetys the little blog of stuff. They sing a birthday song and all eat their bread rations together.

In june of 1941, fifteenyearold lina vilkas is arrested by the soviet secret police, the nkvd, from her home in kaunas, lithuania. In the book between shades of gray, what does josef stalin mean. James, initially a trilogy consisting of fifty shades of grey 2011, fifty shades darker 2012 and fifty shades freed 2012. One girls passion for art and her neverending hope will break the silence of history. Between shades of gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart. With bel powley, timothy innes, jonah hauerking, sophie cookson. Between shades of gray book douglas county libraries. Ruta sepetys, the critically acclaimed lithuanianamerican author of between shades of gray, released a new book in the beginning of february called salt to the sea that follows the evacuation from east prussia in 1945 and the tragic sinking of the mv wilhelm gustoff a relatively unknown tragedy that was the greatest maritime disaster in history. The between shades of gray community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and. Between shades of gray by ruta sepetys the little blog. Below are the websites we used to find information, pictures etc. The between shades of gray community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. The story follows a 15yearold lithuanian girl in 1941 who is taken from her home with her mother and younger brother by the nkvd soviet secret police.

But its the history and content that truly got to my heart. Then youre elected to go dig up some food, said andrius. Until one night when soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life. Ruta sepetyss between shades of gray is now the film ashes in the snow. Twelveyearold will page is a grieving and angry boy when doctor martin takes him to his relatives in the piedmont region of virginia. In 1941, fifteenyearold lina, her mother, and brother are pulled from their lithuanian home by soviet guards and sent to siberia, where her father is sentenced to death in a prison camp while she fights for her life, vowing to honor her family and the thousands like hers by burying her story in a jar on lithuanian soil. As the novel opens, lina explains that though the signs were in place, she had little understanding that her parents had planned to attempt to escape lithuania. The family is given very little time to pack before they.

Between shades of gray, a new york times best seller, is the debut novel of american novelist ruta sepetys. Between shades of gray by ruta sepetys thanks in part to the large body of wellwritten, honest accounts both fictional and nonfictional about the holocaust, americans now grow up both knowing of, and being rightly horrified by, the atrocities committed by the nazis during world war ii. In the book, they did include major details such as stalin and wwii going on around them. In 1941, a 16 yearold aspiring artist and her family are deported to siberia amidst stalins brutal dismantling of the baltic region. Mar 22, 2011 between shades of gray brings to light a period of ww2 history that has been overlooked or forgotten. The way ruta sepetys captures the unimaginable circumstances these people were forced to endure, chilled me to the bone. With this debut novel, sepetys endeavors to tell the story of the baltic states. Author ruta sepetys talks about the true history behind. This book was beautiful, but beautifully heartbreaking. When the soviet union occupied lithuania, many locals were actually deported to.

Between shades of gray literary elements gradesaver. Before reading this book, i was unaware of the mass deportations carried out in lithuania by stalin during and after the second world war. Jonas and i were spread out on the grass, trying to stretch our stiff muscles. Aug 15, 2012 when i first heard about this book, i was captivated by the actual background of the novel ruta sepetys is the daughter of lithuanian emigrees, and between shades of gray was inspired by sepetys father, a refugee who escaped lithuania as a young boy. The total area is 65,300 square kilometers, which is a little bit bigger than west virginia. Unfortunately both of her parents could not survive. Mar 21, 2011 sepetys spent five years researching between shades of gray, which hits stores tomorrow. Lists of people who were considered enemies of the state were compiled and these people were removed from their homes and workplaces. Between shades of gray by ruta sepetys, paperback barnes.

Its printed in russian, so she can learn the language better. The washington post from new york times and international bestseller and carnegie medal winner ruta sepetys, author of salt to the sea. Wills family in winchester, virginia has been wiped out in the civil war. Its one of those books where you have to put it down for a bit after reading it for a little while or else you will end up in an emotional state that is probably not ideal for your health. It also mentioned how hitler was taking over the country of lithuania, which was a real problem for the main character in the novel. One of the people bought a pad of paper and a pencil for lina. Eventually, they arrive at vilnius, the capital of lithuania. Sepetys spent five years researching between shades of gray, which hits stores tomorrow. Only her and her brother survived and returned to their homeland. Lina, a girl apart of this family gets arrested with her family is sent to a kolkhoz to work for the soviets. It was nominated for the 2012 cilip carnegie medal and has been. Between shades of gray is the story of fifteenyearold lina vilkas and her uppermiddle class lithuanian family. She traveled to lithuania twice, interviewed dozens of survivors, and even spent a weekend living inside a camp meant to replicate as far as is possible the.