Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

39 reviews

oceanwriter's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I don’t think I will ever find a book Ruta Sepetys has written that I don't adore. Her books have set my expectations for all historical fiction astronomically high that I’m at the point where I’m okay if she’s the only historical fiction author I ever read again. 

 

Lina and her family are forcibly removed from their home in Lithuania by the Soviets in the midst of World War II. They are deported to Siberia along with several other families. Lina holds out hope that her father will come to rescue them and even attempts to get coded messages to him. With her drawing talents, she also creates secret documentation of the cruelties she and her fellow deportees are forced to endure. 

 

I think I say this every time I read one of Ruta Sepetys’ books, but I absolutely love that the story follows a part of World War II history that is not as well known as others. I consider myself fairly well-studied in this time period and I knew nothing of the atrocities discussed in the book. On top of that, the characters are so marvelously fleshed out, flaws and strengths and all. They felt as authentic as their situations, which can be difficult to find, especially in this genre. 

 

It’s safe to say I am head over heels in love with these plots and the writing. I’m curious to see the movie (retitled Ashes in the Snow) but I know it will shatter my heart. I can bear a lot more of this kind of content in books than I can on screen. Honestly though, it might be worth it if it remains true to the book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide, and War

chelle22's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

alexxrose's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Very interesting and informative, even for fiction this was something I felt learned a lot from. I'd recommend it for sure, but I feel like it comes with some homework that you have to do on your own. 

I struggled to connect with the main character's love of the artist Edvard Munch. This might be because I'm not well versed in art but I also felt like the paintings were supposed to be in reference to things happening in Lina's story but I couldn't make the connections very well. 

I felt like the book shied away from some of the horrors of these camps. I don't know if this was a specific choice give the fact its a YA novel, or if the author didn't feel like it would be appropriate but it felt like it took away from the story. I don't need to see misery and death exploited on the page but it felt like there were grim undertones that were being purposefully looked away from. Which did disappoint me given the topic of the book. 

The book also ended very abruptly.

once the doctor arrives and helps the prisoners at the camp, I thought there would be more about their continued survival at the camp or how they eventually left. Yes there was a set prison sentence but the text also implied it was indefinite, so its very unclear how one would leave a labour camp like this. I also wish there had been more closure with Lina's father and her relationship with Andrius and the sympathetic soldier. All of these end abruptly or get a one line wrap up that tells us nothing.</spoilers> 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, and Death of parent

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, and Grief

Minor: Animal death, Sexual assault, Suicide, and War

bookedbymadeline's review

dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I read this as part of 12 from 12, another great rec! The book tells the story of Lina and her family during WWII as they are deported from Lithuania to work camps in Siberia, as well as sharing past memories which foreshadow events to come/mirror the current events. 

I liked the short chapters and it was a quick read that pulled me in immediately. The characters are well written and I especially loved how Jonas’ voice/dialogue changed as the novel went on.

I read this in a single day, WOW WHAT A STORY! It’s a sad, emotional novel but mixed into the dark passages is a glimmer of hope. I never knew this piece of history and I think it’s a book everyone should read and educate themselves about!

Definitely another favorite for the month ❤️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and War

Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Gore, and Sexual assault

Minor: Rape, Antisemitism, and Injury/Injury detail

literary_lady602's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

megs_baer's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Gore, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

arlingtonchamberofgay's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Slavery, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Suicide, Blood, Excrement, Antisemitism, Grief, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

lena_margarethe's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Violence, and Deportation

Moderate: Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Medical content, and Grief

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and War

jojo_'s review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

Moderate: Excrement, Antisemitism, Medical content, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Animal death and Suicide

jamiejanae_6's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation