Reviews

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

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kiperoo's review against another edition

5.0

I'm always a fan of historical fiction, especially WWII stories, and BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY did not disappoint. Not only did Sepetys show such amazing detail in her research and in bringing this little-known history to life, but she showed it with such an authentic voice through the eyes of her protagonist. An excellent, excellent read!

shortsm's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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

isabellarobinson7's review against another edition

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3.0

Rating: 3 stars

I really did enjoy Between Shades of Gray, but the plot and/or storyline felt like one straight line. There was literally nothing substantial happening. It felt like the characters were doing one thing, then they moved to another place, then did a similar thing in that place, then moved again to a similar place and did the same things there... There was no major plot developments occurring in any of the locations, and it felt like the book was just moving to the different places because that was what happened historically, or to show the reader that this place over here is also pretty bad and so is that place over there.

I also had the same issues I had with Salt to the Sea where Ruta Sepetys' writing style just didn't wow me. It almost felt like it should have wowed me, and that it was supposed to, but it just never did. I would read a sentence and be like, "That was good, I should be impressed by this," but I just... wasn't. I suppose this may be because Between Shades of Gray, like Salt to the Sea, was written in first person rather than third, which I prefer personally, but also I feel that third person narration is just more suited to the historical fiction genre as a whole. That being said, there were some gems in Between Shades of Gray:

"Have you ever wondered what a human life is worth? That morning, my brother's was worth a pocket watch."

"People I didn't know formed a circle around me, sheltering me from view. They escorted me back the our jurta, undetected. They didn't ask for anything. They were happy to help someone, to succeed at something, even if they weren't to benefit. We'd been trying to touch the sky from the bottom of the ocean. I realized that is we boosted one another, maybe we'd get a little closer."

So yeah, there were some good quotes like that, but then again, they felt forced or fake coming from a 15/16 year old's perspective. Like she wasn't meant to be able to think of things like that to say.

Ok, enough ranting. I loved this book. The basis of the story was great (even if the storyline was a bit lacking) and the characters were well rounded and developed. Between Shades of Gray was primarily a character-driven novel which, again, is against my preference, but I enjoyed it all the same. A solid three stars for a solid book.

brittsky's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

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

5.0

This book was fantastically written, extremely moving, and incredibly necessary. I know very little about the Soviet takeover of the Baltic States. It wasn't touched on in any history course I've ever taken, and after reading this book, I realize what an oversight that is.

I wouldn't recommend reading this on a full stomach, or without knowing the trigger warnings. It's dark, heavy, and relentlessly brutal. There are moments of levity, but they are few and far between and colored by the bleak reality of life in a forced labor camp. I learned so much reading this, but very little was positive.

That said, I loved each and every character. I connected with every thread of the plot, and was entirely emotionally invested. The symbolism is ever-present but never heavy-handed, the dialogue poignant and precise, and not a single line felt wasted or out of place. Ruta Sepetys can WRITE. I truly think this is considered a YA novel based on the age and viewpoint of the character alone, because it didn't feel like a single punch was pulled, and the writing was beautiful and sophisticated without ever becoming overbearing.

I can't find a single criticism with this, except that I wish it had been longer, so that we could have seen more of the end, instead of just the epilogue. I completely respect Sepetys's decision to end it where she did, though, and I want to read everything else she's ever written (after a break filled with happy books, to decompress and to remember the good in the world).

msavaiano's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad medium-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

3.75

hiltzmoore's review against another edition

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5.0

Really well written young adult historical fiction, and I usually don't like a lot of young adult historical fiction, so that is saying something. This is a well told, suspenseful book about a time and circumstance in history that I knew nothing about (Russia's deportation of Lithuanian citizens during WWII). I was shocked to know that the refugees were kept in Siberia well after the war was over and that upon their eventual release, it was made a crime for them to talk about their experiences there. I'm really glad I picked this book up.