Anna's Books

Between Shades of Gray is one of my favorite novels of all time. I could feel Lina's hope throughout the story and found myself amazed at her will to survive. The writing in this novel is beautiful. Everything about Ruta Sepetys's YA debut was heart wrenching and, at the same time, beautiful. I look forward to reading her next novels! It’s an intense and tough subject matter of unspoken history, and the writing is both vividly descriptive and heart-wrenching, but also maintains the authenticity that this is told from a teenager's point of view.

Despite the setting and topic, it is far from bleak and depressing. It manages to show us some light among the darkness the friendship between the prisoners, the love that grew in those desperate moments.

Sections that struck me the hardest at times were those that recognized that even in the depths of sadness, there were moments of hope and love.

I recommend Between Shades of Gray to anyone who has read Anne Frank's diary and felt something for her. Between Shades of Gray is an important book about a not-often-talked about event in history. For this reason, it will appeal to historical fiction lovers and WWII aficionados & if you haven't read her diary, you should still pick this book. Ruta Sepetys is an absolutely amazing writer. The book ends on a positive, optimistic and, ultimately, defiant note. There is hope and love wound into this beautiful story.

This book will stay with me forever.