Between Shades of Gray

Between Shades of Gray
Author Ruta Sepetys
Country United States
Language English
Genre Historical Fiction
Publisher Penguin Group
Publication date
 2011
Media type Print paperback
Pages 352
ISBN 978-0-14-133588-9
OCLC 701021642
LC Class PZ7.S47957 Be 2011

Between Shades of Gray, a New York Times Bestseller, is the debut novel of American novelist Ruta Sepetys. It follows the Stalinist repressions of the mid-20th century and follows the life of Lina as she is deported from her native Lithuania with her mother and younger brother and the journey they take to a work-camp in Siberia. It was nominated for the 2012 CILIP Carnegie Medal[1] and has been translated into more than 27 languages.[2]

Between Shades of Gray was originally intended as a young adult novel, but there have been several adult publications. In an interview with ThirstforFiction, Ruta Sepetys said that the reason she intended Between Shades of Gray to be a young adult novel was because she met many survivors in Lithuania who were themselves teenagers during the deportations, and had a greater will to live than many of their adult counterparts at the time.[3]

Inspiration and basis

Between Shades of Gray is partly based upon the stories she heard from survivors of the Genocide of Baltic people during a visit to her relatives in Lithuania.[4]

Sepetys decided she needed to write a fiction novel rather than a non-fiction volume as a way of making it easier for survivors to talk to her. She interviewed dozens of people during her stay.[5]

Plot summary

Lina Vilkas is introduced as a talented young artist living comfortably in her home, surrounded by a loving family. One night, Soviet officers (the NKVD) barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions. She befriends many people and works hard alongside her mother and brother for food and survival. Upon arriving at the camp, Lina and her family are forced to live with Ulyushka, a cruel, seemingly heartless woman who initially dislikes the Vilkas' and constantly takes their food and other goods from them as a form of rent. Elena Vilkas, Lina's mother, is kind and generous to Ulyushka, though her brother Jonas and herself cannot understand why. She befriends Andrius who later becomes her love interest, Alexandras Lukas (known as "The Man Who Wound His Watch") Mr. Stalas (the Bald Man), Mrs. Grybas, Mrs. Rimas. There is also one NKVD member who also sticks out to Lina as well; Nikolai Kretzsky. Though he doesn't at first come off as necessarily kind or helpful, he more or less befriends Lina and her mother. He can be seen as only being downright cruel to Lina only when around other NKVD members. He doesn't seem to want to hurt Lina unless he absolutely has to. He is described as young, blonde-haired, and blue-eyed, and can be assumed to be quite handsome. Their relationship grows and remains important throughout the book. Alexandras Lukas is gray-haired and was a lawyer. He is often seen winding his watch, and is the voice and soul of reason. The Bald Man is secretly Jewish and can add a touch of humor because of his terrible advice and short temper. Andrius Arvydas is handsome, golden-brown haired, and a source of comfort for Lina. At first, she disliked him, dismissing him as an "idiot" because he smoked her book, which was a present from her deceased grandmother. Their friendship blossoms, though becomes in trouble when Lina accuses him and his mother for working for the NKVD. It turns out his mother was being unwillingly used as a prostitute because of her beauty, but only to protect her son and her friends. Andrius becomes Lina's more-or-less boyfriend, and gets Lina a new book.

Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously - and at great risk - documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Elena ultimately dies.

Characters

Reception

Between Shades of Gray has received intensely positive reviews. The New York Times describes it as a "superlative first novel"[6] whilst the LA Times called it a "story of hardship as well as human triumph".[7] Publishers' Weekly praised Between Shades of Gray, calling it a "harrowing page-turner, made all the more so for its basis in historical fact".[8]

The book was a finalist for the 2012 William C. Morris Award for a debut young adult novel and was shortlisted for the 2012 Carnegie Medal. The book won the 2012 Golden Kite Award. The book is a finalist for the 2012 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award.

Recognition

National awards

International awards

State awards

Translations

External links

References

  1. ↑ The CILIP Carnegie Medal Nomination for 2012. Accessed May 24, 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.rutasepetys.com/international/
  3. ↑ "An Interview With Ruta Sepetys". (November 2, 2011). Thirst for Fiction. Accessed May 24, 2012.
  4. ↑ Macpherson, Karen (June 4, 2011) "'Between Shades of Gray' reveals horror and hope." The Seattle Times. Accessed May 24, 2012.
  5. ↑ Alter, Alexandra (March 25, 2011). "An Unlikely Story for Teens". The Wall Street Journal. Accessed May 24, 2012.
  6. ↑ Park, Linda Sue (April 9♥, 2011) "A Teenager's View of the Gulag". The New York Times. Accessed May 24, 2012.
  7. ↑ Carpenter, Susan (March 27, 2011). "Not Just for Kids: 'Between Shades of Gray' by Ruta Sepetys". Los Angeles Times. Accessed May 24, 2012.
  8. ↑ Between Shades of Gray. (January 3, 2011). Publisher's Weekly. Accessed May 24, 2012.