Book talk between shades of gray

Between shades of gray reading after midnight reading. Between these plot points, the author elegantly transitions between the gripping descriptions of alia and travis trying to survive and jesse almost falling into the abyss of generational hatred of islam. Between shades of gray is a harrowing story about a young girl, her family and her neighbors being forced from their home in lithuania and imprisoned in a brutal siberian encampment under stalins rule. 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. But one night, the soviet secret police barge violently into her home, deporting her along with her mother and younger brother. I chose this book because my international literature for children and young adults described it as a world war ii novel that examines a lesserknown side of the war.

In june of 1941, fifteenyearold lina vilkas is arrested by the soviet secret police, the nkvd, from her home in kaunas, lithuania. The next chapter takes place 15 years later, with travis younger sister, jesse, defacing a building with an. The story explores the violence against lithuanians during stalins. Feb 11, 2014 between shades of gray by ruta sepetys. 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. Book talk on between shades of gray by ruta sepetys. Mar 22, 2011 the building, readers learn later, is the islam peace center, where jesse must do her community service for her crime. Why is the story of the baltics so much less familiar to people in the west. In between shades of gray, a new novel by ruta sepetys, the story is told through the eyes of 15yearold lithuanian lina vilkas, who, along with her family.

The first reason is, the kids found there dad on a train that was going to siberia. Nov 23, 2018 but next january, a story that could be summed up that way will make its debut in theaters, capping the extraordinary journey of a little novel that could. But between shades of gray is also a profoundly moving and inspiring book, as lina discovers first her own capacity for courage, then her ability to use art to overcome challenges, and finally her desire for both love and survival. During world war 2, the soviet union red army and the germany nazis were battling over the baltic states for power. Until one night when soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family. They want to stay together, so the children go with their mother. There is no real resolution or end to the story it just stops without allowing the reader to gain any sense of. Jan 29, 2016 between shades of gray by ruta sepetys 2011, historical fiction cover of the first edition.

Theres a great deal of misery in between shades of gray and other stories of government oppression, such as the holocaust. Between shades of gray important quotes with page number. Until one night when soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life theyve known. Related posts about between shades of gray important quotes with page number. 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. It first starts out in 1941 lithuania when lina and her family have been taken away from there home by the nkvd. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 344 pages and is available in hardcover format. Mar 22, 2011 a moving and haunting novel perfect for readers of the book thief. At the book events, whats been so incredible is seeing people of. Book talk on between shades of gray by ruta sepetys youtube. And, since ive been in a historical fiction type of mood, i steeled myself for a harrowing, difficult read about the lithuanian experience in wwii. A tiny silver of gold appeared between shades of gray on the horizon. Between shades of gray is told in first person by lina, a fifteen year old lithuanian girl.

As one would expect, this wartime story is horribly sad and disturbing. Apr 07, 2011 between shades of gray is a story about family, suffering, survival, hope, evil, and friendship. Download the full discussion guide read an excerpt. The guide can be used as a comprehensive tool to teach the book within the context of a language andor history class for a unit that lasts for 23 weeks. The nkvd, which i learned was a precursor to the kgb, is deporting linas family along with hundred of thousands of other people from lithuania, latvia, estonia, and finland. Richard peck, newbery awardwinning author of a year down yonder between shades of gray is a story of astonishing force. I have just modified one external link on between shades of gray. In 1941, fifteenyearold lina is preparing for art school, first dates, and all that summer has to offer. Few books are beautifully written, fewer still are important.

This response to unfairness intensified my view of mankind. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple faq for additional information. In my opinion, this wouldnt be the book for younger children, because it has a some abusing in it. It follows the stalinist repressions of the mid20th 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 labor camp in siberia. Students will rewrite the basic plot of between shades of gray and set it in another century, explaining how the different setting changes the work. There were only two possible outcomes in siberia, notes lina. This book gets a strong 3 for a variety of reasons. Jul 17, 2014 between shades of gray by ruta sepetys, 97801435889, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.

Lina is just like any other fifteenyearold lithuanian girl in 1941. Between shades of gray, a new york times best seller, is the debut novel of american novelist ruta sepetys. The first edition of the novel was published in march 22nd 2011, and was written by ruta sepetys. Take our free between shades of gray quiz below, with 25 multiple choice questions that help you test your knowledge. Lina and her mother are forced to dig holes in order to get a small amount of bread. Every historical fiction lover, but i honestly think every body should read this because its. The washington post from new york times and international bestseller and carnegie medal winner ruta sepetys, author of salt to the sea, comes a story of loss and of fear and ultimately, of survival. Aug 15, 2012 additionally, between shades of gray made a number of best of 2011 lists including many of our own smugglivus guest authors and bloggers all this prompted me to buy the book. Their educational value cannot be underestimated whether its fiction or nonfiction.

Before reading this book, i was unaware of the mass deportations carried out in lithuania by stalin during and after the second world war. 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. Could between shades of gray have been set anywhere. Official book website for between shades of gray by ruta sepetys. Historical facts and fiction for between shades of gray prezi. While reading the book i listened to the soundtrack, which is as amazing as the story itself and i recommend it with all my heart. Buy your books with free shipping worldwide from book depository via. Ruta sepetyss between shades of gray hits the big screen. 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 a jar on lithuanian soil. Official book website for between shades of gray by ruta. The difference is in holes, they have to dig 5 foot holes, and. Between shades of gray by ruta sepetys between shades of gray is a harrowing story about a young girl, her family and her neighbors being. D barracks to get her reward for the portrait, the officers threw the bread and potatoes at them, then started throwing garbage. Between shades of gray by ruta sepetys 2011, historical fiction selfreflection.

Watch the moving and poignant author video at discussion questions as the novel opens, lina explains that though the signs were in place, she has little understanding that her parents had planned to attempt to escape lithuania. Im trying to remember how i heard about this book but i think i might have found it on some nyt bestseller list. The difference is in holes, they have to dig 5 foot holes, and in shades of gray, they have to dig 2 foot holes. Families can talk about parallels between this story and accounts by holocaust survivors. In 1940, josef stalin, the leader of the soviet union, annexed lithuania to make it part of the soviet union. And between shades of gray is read in middle school and all the way up to the university level and then by elderly people.

Pdf between shades of gray book by ruta sepetys free. Between shades of gray by elizabeth anderson on prezi. Historical facts and fiction for between shades of gray by. The inspiration for the major motion picture ashes in the snow. May 07, 2015 and between shades of gray is read in middle school and all the way up to the university level and then by elderly people. She said that many people know what hitler did but forget what stalin did. She is arrested alongside her mother, elena, and tenyearold brother jonas. This is a ya novel about lina and her family in lithuania during ww2.

The family is given very little time to pack before they. Sepetys reminds us of what could be if we turn our backs on the world and continue to focus only on our own individual lives. Between shades of gray isnt the type of book id normally read, but im extremely glad that i decided to read it. The end historical fiction keeping dignity the guards looked at one another, dumbfounded. Listen to between shades of gray by ruta sepetys at. Between shades of gray is a riveting novel that steals your breath, captures your heart, and reveals the miraculous nature of the human spirit. Lina had to make the picture flattering but every time she looked at the commander all she saw was smoke and snakes crawling out of a grey skull lina and jonas went to the back of the n. 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. Created by maeva, the spanish publisher for between shades of gray, in this guide you will find ties to the curriculum for language arts concentrations as well as history and social sciences. Reading between shades of gray reminded me, once again, the importance of reading books. The question and answer section for between shades of gray is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. Recommended resources discussion guide between shades of gray. This is the second of my new monthly feature where i compare books to their movie adaptations and decide which one of them is better. Her father kostas has been arrested earlier, and they dont know where he is.

Ruta sepetyss between shades of gray is now the film ashes in the snow. Jonas and lina were told that they were not allowed to talk to anyone. Between shades of gray is a 2011 historicalfiction novel by lithuanianamerican author ruta sepetys. Despite the situation lina is placed in at the young age of fifteen, she audaciously chooses to write about the terrible cruelties the soviets are doing to those around her as well as. She is told one day by her mother to pack a bag, and to hurry. Between shades of gray by ruta sepetys fiction is so. Between shades of gray by ruta sepetys, paperback barnes. Critically acclaimed, international and new york times bestseller. It was nominated for the 2012 cilip carnegie medal and has been. A moving and haunting novel perfect for readers of the book thief. While this book was hard to read, lina is an incredibly strong, likeable heroine and her mother, elena, was the voice of optimism, hope, and kindness. But next january, a story that could be summed up that way will make its debut in theaters, capping the extraordinary journey of a little novel that could. The main characters of this young adult, historical story are lina, jonas. An international best seller, a numberone new york times best seller, and now a major motion picture ruta sepetyss between shades of gray is now the film ashes in the snow.

Between shades of gray is a story about family, suffering, survival, hope, evil, and friendship. Thats when nkvd have been decided to take groups to set camp with at the next stop. Between shades of gray original soundtrack based on the novel by ruta sepetys, an album by gavin mikhail. Book talk between shades of gray the nameless book blog. 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. There is no real resolution or end to the story it just stops without allowing the reader to gain any sense of where the main character or anyone else is at the end. Between shades of gray summary from litcharts the creators. Free download or read online between shades of gray pdf epub book. The women who is currently having a baby in the hospital, we are waiting for so the n. They battled back and forth soviet occupation1940 nazi occupation soviet. This book starts in 1941 with 15 yr old lina along with her mother and brother being taken from their home in lithuania.

Between shades of gray themes from litcharts the creators. Between shades of gray by ruta sepetys, 97801435889, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. As chapter 29 opens, the vilkas family is surveying the ten by twelve foot shack that is to be their home when the young blond guard comes to summon elena to meet with the commander. The washington postfrom new york times and international best seller and carnegie medal winner ruta sepetys, author. For example, what would be different if it were set in world war i or ii. This month, im going to be talking about between shades of gray and its movie adaptation, ashes in the snow, since it seemed like a timely one to talk about because the film was released this week in the uk and i just watched.