I have just
discovered the novels of Ruta Sepetys and devoured them both. Her two books are quite different, both wonderful in their uniqueness.
Out of the Easy is Ruta Sepetys’ latest novel
and the first of her books I had come across. I loved every part of it (but I’ll
tell you more about this one later), so I scrambled to find a copy of ‘Between Shades of Gray’ and ended up downloading the eBook on my Kindle so that I could
get into it quickly.
Between Shades
of Gray is a war story of the people of Lithuania, suffering under the hands of
Soviet occupation during World War Two. This rarely heard account of historical fiction recalls the oppression of the peoples of the Baltic States and their
subsequent deportation and march across Siberia by the Soviet secret police.
Told through the voice of fifteen year old Lina, a teenager with hopes and
dreams of her own, the ‘Shades of Gray’ represent the hopelessness and atrocities experienced
by nations at war, while the green shoot revealed on the cover of the book symbolises
that even in such dire times strength, hope & love can break through. For Sepetys this is a very personal account of her own family’s similar journey. If you are
looking for extended reading on a WW ll theme –Anne Frank, The Book Thief or Goodnight Mr Tom, this book is one to add to your
list.
http://www.betweenshadesofgray.com/
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It’s amazing
how things connect sometimes. It just happens that a few months earlier I
had read A Winter's Day in 1939’ by one of our own New Zealand authors, Melinda
Szymanik. A Winter’s Day follows a
similar theme but focuses on the country of Poland, another country occupied by
the Soviets, where many were exiled to labour camps and villages across the freezing
Soviet Republic. Szymanik’s story is also a personal account. She draws much of
her material from the experiences of her father who, like the book’s main
character Adam, was himself a twelve year old boy when the Soviets invaded his
home village in Poland.
Both books
provide insight into World War Two accounts that I had heard little about. How
wonderful that these two authors have been able to use their pens to skilfully reveal
the stories covered up for so long by oppresive regimes.
http://melindaszymanik.blogspot.co.nz/2012/10/a-winters-day-in-1939.html
I’m lovin’ the fun series The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa
Meyer. These books combine a magical setting with a touch of romance and a
strong female protagonist, humorously navigating a number difficult situations
and prejudices.
In Cinder (Bk1) there is a palace of the future, a prince, and a ball to go to … and there is Cinder; a talented mechanic, despised by her step family and,
by chance, contracted to the palace to repair the prince’s personal android. 
