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Between Shades of Gray
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
Few books are beautifully written, fewer still are important; this novel is both. --The Washington PostLina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers 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.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 Lina ultimately survives. Between Shades of Gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart.Praise for BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY:A superlative first novel. A hefty emotional punch.--The New York Times Book Review A brilliant story of love and survival.--Laurie Halse Anderson, bestselling author of Speak and Wintergirls* Beautifully written and deeply feltan important book that deserves the widest possible readership.--Booklist, Starred ReviewA New York Times BestsellerAn International BestsellerA New York Times Notable Book of 2011A Wall Street Journal Best Childrens Book of 2011A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2011The iTunes 2011 Rewind Best Teen NovelThe #1 Book on the Spring 2011 IndieNext ListA School Library Journal Best Book of 2011A Booklist Best Book of 2011A Kirkus Best Book of 20112012 IRA Childrens and Young Adults Book Award for Young Adult Fiction2012 Indies Choice Young Adult Book of the YearA Carnegie Medal FinalistA William C. Morris Finalist
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LibraryFairy
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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Pickpick

Book number 4. Wow. I‘ve had this sitting on my shelf for nearly a year. I picked it up and read it in one sitting. Sepetys is an incredible historical fiction author and you can feel her character‘s thoughts and emotions bleed of the page. A part of history not often talked about but so important. 8/10

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Crystal83
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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Pickpick

I love this book!!! It was beautifully written!!! I found this story an emotional ride!!! I loved the characters in this book!!! I added this book to the #ISpyBingo challenge for a leaf on the cover!!! I rated this book a 5 out of 5 stars!!!

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booksandsympathy
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
Pickpick

"Have you ever wondered what a human life is worth? That morning, my brother's was worth a pocket watch". This was not an easy book to read(or listen to), but it definitely is an important book to read. There are so many books about the atrocities of Hitler and the Nazis but so few books about the atrocities of Stalin during this time. Ruta Sepetys does a beautiful job of showing the humanity of Stalin's victims.

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LiteraryNib
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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Pickpick

Ruta Sepetys‘ does a wonderful job of using flashbacks to carry the weight of giving the reader valuable insight into the main character's motivates, which made for an intriguing story that truly needed to be told of a forgotten people during World War II.

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booksandsympathy
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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I've been meaning to read this book for years. It was available to listen to immediately on Libby so I borrowed it and I'll start listening to it tomorrow.

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JacintaMCarter
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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Pickpick

#2022Book110
This will likely be one of my favorite books for the rest of my life. This is the sixth time I've read it and I still find something new to love every time. I just taught it for the fourth time and the students loved it as well.

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Beatlefan129
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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Thank you so much for the surprise book mail @Sleepswithbooks ! It really made my day ☺️ #LitsyLove

Sleepswithbooks Yayyyy!! I love mailbox surprises and I wanted to send you one too!! I saw those on your TBR list 😃💛 I hope you e joy them!! 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awesome!! 🎁📚❤️ 2y
58 likes2 comments
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Deblovestoread
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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📚 Tagged
🖋 Leigh Bardugo
🎞 Bednobs and Broomsticks
🎤 Billy Joel
🎼 Bitter Sweet Symphony

#manicmonday #LetterB @CBee

Cinfhen Same song!!! How could I forget Billy Joel 🤦🏼‍♀️ 2y
CBee Thanks for playing 😊😊 2y
37 likes2 comments
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rachelsbrittain
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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Pickpick

Once again learning about aspects of WWII I knew nothing about from Ruta Sepetys. This time, the deportation, imprisonment, and extermination of people from Baltic nations (Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia) by Stalin. When the NKVD come to their house in the middle of the night, Lina and her mother and brother are whisked away to Siberia where they are branded as criminals and forced to work under deplorable conditions. A heartbreaking read.

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rachelsbrittain
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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"They took me in my nightgown."

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwls

39 likes1 comment
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rachelsbrittain
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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Immediately downloaded another Ruta Sepetys book after finishing Salt to the Sea. Also put another one on hold 😂

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Sharv_Sona
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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Pickpick

I finished this book a day ago, and I must admit... I have been procrastinating against writing this review. Nonetheless, I am here! Coming to the book, I think that it was a brilliant book that portrayed the struggles of WW II in an excellent manner. Usually books about WW II focus on Hitler, but this one also included Stalin. At parts, this book might make you uncomfortable, and I‘d give a warning to the light hearted...
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Reyzl Beautifully written review! 2y
17 likes1 comment
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Sharv_Sona
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys

Was it harder to die, or harder to be the one who survived?

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Sharv_Sona
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys

“I've wished for death since the first day, and yet I survive. Can it really be so hard to die.“

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Sharv_Sona
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys

“Look at me,“ whispered Andrius moving close. “I'll see you,“ he said. “Just think about that. Just think about me bringing your drawings. Picture it, because I'll be there.“

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Sharv_Sona
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys

“Tadas told one of the girls that hell is the worst place ever and there's no escape for all eternity.“
“Now why would Tadas be talking of hell?“ asked Papa, reaching for the vegetables.
“Because his father told him that if Stalin comes to Lithuania, we'll all end up there.“

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Sharv_Sona
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys

“My point is that we are dealing with two devils who both want to rule hell.“

(Not part of the quote but the 'devils' refer to Stalin and Hitler)

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Sharv_Sona
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys

Their faces sang songs of defeat.

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Sharv_Sona
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys

“A guilty conscience is not worth extra food.“

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Sharv_Sona
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys

I remembered papa talking about Stalin confiscating peasants' land, tools, and animals. He told them what crops they would produce and how much they would be paid. I thought it was ridiculous. How could Stalin simply take something that didn't belong to him, something that a farmer and his family had worked their whole lives for? “That's communism, Lina,“ Papa had said.

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Sharv_Sona
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys

Why did boys have to be such idiots?

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Sharv_Sona
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys

“There,“ I said, finishing the drawing. “What do you think?“
“What's that?“ asked my father, pointing to the paper.
“My signature.“
“Your signature? It's just a scribble. No one will recognize it's your name.“
I shrugged. “You will,“ I said.

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Sharv_Sona
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys

“Our sense of humour.“ said Mother, her eyes pooled with laughing tears. “They can't take that away from us, right?“

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raeglenn
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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Pickpick

This was such a good book. I couldn‘t bring myself to put it down! It‘s about a girl named Lina who is being moved from her home to a Russian camp. She learns life lessons, finds love, and it all means that her life will never be the same again.

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kplovesbooks
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From my neverending TBR, here's one for #snow . 🤦
#wishesandblessings
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I haven‘t heard of this one! Stacked 📚 I see that it was a different title! (edited) 2y
Eggs Oh this one will stay with you forever💔 2y
kplovesbooks @Eggs It really sounds like it!! 2y
See All 6 Comments
kplovesbooks @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Confession, I had not either until I was looking for "snow" titles. ?? It was an instant add to the TBR though! 2y
Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @kplovesbooks Based on events that really happened in war - so powerful 2y
35 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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JacintaMCarter
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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Pickpick

#2021Book86
This will likely be one of my favorite books for the rest of my life. This is the fifth time I've read it and I still find something new to love every time. I just taught it for the third time and the students loved it as well.

Texreader She‘s a brilliant writer 2y
45 likes1 comment
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Coleen
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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Pickpick

While WWII rages in other parts of the world, Lithuanians are being torn from their homes under Stalin‘s rule. Though not as well known or as publicized as other aspects of the war, this was nearly as horrible. A sad but important part of history that many people, including myself, knew nothing about. The book was better than the movie (of course), but I finished both yesterday.

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freeatlast1137
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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Pickpick

In the 1940s, Lina and her family is taken by the Soviet police and placed under arrest for 20 years only for the reason of being Lithuanian.

I‘m in love with this author and her stories. I never thought I would like historical fiction but the way she writes makes me want to read her stories a thousand times.

bookaholic1 Loved this story❤❤ 3y
Texreader I love this author too 3y
21 likes1 stack add2 comments
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freeatlast1137
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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“We‘d been trying to touch the sky from the bottom of the ocean. I realized that if we boosted one another, maybe we‘d get a little closer.”

I love this quote. I think we all sometimes feel like that.

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CaitlinR
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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Pickpick

Ruta Sepetys‘ novels expose us to the worst acts perpetrated against the powerless, but also stand as powerful monuments to hope. In this novel we share the the horrors of Stalin‘s Balkan deportations, perpetrated to “purify” the new Soviet state; 1/3 of the population of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia died. We see these horrors through the eyes of young Lina Vilkas and her family. A painful story, but one we must read to honor the dead.

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shannasbookshelf
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
Pickpick

4.25 stars
Review: This was an amazing read. It was moving and powerful. The focus of the story, how life was affected by the Siberian work camps in 1941, is also such a unique placement and setting for WWII historical fiction. I definitely think that Sepetys has a way of writing WWII historical fiction that, while fitting in well with the genre, also stands out on its own apart from the rest of the genre. I definitely recommend this book.

CaitlinR Started reading it last night, but decided it is a “light of day” read — fewer nightmares. 3y
shannasbookshelf @CaitlinR I definitely agree. It‘s not something I could read at night. 3y
3 likes2 comments
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IhoardBOOKS
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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WW2 novel, 15 year old Lina and her mom and young brother are taken from their home by Soviet soldiers and deported to Siberia and the harrowing experience of the journey there and the deplorable conditions she has to live in and the things she goes through in the camp paint a picture of the war a lot of people probably don‘t know about.
Historical fiction has been so important to teach me more than my history high school classes ever did.

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Allylu
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Pickpick

Just finished this book. I started it today with 53% to go and I couldn‘t stop. I truly love when that happens. This story was very moving and chilling because it happened to so many innocent people. #100YEARS100BOOKS #72 #BookSpinBingo #DS18 I‘m not doing so well this month, but I did get my #DS read!

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!!! 3y
23 likes1 comment
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sblbooks
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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Look what came came in my email today📧 Two new novels from Ruta Sepetys! I'm particularly interested in the book set in Romania under the Ceausescu regime.

Crazeedi What's the name of the new one? I've read shades and salt both!! Excellent books 3y
sblbooks @Crazeedi I don't know they haven't released that yet. 3y
LibrarianRyan Shades of Grey was so WOW!. Heartbreakingly good. 3y
sblbooks @LibrarianRyan I agree! I don't read a lot of graphic novels, but I'm going to read this one. 3y
LibrarianRyan @sblbooks as in graphic= explicit detail its there. Not as bad as some of the holocaust books I have read. But if you mean the other form of GN, its a full novel. Then again look at who I'm talking to. You know the difference. Sorry its a long day at the end of a conference.
3y
34 likes1 stack add5 comments
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underground_bks
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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Pickpick

Simply but beautifully told, Between Shades of Gray sheds light on the true story of Lithuanians and other Baltic citizens, including young children, in the 1940s who were rounded up overnight by the Soviet police under Stalin‘s orders and sent to labor camps and prisons in Siberia for years, sometimes decades. As harrowing as it is affirming, this is one of the most powerful young adult novels I‘ve ever read and one that will stay with me.

underground_bks Read for March Bookland Challenge: Fiction/Classic—contains a map. 3y
Leftcoastzen 👏😻 3y
underground_bks @Leftcoastzen Peter always steals the show! 3y
30 likes3 comments
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ElleMNOpe
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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Pickpick

A beautifully written story, but also immensely heartbreaking. Presents a historical story with grace & realism. The use a YA protagonist is such a smart choice. Like middle grade has Lois Lowry's Number the Stars, young adult has Between Shades of Gray. The quiet romantic story line gives hope & some normalcy in an awful situation & is handled quite tastefully. The ending does come up quite abruptly, but this story is perfect all the same.

18 likes1 stack add
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Lirianni
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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“Sometimes there is such beauty in awkwardness.” ...

11 likes1 stack add
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Lirianni
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Pickpick

I love this book. It is really suspenseful. The ending almost made me cry. There is also some shocking parts.

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Texreader
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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Ebook on sale today

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Elizabeth2
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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#ThankfulThursday

✈️ I miss my mother-in-law. She lives in TX, and we are in MD. We haven‘t seen her in 2 years! I hit the jackpot with my MIL, and I miss our afternoon chats and day trips when she would spend the summer with us. I love her dearly. ❤️

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦👨🏼‍🤝‍👨🏻 I am thankful for my family‘s health this week. This covid surge has me a bit worried; my two oldest (college students) work in retail. I‘m so thankful we are all healthy.

Elizabeth2 Thanks for the tag @Eggs ! Recent post likes from @DaveGreen7777 @RamsFan1963 and @CoffeeK8. Play along? 🙂 3y
DaveGreen7777 Thank you for the tag! 😊 3y
KathyWheeler My mother-in-law was wonderful as well. She died several years ago and I still miss her. I was so blessed with her. 3y
Eggs I too was blessed with a gracious generous MIL who died in 2013 & I miss her a lot 💔 3y
CoffeeK8 Thanks for the tag! 3y
33 likes5 comments
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wideeyedreader
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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Went shopping today! Of course I got some books lol. I‘m very excited about these!

DAB Nice job.
3y
31 likes1 comment
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JacintaMCarter
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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Pickpick

#2020Book44
This will likely be one of my favorite books for the rest of my life. This is the fourth time I've read it and I still find something new to love every time. I taught it for the second time and the students who actually did the reading loved it as well.

Texreader She‘s such a great writer. She‘s one of those authors from whom I‘ll read every book she writes 3y
TheBookHippie So good...I could read it again. 3y
52 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Deblovestoread
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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OriginalCyn620 👍🏻📚🎁 4y
32 likes1 comment
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Tracey3
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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Pickpick

I have enjoyed everything I‘ve read from this author. The characters are so well developed. Lina is Lithuanian and forcibly removed from her home because her family was considered anti-Soviet during Stalin‘s reign. This novel describes the horrors she, her family, and many others endured as they were removed from their homes and forced to live and work in terrible conditions.

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wideeyedreader
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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Pickpick

I have a lot of feelings about this book, and most of them are not coherent. I don‘t understand how such awful things could simply be not known, and I‘m glad Sepetys wrote this book in an effort to change that. The writing style wasn‘t my favorite, but this is such an important book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 #bookspinbingo

TheAromaofBooks This one really got to me when I read it a while back! 4y
24 likes1 comment
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KelsieL
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys

What was life asking of me? How could I respond when I didn‘t know the questions?

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Sleepswithbooks
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys
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Excellent blame-it-on-Litsy-book. And a fun fact: I went to elementary through high school with Ruta... she was a couple grades ahead of me. I remember her as a really pretty cheerleader 📣 and I was a little shy nerd 🤷🏻‍♀️

Pageturner1 that‘s cool when you know an author you went to school with. 4y
59 likes2 comments