Book · 1999 · Labor camps
Between Shades of Gray
- mentions
- 6
- people
- 4
- podcast
- 1
- episodes
- 3
- recommendations
- 3
This is a book about the Red Army in 1945 and her first book Between Shades of Gray was one of my favorite young adult novels recently.
What they say about it
- First book by author“her first book”4
The best things said about it
What interested me in historical fiction I honestly think that with my first book Between Shades of Gray it was a desperate attempt to explore my own identity.
The first one Between Shades of Gray I first read when I was the children's books editor here and it was the first novel I think that I came across as an editor.
4 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys is a historical young adult novel that follows a young Lithuanian girl deported to a Soviet labor camp in Siberia during World War II. The book was featured prominently on The Book Review podcast, where host Gilbert Cruz recalled first encountering and reading the novel when he served as the children's books editor. Pamela Paul also recommended the backlist title to listeners, emphasizing its distinct crossover appeal that makes the historical narrative just as compelling and effective for adult readers as it is for teenagers. During a dedicated author interview, Ruta Sepetys discussed with Pamela Paul that writing her debut novel stemmed from a deep, personal need to explore her own cultural identity and family history through historical fiction. Greg Coles also praised the work as one of his favorite recent young adult novels. Throughout the podcast segments, speakers celebrated the book's ability to shed light on a tragic and overlooked chapter of history through deeply human characters and emotional storytelling that resonates across all age groups.
Every mention
Pamela Paul and for our listeners rud's books are most recently I must betray you but also her first book Between Shade… 3
“so Ruda I have been reading your work since your first book as you know Between Shades of Gray which I encountered when I was the children's books editor of the New York Times book review”
“so I want to urge our listeners to bear in mind that crossover part because these books really do work for adult readers as well as for teenagers Between Shades of Gray as you mentioned you know that was not a fully personal story”
“and for our listeners rud's books are most recently I must betray you but also her first book Between Shades of Gray as well as Fountains of Silence salt to the Sea”
Gilbert Cruz the first one Between Shades of Gray I first read when I was the children's books editor here and it was th… 1
“the first one Between Shades of Gray I first read when I was the children's books editor here and it was the first novel I think that I came across as as an editor”
Greg Cowles um this is a book about the Red Army in 1945 and her first book Between Shades of Gray uh was one of my fav… 1
“um this is a book about the Red Army in 1945 and her first book Between Shades of Gray uh was one of my favorite uh young adult uh novels recently”
Ruta Sepetys and what interested me in historical fiction I honestly think that with my first book Between Shades of Gra… 1
“and what interested me in historical fiction I honestly think that with my first book Between Shades of Gray it was a desperate attempt to explore my own identity”
Other mentions (3: passing, ad reads, own books)
“really the inspiration for I must betray you came when I was on tour in Romania for my first novel Between Shades of Gray”
“one of the interesting things about this book is that it deals with similar themes that you had in Salt of the sea in the fountain of Silence in Between Shades of Gray”
“author of Between Shades of Gray when 50 Shades of Gray was thing”