Between Shades of Gray

Locations
Call Number: Teen Large Print Fiction
On Shelf At: Downtown Library

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown Large Print 4-week checkout	Teen Large Print Fiction	4-week checkout	On Shelf

In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina, her mother, and brother are pulled from their Lithuanian home by Soviet guards and sent to Siberia, where her father is sentenced to death in a prison camp while she fights for her life, vowing to honor her family and the thousands like hers by burying her story in a jar on Lithuanian soil. Based on the author's family, includes a historical note.

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

phenomenal book. submitted by JCastle on June 18, 2014, 10:18pm This book is a sad but very powerful book. This book is honestly one of the best books I have read, and I recommend this book to everyone but bring a box of tissues with you when you read it.

very moving submitted by camelsamba on June 24, 2014, 8:16pm This is a story about hardship, sacrifice, love, survival. It details the story of Lithuanians who were sent to forced labor camps in Siberia during World War II.

About 25 years ago, I had a friend from Estonia. She was much older than I - she'd been born in a camp at the end of WW2. If I recall correctly, it was a displaced persons camp (not a forced labor camp), and they emigrated to the US after the war. But perhaps their experience during the war was as miserable as what we read about in this book. Malle did not tell me much about it; perhaps she didn't even know. I figured it was awful (only knowing of German concentration camps). I don't like to pry, so I don't ask questions. I didn't know to ask. But after reading this, all I can think of is my friend's family, and her husband's. What did they go through? I'm so sorry that I didn't know to ask, to honor their sacrifice. The world turned its back, and we're doing it again for other parts of the world. We always do. We are pathetic.

"It is my greatest hope that the pages in this jar stir your deepest well of human compassion. I hope they prompt you to do something, to tell someone. Only then can we ensure that this kind of evil is never allowed to repeat itself." (P 338)

I read this as part of AA/Ypsi Reads in 2014. I heard the author speak at WCC, and left admiring the book even more than before.

Amazing submitted by unknown on June 22, 2015, 2:00pm Must read if you love learning about WWll!!!

Between Shades of Gray submitted by Varshini on July 22, 2019, 11:52pm A historical fiction book from WWII unlike anything else I’ve read. Definitely recommend - 5/5

Fantastic Historical Fiction submitted by ahlalejini on July 20, 2022, 3:28pm They made this into a movie as well- Ashes in the Snow! The author is a phenomenal speaker