Between Shades of Gray

From the get-go, you can tell that this is a story not often told before. Lina is a teenager, she's Lithuanian, and she loves to draw. She also fiercely loves her family and ferociously hates Stalin and the communists. Lina's story is what happens when the Soviets invade Lithuania and systematically work to imprison, through hard labor, the people who disagree with them.

The book follows her on her journey to their final destination. Throughout the story, families are separated. People are shot. Children die. There are moments of joy and triumph, but, ultimately, this story is about bringing to light the absolute tragedy these people faced and how the world ignored it, prioritizing the threat from the Nazis.

Ruta Septeys does an amazing job of finding these kinds of stories and helping us remember them. Without a doubt, a new favorite author of mine.