"Was it harder to die, or harder to be the one who survived?" 
 Boy, did I go into this one unaware. Ruta Sepetys was a familiar name due to the hype surrounding SALT TO THE SEA. When I was at the library the other day I saw BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY and decided to pick it up after hearing so much about the book and the author. I didn't know a single thing about BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY, and I think that was what made this book even more special to me. 
 I barely know how to review it. 
 Where do I even begin? BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY made me almost every emotion I can think of: rage, horror, sadness, happiness, and everything in between.The book revolves around our heroine, Lina, and her family, but also explores numerous other characters and their experiences, painting a broad and vivid picture of what Stalin and the NKVD did to around twenty million people. 
 "I planted a seed of hatred in my heart. I swore it would grow to be a massive tree whose roots would strangle them all." 
 You need to read this book, period. 
 BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY tells a story that begs to be read. Although it is fictional, many of the experiences Lina and her family go through are not. I had no idea this event even happened, much less how bad it was. So I began to think about how the events in this book were never mentioned when I was in school and how many people are like me. I wish I could give a copy to everyone. 
 It prompts thought and discussion. 
 It isn't often that you read the last page of a book and finally close the cover that you find yourself wanting to do something. I looked up everything I could find on the Lithuanian Holocaust and Stalin's reign of terror. I thought I knew WWII history but clearly, I did not. I wanted to learn everything I could about this tragedy and the people whose voices were stifled; even more, I wanted to tell people. I even found myself explaining the event to my mother in the car. This is a book that will stick with me. 
 "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."