"I looked down at the little pink face in the bundle. A newborn. The child had been alive only minutes but was already considered a criminal by the Soviets." 
 4.5* 
 I am truly at a loss of word after reading this book. You want horror? You don't have to read a horror thriller. I have never been afraid while watching a horror movie or a book. But I was horrified while I was reading this book. Where was humanity during the war? The people who fought, the army officials, they were human, not animals. So where was humanity? Every time a soldier was around Lina or Jonas or their mother or every time they went inside the NKVD office I felt terrified thinking that they are going to kill one of them, or hurt them or violate them. I couldn't put this book down without finishing, without knowing who will survive and who won't. 
 "Was it harder to die, or harder to be the one who survived?" 
 Maybe I can find several flaws that I can consider while rating this book. But I am a person mostly driven by emotions. And this is my first time reading about labor camps. So my rating may be biased. But I don't mind at all. Some may find some lacking in the character building. At first I thought if there were a few chapters about their daily life it would be easier to understand how the characters are. But as the story goes ahead, all of my complains vanished. The author shared an important piece of history through a beautiful story. I am really very glad I have read this book. 
 "You stand for what is right, Lina, without the expectation of gratitude or reward."