Here at BookPage, we’ve been talking about Ruta Sepetys’ novel Between Shades of Gray for weeks—and not just because Sepetys lives in Nashville and we have a soft spot for local authors.
Telling the story of the Baltic deportations during Stalin’s regime* through the eyes of a 15-year-old girl, this is truly one of the most harrowing historical novels I’ve ever read—and also a testament to human resilience. (Spoiler alert: There’s some romance, too.) I interviewed Sepetys for BookPage’s April print edition. You can read the interview on BookPage.com, and watch a preview in this video:
Between Shades of Gray is a teen novel, although I think even adults will be drawn into this suspenseful story. In fact, Sepetys told me at least one of her foreign publishers is marketing it as a book for adults.
Although our April issue probably won’t show up in your library or bookstore until next week, Between Shades of Gray goes on sale tomorrow. Enter to win your own autographed copy by leaving a note in the comments:
What is the setting (time and place) of your favorite historical novel?
*Didn’t know more than 300,000 people were forced to leave their homes in Lithuania and work on labor camps in Siberia and in the Arctic? You’re not alone. Sepetys believes this story has been lost in history, in large part because Lithuania only regained independence in 1991, and for 50 years the people who survived the camps had been used to maintaining their silence.
____
ETA: Congrats to Christy, this week’s winner! (Christy is a huge historical fiction lover and was eager to win this novel in honor of her birthday—which falls on April Fool’s Day!) Contest is now closed.
I really enjoyed Pillars of the Earth.
Any time and place in Europe is my favorite setting for a historical novel.
I’d like to share BSOG with my niece.
Loved Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
Several of my favorite historical novels are set in the US South. Any time really; that’s a relatively short history.
I would love to win. Thanks for the opportunity.
I really enjoy books set during WWII such as THE POSTMISTRESS and SARAH’S KEY.
I was born and raised in Europe for 13 years and I really enjoy books that are written about other countries. One of my favorite books is Sarah’s Key, it is a book that will make one cry. Between Shades of Gray sounds like a book that I would read and enjoy.
Books set in Italy during World War ll such as A Thread of Grace.
Snowflower and the Secret Fan was one of my favorite Historical Fiction books that I have recently read.
My favorite well book is Granny Dan by Danielle Steel it set in the early 1900′s in Russia. Such a wonderful book.
“Gone With The Wind” brought the Civil War to life.
Looking forward to reading this one. As always, thanks for the great recommendations.
Like Kathy, I loved Geraldine Brooks’ “Year of Wonders”, coincidently a book I chose for my teenage daughter but ended up loving when i read it too.
I love stories that are set during the Civil War (“All Other Nights” by Dara Horn) or World War II (“Atonement” by Ian McEwan).
With all the greatCivil War features presented last week on television I reminisced about the research I did when writing my Civil War novel, Four Summers Waiting. Published by Five Star/Gale in 2006 it went on to a LP edition by Thorndike Press. When the rights reverted to me I published it on Kindle.It has authentic diary excerpts and letters from my children’s ancestors, so if you haven’t read it, check it out on the books page of my website http://www.maryschoenecker.com.
Anything with a great telling of a story in history,but the deep south is my favotite,also this sounds like a touch of the Diary of Anne Frank,which was so moving and true,I LOVE books and reading
I’ve been hearing a lot of amazing things about this book! Thanks for the giving us the opportunity to win it!
This sounds like a good read. It’ll go on my “to read list.”
my favorite historical novels actually take place in 2 places and times – can only be the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon!
I love any kind of history, but I tend to get drawn more by things that relate to my own family history.
The Jacobite Risings (1688-1746) and the French Revolution (1789-1799) are two particular times in history that draw me in.
(favourite books include Henry Fielding’s The History of Tom Jones, Robert Louis Stevenson Kidnapped and Baroness Emmuska Orczy’s The Scarlet Pimpernel)
I generally don’t read many historical novels about the south/Civil War, but my favorite book is about that region- Gone with the Wind.
My favorite genre is historical fiction. I really think I would enjoy reading this book particularly because it covers an area of history for which I am not familiar.
I like to read most historical fiction from just about anyplace, although I really enjoy medieval Europe and novels about the plague. Also love historical fiction set in Asia.
I especially adore fictional history with a slant toward the humanities – art, music, architecture, theater, opera … as well as those set during WWII.
The Red Tent, set in biblical times, mid-east.
I’m also a big fan of Gone with the Wind- makes Civil War come alive.
would love to read this and recommend to my 15 year old.
I enjoyed God Don’t Like Ugly and the setting was in the South in the 1900′s.
17th century Britain in Iain Pear’s “An Instance of the Fingerpost.”
I love novels about the WWII era. I love seeing it through different eyes.
I liked Jennifer Donnelly’s The Tea Rose and then I read her new young adult book, Revolution, both set in early eastern Europe and enjoyed it also. Thanks for the opportunity to read another young adult historical fiction book.
I love historical fiction!
I love “The Bronze Horseman”, “The Year of Wonders”, anything by Margaret George, too many to name them all! I can’t wait to read this book!
My favorite historical novel is Pillars of the Earth which is set in 12th century England.
I love reading about any place/time in history – it’s interesting how much real information you can learn from historical novels.
I love historical fiction and would really like to win a copy for my birthday on the 1st ~ April Fool’s Day.
Not sure why, but I’m fascinated by books set in WWII
The Kitchen Boy by Robert Alexander – set in Russia during Romanov dynasty
Loved both “Sarah’s Key” and “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.”
The list could be endless starting with Gone with the Wind, Exodus, Cold Mountain, Winds of War, and so many more over the years. From the time I was in elementry school and reading The Story of and We Were There series books this has always been a favorite genre. Always looking for a new historical fiction boook to read.
I guess my remark didn’t go in Mon.,but I’ll add one,that sounds so good to read,hope I win..reading is my resting and entertaining time out…
Love to read a great book,hard to find
I love reading books that take place in the country, world war II, or anything to with Ireland. Thank you for this giveaway!
Historical novels are favorites as I always hated..yes…hated History in school. In finding out History was more than just numbers and killing but real people involved, just as we are today, in events that changed the world. I enjoyed reading Cleopatra’s Daughter along with Sarah’s Key and Corner of Bitter and Sweet in the last 12 months.
I really enjoy historical books. This book sounds terrific.
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet and Sarah’s Key were outstanding.
I really enjoy the books in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. It is like having a front row seat to history. When I was much younger I read Exodus and learned a lot about the founding of Israel. I would rather read a fictional accounting than a dry history book.
I’ve read some great reviews of this book and would love to read it.
Thanks for the giveaway.
I just ordered a copy for my NooK yesterday! It sounds wonderful and I would love a copy to pass on to teen readers. Good to see a YA book that is not just “fluff”
This book sounds terrific. One of my favorite historical novels is Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier.