Sam Dauphinee asked Ruta Sepetys:

Hi Ruta!! I have always gravitated towards historical fiction stories for a good read, and I got to say, Between Shades of Gray is without a doubt one of the best I've read so far. My question is, was the story and the characters inspired or related to your personal life or bloodline? The profound emotion and heartbreak in the piece is heart wrenching. Thanks for the great story.

Ruta Sepetys Hi Samantha!

Thank you for your kind words about my writing. During a trip to Lithuania I visited my father’s cousin and learned that after my father fled from Lithuania, some of our extended family members were deported to Siberia. I was shocked, but learned that my family’s history was not unique. There are millions of people whose lives were taken or affected during the Soviet occupation. Yet very few people know the story. I wanted to write a novel to honor the people of the Baltics and also to illustrate the power of love and patriotism.

Thanks for asking!

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