YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Come join us and read Between Shades of Gray

Synopsis from Goodreads
Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.

Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously--and at great risk--documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives. Between Shades of Gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart.

I might be able to join

If you need the date pushed back that's fine. I'm open for most dates

Okay :)

When were you thinking?

I would love to join.

I'm really looking forward to this :)

Lindsey wrote: "When were you thinking?"

I might have to wait tell next week, but I can always catch up if I need to.


I might have to wait tell next week, but I can always catch up if I need to.

So Feb 10?

hey i just wanted to check if we were still reading this on the 2nd or the 10th?

@Courtney what day do you want to read this? I'm good for either.

I'm interested in joining--whenever you decide to start.

At the moment we will stay with Feb. 2 unless Courtney wants the 10th....

The 2nd would be easier for me.

Then we will stick with the second!!

:) Now I just gotta try to finish some of the books I am currently reading before then haha

Same here. I'm trying to catch up for January and some of the challenges for some groups. So many books to read and not enough time.

Same here. I'm trying to catch up for January and some of the challenges for some groups. So many books to read and not enough time.

Right! I have to read my textbook for school as well :/ So much to do.

I hear you. School always gets in the way of reading.

Can I join you guys?

YES!!

Great, we will start on February 2nd, right? I read so many great review about this one. Can't wait to read it :)

Yes, we will start this on the 2nd :)

Hey guys Im pretty new to the site so i haven't done anything like this before but it sounds really cool. Can i join?

Yes!!

@Mickenzie I'm pretty new, too. This is only my second time doing a buddy read. It is pretty cool.

cool, I'm really excited this book sounds really good

I want to join too! :-) Yay, there'll be a lot of us reading! This should be fun.

I love that so many are joining!!!!

Me too, super super excited! :)

Whoa...there are so many who are going to join. I never experience it. The closest was only three people :D So excited!

I'll be joining in discussing it. :)

This one broke my heart, so i'm here to give you all virtual hugs! Haha.

Ah...it's a sad story, then? I'm not an easy crier reader. So let's see what this book can bring to me, hehehe.

Yep. :(
I don't usually cry at books either but i cried about 3 times reading this.

hmmm, interesting. i'll join you if i can find a copy. =)

I know today is still Feb 1st but I can't stop reading it when I think I just wanted to read it a chapter :) So I'm going to start early. Hope you guys don't mind about it.

I liked that (view spoiler)[ each chapter doesn't take so many pages, it's a short chapter. It's a simple thing, I know but this kind of chapter always makes me feel like I can read it faster than when I read long chapter. I hope you know what I mean. This book definitely has tension in it. I only read a couple chapters but my heart already beat fast in each chapter. (hide spoiler)]

@Rachmi Don't worry if you want to start today (Feb 1). I will be starting either later today or Feb 2.

Thanks Lindsey, it's 01:01 am here so it's officially Feb 2nd in my country :D I think I'm not going to read much since I need to sleep soon, though I can't stop reading it!

Chapter 7, (view spoiler)[Have you ever wondered what a human life is worth? That morning, my brother's was worth a pocket watch.

I'm only in the beginning of the book but it's already heartbreaking (hide spoiler)]

I wonder (view spoiler)[ what davai means. My guess is stop but I'm not sure (hide spoiler)]

Yaay! Welcome Novel :)

I'll be reading a few today, too, since it's also February 2 here :)

Chapter 3:
(view spoiler)["I shut the bathroom door and caught sight of my face in the mirror. I had no idea how quickly it was to change, to fade. If I had, I would have stared at my reflection, memorizing it. It was the last time I would look into a real mirror for more than a decade."

The writing of this book captures the emotions perfectly. I'm currently liking this one! I think it fits for a first person perspective.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 6: (view spoiler)[That is so cruel!! Why can't they wait a little bit more? The woman just gave birth. Ans why drag the baby into this, he's the innocent of all innocents!
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 7:
(view spoiler)["Have you ever wondered what a human life is worth? That morning, my brother's was worth a pocket watch."

OH this is so heartbreaking! It feels real.
(hide spoiler)]

Rachmi wrote: "I wonder [spoilers removed]"

I think it means Hurry!

Rachmi wrote: "I liked that [spoilers removed]"

I totally agree with this! (view spoiler)[I have that reassurance that I can accommodate a lot of chapters in a day :) (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 11: (view spoiler)[Lina and Jonas' father gave so much... It shows how much parents are willing to sacrifice for their children. It's touching :')
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 18: (view spoiler)[Their hygiene is not taken care of anymore. I can't handle this :( (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 18: (view spoiler)[Ona's baby is dead! Poor baby have to die. She can live, if only she was well-fed. :(
(hide spoiler)]