Between Shades of Gray: The Graphic Novel - Hardcover

Sepetys, Ruta

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0593204166 ISBN 13: 9780593204160

Publisher: Philomel Books, 2021

Synopsis

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • A stunning graphic novel edition of the award-winning debut novel from master storyteller Ruta Sepetys; a story of loss and of fear—and ultimately of survival—in a full-color adaptation perfect for fans of all ages.

June, 1941. A knock comes at the door and the life of fifteen-year-old Lina Vilkas changes forever. She's arrested by the Soviet secret police and deported from Lithuania to Siberia with her mother and younger brother. The conditions are horrific and Lina must fight for her life and for the lives of those around her, including the boy that she loves. Risking everything, she secretly passes along clues in the form of drawings, hoping they will reach her father's prison camp. But will her messages, and her courage, be enough to reunite her family? Will they be enough to keep her alive?

About this title

About the Author

Ruta Sepetys (rutasepetys.com) is an internationally acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction published in over sixty countries and forty languages. Sepetys is considered a "crossover" novelist, as her books are read by both teens and adults worldwide. Her novels Between Shades of Gray, Out of the Easy, Salt to the Sea, and The Fountains of Silence have won or been shortlisted for more than forty book prizes, and are included on more than sixty state award lists. Between Shades of Gray was adapted into the film Ashes in the Snow, and her other novels are currently in development for TV and film. Winner of the Carnegie Medal, Ruta is passionate about the power of history and literature to foster global awareness and connectivity. She has presented to NATO, to the European Parliament, in the United States Capitol, and at embassies worldwide. Ruta was born and raised in Michigan and now lives with her family in Nashville, Tennessee. Follow her on Instagram @RutaSepetysAuthor and on Facebook at facebook.com/rutasepetys.

Andrew Donkin (andrewdonkin.com) has sold over ten million graphic novels, children’s books, and adult books worldwide. His graphic novel Illegal (co-written with Eoin Colfer) was a bestseller in the USA and UK and has won or been nominated for over forty book awards. He has long been interested in the issue of refugees and displaced people. He has written for many global franchises, including Batman, Superman, Doctor Who, and Artemis Fowl. Andrew lives near the river Thames in London with his family. You can follow Andrew on Twitter and Instagram @andrewdonkin.

Dave Kopka (davekopka.com) is an illustrator whose work engages in print media in the form of book art, comics, and portraiture. He is fascinated with exploring the vast spectrums of art and illustration, employing an intricate attention to detail, and aspires to be a creative force in visual narrative through profound storytelling--usually involving the struggle to overcome, and the humor and misfortune behind internal conflict. He currently haunts Oakland, California. You can follow Dave on Twitter @DaveKopka and Instagram @drawkop.

Brann Livesay (milkyaway.com) is a concept artist and illustrator with an interest in stylization and social change through art. They currently work full time in video games, but their art has also appeared in comic anthologies, children's apps, and the sticker wall of that one pizza place in San Francisco. Brann was born and raised in the DC metro area but would later move to New York City, Albany, Miami, and finally Oakland, where they reside for now. Their interests include dogs and independently owned doughnut shops, particularly those that carry a strawberry frosted flavor. You can follow Brann on Twitter and Instagram @milkyawayart.

Reviews

Gr 9 Up-To mark the 10th anniversary of Sepetys's moving work about a teenager imprisoned in a Siberian work camp, Donkin and Kopka have adapted it into graphic novel format. In June 1941, Lina and her family in Lithuania are taken from their home by Soviet officers. Lina, 15, is furious and terrified. Her mother bribes the guards into letting Lina's younger brother stay with her and Lina; Lina's father's fate is unknown. Lina meets a young man named Andrius on the train, and their friendship eventually blossoms into tentative romance. The text is told largely from Lina's perspective, with dialogue from her family and fellow refugees. Once their packed train car arrives at the camp, Lina and her mother work in the beet fields and struggle to stay alive; Lina attempts to get word to her father that they're in Siberia. Lina finds solace in her artwork, and this is where the graphic novel format shines. The story does not shy from the more horrific details, although violence and death are often depicted off-page. The book is based on real-life accounts of Lithuanian refugees, and an author's note illuminates Sepetys's research. The watercolors are rendered mostly in somber grays and browns, although occasional splashes of color are used to great effect. Teens familiar with the story will appreciate its new form, and it will also bring in plenty of new readers. VERDICT Offering a side of World War II not often depicted in media, this is a solid addition for teen graphic novel collections.-Gretchen Hardin, Bee Cave P.L., TXα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Philomel Books
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0593204166
• ISBN 13: 9780593204160
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Kopka Dave
• Number of pages: 160