Rated YA-MA discussion

I can't wait to hear what you guys thought of this book, it was one of my 5 star reads last year

Same. Even though I've read it recently, I might re-read it if there's time. I never wrote a review the first time around and really wish I had, so I could pull details from that.

The author's notes are what made the book for me. I held it together until that part, then start bawling when I read the notes.

i wish i had time to re-read it...lol!

I don't read historical fiction that much. Particularly realistic historical fiction about the wars and whatnot. But I loved this book so much. So, so glad that I read the copy that was sent to me. I almost didn't. Even if you're not big on historical novels, you should read this one.

I'm really excited to have an excuse to finally read this book. I've been wanting to for a long time.

Jenny wrote: "Even if you're not big on historical novels, you should read this one. "

This would be me then. I'm glad everyone likes it so much. It gives me hope that if I like it, I will start reading more HF!

I thought this was a beautiful read, full of a lot of emotion, and it was never overplayed. It was really easy to read and hard to tear myself away from. I also liked that it brought that historical event to light again, as I don't think many really know about it.

psst Jenny, how do you get copies sent to you? :)

This was a fantastic book relating the plight of many people from the Baltic states at the hands of Stalin's Russia during WWII and beyond. It was a gripping and emotional tale that reminds as that we as people have both the capacity for great humanity as well as great inhumanity. The vivid descriptions of the train rides, the work camp and Siberia made me feel as though I were there with this strong willed group of individuals. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a more complete understanding of what people endured during this horrible time in our history.

this book opened up a whole new era of history that I don't think is covered in many schools. I just picked up Wave of Terror from the library, which seems to be similar, but set in Belarus.

I love this book. It's such a harrowing journey, and the little known side of WW2. It paints such a beautifully horrific picture,with well developed characters and a a fast moving pace.
I couldn't put it down.
I loved Andrius and Lina's interactions, but it was the actions of the adults in such dire situations that made the book captivating. Like Andrius' and Lina's mothers. I love Lina's mother. She stayed strong for her children and even when things seemed hopeless, she never gave up hope.
Just a beautiful book.

I just read this book, and I have to say...WOW. I held of brawling just long enough to write a review, then I read the author notes...Yeah, then it happened. Such a powerful story.

I loved the journey. I do wish we get to see (view spoiler)[Lina and Andrius come together (hide spoiler)]I loved the letter, but...

And do we find out if(view spoiler)[their father is still alive?. Ivanov could've lied (hide spoiler)]

I'm glad this was a group read, since I may not have picked it up otherwise.

I had questions about the father as well.

It's those darn author notes that get you, right? I found myself emotional during the book, but I wasn't losing it either. Then those notes...sheesh.

I wish people would read this book. I was like you, where I didn't think the book was one I'd pick up either, but when I did I was so glad.

Out of all the group reads we've had, I think this is the best one by far (including next months, which I'd read a while back). Not that I've disliked any of the group reads yet because I've liked them all on varying levels, some more than others. But this book blows the rest of them away imo. Which makes me sort of sad that this month will probably get the least amount of traffic. :(

Stacia ~ platonic wrote: "I had questions about the father as well.

It's those darn author notes that get you, right? I found myself emotional during the book, but I wasn't losing it either. Then those notes...sheesh."

Yes, it was fascinating reading the author's notes. It was written in a way that brings it all even more into focus, the terrors, the sheer realness of everything that happened back then. It wasn't just about fictional characters any more. Then I lost it. And the end of them, God...

They chose hope over hate and showed the world that even through the darkest night, there is light. Please research it. Tell someone. These three tiny nations have taught us that love is the most powerful army. Whether love of friend, love of country, love of God, or even love of enemy—love reveals to us the truly miraculous nature of the human spirit.

I'd recommend this book to everyone, for sure.

Ok, you guys sold it to me. I'm starting it today =)

Oh my God...this book is so raw. It makes my heart ache... and I'm only 20% in...

There are a couple of scenes that were extremely hard to read. The garbage throwing one really got to me. It's crazy that people were treated like objects instead of people.

I was just thinking...

I would've liked to see what happened with their cousins, too. Did they meet, did she forgive them? And her brother, what did he become? So, even though the letter leaves a strong impact, a scene 15 years in the future would've been welcome. Maybe added separately from the book, as an extra?

And the style of writing is different. The very short chapters kind of bugged me at first, but then I saw that the swift changing of horrifying scene/memory/another horrifying scene/memory made everything more dynamic.

i could see it maybe as an extra on her website - but I don't know if I would have wanted it in a book - for me, epilogues tend to take an ending that is really powerful and changes it because you know what happens...with this, you are left wondering and thinking...maybe it causes you to do some research on the history of it and you can make up your own mind.

I don't remember if she talked about it in the author notes or if it was in that video on the book's website, but she mentions that her grandfather, grandmother and father were in the position of the cousin in the story. He was in the military and they had to flee the country. Her cousins, etc. had to burn any pictures of them and such so that nobody would make the connection between them. The video is pretty cool. You get to see some of the survivors who shared their stories with her.

I just finished this book and I agree, amazing. I'm glad this was chosen as the group read as well. I don't read a lot of historical fiction that is based on real events. I also don't read a lot of heart-wrenching books. So I'm very glad I joined in this read.

It was very, I think Carina used a great word, raw. Lina doesn't go on and on about her emotions. But that doesn't mean you don't feel it or see it in her drawings. I find myself wishing I could have seen some of those drawings, it would have been the cherry on the sundae for me.

I loved the characters, how she showed strengths and weaknesses. I even liked the bald man which I don't think Lina ever referred to by name even though her mother always did. I loved how you saw Kretzsky, treated them in front of other guards and by himself (view spoiler)[ Also a bit of his back story, especially when he said he hated himself and started to cry. How he felt imprisoned as well. (hide spoiler)] It was very moving story.

I liked it a lot, gave it four stars, but wasn't blown away by it. I didn't even cry which is rare for me. I don't know, I didn't feel all that connected with the characters. It was interesting to me as my Dad's Dad was from Lithuania. I never met him and I don't know much about Lithuanian history at all. I guess they skip over the Baltic in school, sadly. I even minored in history in college, and I knew nothing about this. I wonder if this is why my ancestors left Lithuania, it very well could have been during this time period, or about 10 years prior.

Anyway, I think it was a good pick and I'm glad I read it, thank you!

Oh but I have to say that the cover isn't going to get the attention of teens at all (I'm a teacher/librarian). Too bad because this is something that teens should be aware of and reading about.

I'm about 85 pages in and they just got off (view spoiler)[the trains and were escorted into a hut. (hide spoiler)]

I've read books about this time period but nothing from Lithuania most were from the peoples POV inside the Soviet Union. I just know this book is going to be a heartbreaker...

Tammi wrote: "Oh but I have to say that the cover isn't going to get the attention of teens at all (I'm a teacher/librarian). Too bad because this is something that teens should be aware of and reading about."

The paperback has a different cover.

I think the UK has a couple of different covers for it as well.

I like this cover better , but I do agree that it probably won't grab peoples attention. The one you posted has a better chance Jenny.

I'm a little ahead of you Leea. Just a bit. And I'm still completely invested .

I would have never read this book if it hadn't been a group read selection, so thank you. I agree with Stacia and a couple of other people, those author notes really got to me. It was such a great story; I couldn't put it down. Although, I had to take a couple of breaks so that I didn't fall apart and cry. It made me want to know more about the people of the Baltic. Once I read the last part of the Author's notes: "Please research it. Tell someone. These three tiny nations have taught us that love is the most powerful army. Whether love of friend, love of country, love of God, or even love of enemy—love reveals to us the truly miraculous nature of the human spirit." Then I fell apart. Really good book! I am going to recommend it to my high school aged daughters.

Woman in Exile: My Life in Kazakhstan - ah ha! Here is the bio I was thinking about that is similar - she and her family were political prisoners and sent in the same manner and in Between Shades of Grey

Shanna, that quote in the Authors note was my undoing. Amazing book!

Thanks Dee, I'll check it out.

The link that Jenny provided to the website where it shows the video is a nice followup.

Shanna, that quote got to me too. We've seen so much information about other nations and WWII, but this hidden side surprised me. I really hope someone takes notice and makes this a movie.

I absolutely recommend watching the video on her website, but if you haven't finished reading the book yet, wait until you have. It's very moving and emotional, and really helps you understand why she was so driven to write this book. I particularly liked seeing how some details were things she pulled directly from her interviews with survivors.

I also just picked up Wave of Terror which is similar but is set in Belarus at the same time period

I'm 80% done and I plan on finishing as soon as I get home.

Just finished... =''(

How did you like it? I have not stopped thinking about this book for days... can't get it out of my mind.

I love it, in a hertwrenching, disbelieving, kind of way. If that makes sense.
I am so.....humbled by this story of unjustice, strength, survival, and love. It makes me tear up as soon as I think about it...like right now.
It swells, and breaks my heart at the same time. =')

Well said, I feel the same way.

I'm writting a brief review right now, and its probably all jiberish, cause I'm so emotional righ now. lol

I finished the book week ago, and I can't stop thinking about it. I have recommended it to a lot of my friends and my daughters' high school history teachers. It just stays with you.

I have even been talking about this book to my DAD! haha
He watches alot of history tv and loves these subjects, so the other I brought it up and it was actually nice talking to him about it. =)

Just finish the book and i need to say that i loved it!

Mirna *Dreaming* wrote: "Just finish the book and i need to say that i loved it!"

Yay! I knew you would. Really heartbreaking ha?

I think even heartbtreaking gets short to discribe it...

*sigh* yeah I know what you mean...

What did everyone think of the situation with (view spoiler)[the mom and the baby? (hide spoiler)]

I officially started tonight! I'm going to get it in, whoohoo!

Stacia ~ platonic wrote: "What did everyone think of the situation with [spoilers removed]"

Heart breaking....I was in shock to see such hatred towards these people from the begginning of the book, but (view spoiler)[to drag a lady after JUST giving birth with her baby in arms, was just......I teared up, that's how bad I felt.

What about the Russian soldier who in the end is the one who sends help?(Can't remember his name right now...) After everything he did, does the fact that he felt remorse and is the one who reveals the truth, redeem him from all he did?
I felt very conflicted by this. Not because I ended up liking him, but because I thought what he did wasn't enough. I might even hate him a little....(or alot). Nikola I think his name was! In the end what did you think about him? (hide spoiler)]

I feel the same.. on both the lady w the baby and the soldier...

I'm finally 50% in. I'm going to finish it tomorrow, and then I can read all the spoilers.

Carina wrote: "Stacia ~ platonic wrote: "What did everyone think of the situation with [spoilers removed]"

Heart breaking....I was in shock to see such hatred towards these people from the beginning of the bo..."

Carina I was very torn, too (view spoiler)[ about the soldier. Yes, it was his job, but there are always ways to help people and he CHOSE not to. In the end, I wouldn't say he was redeemed. But maybe it was the start of a road to absolution, while he tries to forgive HIMSELF. Or at least that's what I hope. (hide spoiler)]