CANR

• You: The Story: A Writer's Guide to Craft through Memory Viking (New York, NY), 2023
• Ashes in the Snow Penguin Books (New York, NY), 2019
• The Fountains of Silence Philomel Books (New York, NY), 2019
• The Bletchley Riddle Viking (New York, NY), 2024

1. The Bletchley riddle LCCN 2024039962 Type of material Book Personal name Sepetys, Ruta, author. Main title The Bletchley riddle / Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin. Published/Produced New York : Viking, 2024. Projected pub date 2411 Description pages cm ISBN 9780593527542 (hardcover) (ebook) Item not available at the Library. Why not? 2. You : the story : a writer's guide to craft through memory LCCN 2022035024 Type of material Book Personal name Sepetys, Ruta, author. Main title You : the story : a writer's guide to craft through memory / Ruta Sepetys. Published/Produced New York : Viking, 2023. ©2023 Description 217 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm ISBN 9780593524381 (hardcover) 9780593524404 (paperback) (ebook) CALL NUMBER Not available Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms CALL NUMBER PN171.P83 S47 2023 FT MEADE Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms - STORED OFFSITE 3. The fountains of silence : a novel LCCN 2019018127 Type of material Book Personal name Sepetys, Ruta, author. Main title The fountains of silence : a novel / Ruta Sepetys. Published/Produced New York : Philomel Books, 2019. Description 495 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm ISBN 9780399160318 (hardback) 9780593116708 (hardcover) 9780593115251 (hardcover) CALL NUMBER PZ7.S47957 Fou 2019 CABIN BRANCH Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms - STORED OFFSITE 4. Ashes in the snow LCCN 2019296441 Type of material Book Personal name Sepetys, Ruta, author. Uniform title Between shades of gray Main title Ashes in the snow / Ruta Sepetys. Published/Produced New York, New York : Penguin Books, 2019. ©2019 Description 352, 16 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, maps ; 21 cm ISBN 9781984836748 (paperback) 1984836749 (paperback) CALL NUMBER PZ7.S47957 As 2019 CABIN BRANCH Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms - STORED OFFSITE

• Between Shades of Gray: The Graphic Novel (Andrew Donkin (Adapter), Ruta Sepetys (Author), Brann Livesay Chris Dickey Dave Kopka (Illustrator)) - 2021 Philomel Books, New York, NY

• Ruta Sepetys website - https://rutasepetys.com/

  Ruta Sepetys (Rūta Šepetys) 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 students and adults worldwide. Winner of the Carnegie Medal, Ruta is renowned for giving voice to underrepresented history and those who experienced it. Her books have won or been shortlisted for over forty book prizes, are included on over thirty state reading lists, and are currently in development for film and television.

  Ruta is the daughter of a Lithuanian refugee. Born in Michigan, she was raised in a family of artists, readers, and music lovers. Ruta is passionate about the power of history and story to foster global dialogue and connectivity. She has been invited to present at NATO, European Parliament, the U.S. Capitol, the Library of Congress, and Embassies worldwide. She was awarded The Rockefeller Foundation’s prestigious Bellagio Fellowship for her studies on human resilience. The New York Times Book Review declared, “Ruta Sepetys acts as champion of the interstitial people so often ignored—whole populations lost in the cracks of history.”

  Ruta was bestowed the Cross of the Knight of the Order by the President of Lithuania for her contributions to education and memory preservation and was recently honored with a postage stamp containing her image. She is extremely proud to be of Baltic heritage, even if that means she has a name no one can pronounce.

  Ruta lives with her family in the hills of Tennessee.

  FAQs
  Q: How do you pronounce your name?
  A: Ready? Here ya go – Roota Suh-PET-tees
  You can hear me pronounce it HERE
  Q: I'm working on a project, where can I find more information on you?
  A: You can find more information at these links:
  I have answered over 400 questions on Goodreads and you can find them here.

  Wikipedia

  Favorite Books

  Inspirations

  Video Interviews, Explanations, and Book Trailers

  Q: Will you write another story about Lina and Andrius?
  A: Right now I’m hard at work on several different novels. So for the moment, I’ll leave it up to YOU to write their story.
  But I would love to return to Lina and Andrius one day in the future. 🙂
  Q: Why do you write historical fiction?
  A: Writing historical fiction is like being a detective. I enjoy uncovering secrets, hidden facts, and hidden heroes. Through characters and story, historical statistics become human and suddenly we care for people we’ve never met, we can find their country on a map, and then—the history matters. Through historical fiction we can give voice those who will never have a chance to tell their story. That inspires me!
  Q: What inspired you to write “Between Shades of Gray?”
  A: 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.
  Q: Why did you choose alternating POV's in writing "Salt to the Sea?"
  A: When I was researching Salt to the Sea I was reminded that many different regions/countries were affected and suffered during the evacuation and expulsion. When I interviewed people from those different countries, I realized that every human being views history through their own cultural lens. So I created four separate characters to give voice to a particular regional experience and allow the reader to look through their “lens.”
  Q: What sort of research did you do in writing “Between Shades of Gray?”
  A: I took two research trips to Lithuania while writing the novel. I interviewed family members, survivors of the deportations, survivors of the gulags, psychologists, historians and government officials. The experience was transformative.
  Q: How much of “Between Shades of Gray” is real?
  A: The characters are fictional, but their circumstances and many experiences described in the novel were based on actual stories told to me by survivors.
  Q: Why did you write I Must Betray You?
  A: The dictatorship leading up to the Romanian Revolution in 1989 impacted more than twenty million Romanian people but the history remains unfamiliar to many.
  I wanted to create a story that would give context to the historical events and honor those who experienced them.
  Q: Why is the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff an unknown story to many?
  A: I think there could be several contributing factors:
  When the ship sank, the Nazis tried to conceal the story (and the fact that they were losing the war.) The Soviet submarine commander who torpedoed the Gustloff was dishonorably discharged shortly after, so the Russians weren’t drawing attention to the story. And after the war, Germany didn’t publicize the sinking as they felt it was inappropriate to speak of their losses during the war considering the atrocities committed by the Nazis.
  Q: Are the characters in “Out of the Easy” real people?
  A: All of the main characters are fictional, but the character of Willie was inspired by New Orleans madam, Norma Wallace.
  Q: If you had to choose a favorite among your books, which one would you choose?
  A: The Fountains of Silence. I worked so incredibly hard researching that novel and it probably best reflects my spirit as a writer.
  Q: How do you create your characters?
  A: The inspiration for characters generally arrives during research. I’ll come upon a story, or even a small detail, that will inspire a character and bring them to life for me. Many of the characters also come to life while I’m interviewing people who experienced the event. I try to interview as many people as possible while researching a book. I then weave their stories together into one character. That way, I’m representing a larger human experience.
  Q: What is your writing process like?
  A: I wouldn’t call it a “process.” It’s more stream of consciousness. Unfortunately, I don’t always have large blocks of time to sit and write. I grab bits and pieces when I can, which often means in traffic, on planes, or very early in the morning. I always carry paper and pen with me. I often write dialogue longhand. I’ll envision a scene (as if I’m watching a movie) and I notate as the characters are talking. Sometimes, while on long drives, I’ll write by recording myself speaking the narrative and dialogue into a recorder or my cell phone. So essentially, I just let it flow. I’m a big reviser. In fact, maybe I’m more of a reviser than a writer!
  Q: What sort of advice do you have for young writers?
  A:
  1. If you’re writing for kids or young adults, join SCBWI and attend some of their conferences. www.scbwi.org
  2. Consider joining a critique group. Having several people read your work and give you feedback can be very helpful. It’s also fun to share your creative journey with other writers.
  3. Get your heart broken, thrown on the ground and stomped on a few times. Take a whirl at being an outcast, a total loser, or being publicly humiliated. Although painful at the time, it will provide great material for future books. For writers who are struggling to find inspiration, I suggest they think back on their own experiences of love, loss, joy and humiliation. Those triumphs and scars are part of our individual emotional truth and if we write about them—and through them—the work will have a feeling of authenticity.
  4. Pay attention to the rhythm and melody of your writing. Read your manuscript aloud. If you stumble, revise.
  5. Read. Good writers are great readers. Read hundreds of books. Seriously.
  Q: How do you overcome "writer's block?"
  A: When I feel a bit “stuck” I leave my computer and take a walk or listen to music. Engaging another part of my brain for a few minutes seems to work the knots loose. Any form of exercise or physical activity also helps.
  Q: Can I see a picture of your treehouse?
  A: Here’s a snapshot.

• Wikipedia -

  Ruta Sepetys

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  From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  Rūta Šepetys
  Sepetys in 2016
  Sepetys in 2016
  Born Ruta Sepetys
  November 19, 1967 (age 56)
  Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
  Occupation Writer
  Education Hillsdale College (BS)
  Notable works
  Between Shades of Gray
  Out of the Easy
  Salt to the Sea
  Fountains of Silence
  Website
  rutasepetys.com
  Ruta Sepetys (Lithuanian: Rūta Šepetys; born November 19, 1967) is a Lithuanian-American writer of historical fiction. As an author, she is a New York Times and international bestseller and winner of the Carnegie Medal and The Josette Frank Award for Fiction.

  She is a Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Fellow and the first American writer of young adult literature to speak at the European Parliament[1] and NATO. Her work has been published in over sixty countries and forty languages and is currently in development for film and television.

  Biography
  Born in Michigan, Sepetys is the daughter of a Lithuanian refugee. She earned a B.S. in International Finance from Hillsdale College. While overseas, she studied at the Centre d’études Européennes in Toulon, France, and at the ICN Graduate Business School in Nancy, France.[2]

  Following graduation, she moved to Los Angeles. In 1994, she launched Sepetys Entertainment Group, Inc., an entertainment management firm[3]

  In 2002, Sepetys was featured in Rolling Stone magazine's "Women in Rock" special issue as a woman driven to make a difference. She is on the Board of Advisors for the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business at Belmont University and is also a director of the Make a Noise Foundation, a national non-profit that raises money for music education.

  Sepetys published her first novel in 2011 and currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee. She has been described as a "seeker of lost stories" who hopes to give voice to those who weren't able to tell their story.[4]

  Fiction
  Between Shades of Gray
  Her first novel, Between Shades of Gray, about a teenage girl deported from her native Lithuania to Siberian Gulag labor camps after the Soviet occupation in 1941, was critically acclaimed[5] and translated into over 30 languages.[6][7]

  The book is considered a roman à clef, with fictional characters wrapped around actual events and experiences. Ruta states that the novel represents the "extreme suffering and tremendous hope" displayed by the people of the Baltics.[8]

  In March 2013, Ruta became the first American author of young adult literature to give a presentation at European Parliament. Her discussion with MEPs in Brussels centered on the novel, the history of totalitarianism in the Baltics, and the importance of historical fiction.[9] The novel is developed as a film, Ashes in the Snow.

  Sepetys is a writer of historical fiction. Although Between Shades of Gray was initially written for children and young adults, the book has been widely read by many worldwide and is considered a book for all ages.[10]

  Out of the Easy
  Out of the Easy is Sepetys' second published novel. It was released on February 12, 2013[11] and features Josie Moraine, a young woman in the 1950s French Quarter of New Orleans who struggles to escape her family and become the author of her own destiny. The story explores themes of feminism in historical context and post-war America. The novel became a New York Times bestseller and was chosen as an Editor's Choice in The New York Times on February 15, 2013.[12]

  Salt to the Sea
  Salt to the Sea was published on February 2, 2016, and chronicles the 1945 refugee evacuation from East Prussia and the MV Wilhelm Gustloff disaster.[13]

  The sinking of the MV Wilhelm Gustloff is the single largest maritime disaster in history yet, to many, the story remains unknown. In their starred review, Publishers Weekly said, "Sepetys delivers another knockout historical novel...she excels in shining light on lost chapters of history and this visceral novel proves a memorable testament to strength and resilience in the face of war and cruelty."[14] The New York Times added this in their review of Salt to the Sea—"Ruta Sepetys acts as champion of the interstitial people so often ignored—whole populations lost in the cracks of history."[15] In June, 2017, Salt to the Sea was awarded The Carnegie Medal for stimulating empathy and solidarity.[16]

  The Fountains of Silence
  Sepetys' novel, The Fountains of Silence[17] was released on October 1, 2019. It is set in Madrid during the dictatorship of Spain's Francisco Franco. The story explores the repercussions of war and the complexities of the dictatorship in Spain.

  One of the topics covered in the book is the lost children of Francoism, who were children abducted from Spanish Republican parents and given to families deemed "less degenerate". The number of abducted children is estimated to be up to 300,000.[18] The stolen children were sometimes also victims of child trafficking and illegal adoption.[19]

  I Must Betray You
  As communist regimes are crumbling across Europe in 1989, I Must Betray You, published in 2022, describes seventeen year old Cristian Florescu's world in the isolation of Nicolae Ceaușescu's Romania. He must decide whether to be an informant or resist the regime. This book also won the Yoto Carnegie Shadower's Award for writing in 2023.[20]

  Adaptations
  Between Shades of Gray has been released in an unabridged audiobook by Penguin Audio, narrated by Emily Klein; and has been translated into 30 languages and sold in as many countries.

  It has also been adapted for film by Ben York Jones, directed by Marius A. Markevicius and produced by Chris Coen, Marius A. Markevicius, Žilvinas Naujokas, and Ruta Sepetys. The film is titled Ashes in the Snow and stars Bel Powley, Martin Wallström, and Lisa Loven Kongsli. It release in Lithuania in October 2018, and release in the US in early 2019.[21][22]

  Out of the Easy has been released in an unabridged audiobook by Listening Library and is narrated by Lauren Fortgang.

  Salt to the Sea has been released in an unabridged audiobook by Listening Library and is narrated by Jorjeana Marie, Will Damron, Cassandra Morris, and Michael Crouch.

  In 2017, Salt to the Sea was optioned by Universal Pictures for film to be produced by Lorenzo Di Bonaventura. The Screenplay was written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber whose credits include "500 Days of Summer," “The Fault in Our Stars," “Our Souls at Night," and "The Disaster Artist".[23]

  Recognition
  Postage stamp
  In June 2018, to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Lithuania's original independence, the Postmaster General in Lithuania unveiled a commemorative set of postage stamps paying tribute to people whose work created and strengthened the awareness of Lithuania. Sepetys was one of those included in the series.[24]

  The Carnegie Medal
  On June 19, 2017, Ruta Sepetys was awarded The Carnegie Medal in a ceremony at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London. She also won the Shadower's Award on June 21, 2023 for "I Must Betray You "[16]

  Children's Book Committee of Bank Street College of Education
  Sepetys has been recognized multiple times by the Children's Book Committee of Bank Street College of Education. She won the 2023 Josette Frank Award for Fiction for I Must Betray You,[25] which was also listed as a Best Children's Book of the Year with Outstanding Merit.[26] Between Shades of Gray received an Outstanding Merit recognition as a 2012 Best Children's Book of the Year; the graphic novel version was on the 2022 list. Out of the Easy appeared on 2014 list, Salt to the Sea was recognized with Outstanding Merit on the 2017 list, and The Fountain of Silence in 2020 (with Outstanding Merit).

  Cross of the Knight
  On June 6, 2013, Sepetys was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order for Merits to Lithuania. Sepetys was decorated for her contributions to education and culture in conjunction with her global efforts to share the history of totalitarianism in the Baltics.[27]

  The Rockefeller Foundation
  In 2015, Sepetys was awarded the Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Center residency in Lake Como, Italy. As a Rockefeller Bellagio fellow, Sepetys was invited to spend a month at the Foundation's Bellagio Center interacting with other international resident thought leaders, policy makers, artists, and practitioners[28]

  Works
  Books
  Between Shades of Gray (2011) ISBN 978-0-399-25412-3
  Out of the Easy (2013) ISBN 978-0-399-25692-9
  Salt to the Sea (2016) ISBN 978-0399160301
  Fountains of Silence (2019) ISBN 978-0399160318
  I Must Betray You (2022) ISBN 978-1-9848-3604-5[29]
  Media articles and essays
  Sepetys, Ruta (November 26, 2012). "Finding My Family's Story Through Historical Fiction". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2014-02-23.
  Sepetys, Ruta (September 23, 2011). "In Wordless Imagery, An Immigrant's Timeless Tale". All Things Considered. NPR. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  Sepetys, Ruta (May 17, 2012). "Two Gray Titles, One Sexy Mix-Up". All Things Considered. NPR. Retrieved 27 July 2012.

• Fantastic Fiction -

  Ruta Sepetys

  Ruta Sepetys was born and raised in Michigan in a family of artists, readers, and music lovers. BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY is her debut novel and is based on her family’s history. "It's a story of extreme suffering, tremendous hope, and how sometimes love reveals the miraculous nature of the human spirit," says Sepetys. Ruta now lives with her family in Tennessee.

  Awards: Carnegie (2017) see all

  Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Romance

  New and upcoming books
  October 2024

  thumb
  The Bletchley Riddle

  Novels
  Between Shades of Gray (2011)
  aka Ashes in the Snow
  Out of The Easy (2013)
  Salt to the Sea (2016)
  The Fountains of Silence (2019)
  I Must Betray You (2022)
  The Bletchley Riddle (2024) (with Steve Sheinkin)
  thumbthumbthumbthumb
  thumbthumb

  Collections
  No Men, No Cry (2011)
  The Ruta Sepetys Collection (2021)
  thumbthumb

  Non fiction hide
  You: The Story (2023)
  thumb

  Awards
  2017 Carnegie Medal : Salt to the Sea

• Writer's Digest - https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-nonfiction/ruta-sepetys-on-deepening-human-connection

  Ruta Sepetys: On Deepening Human Connection
  New York Times bestselling author Ruta Sepetys discusses the importance of mining from our own experiences to tell stories with her new how-to book, You: The Story.
  Robert Lee BrewerMay 16, 2023
  Ruta Sepetys is an internationally acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction published in over 60 countries and 40 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, and Salt to the Sea have won or been shortlisted for more than 40 book prizes and are included on more than 60 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. Find her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads, as well as her website RutaSepetys.com.

  Ruta Sepetys: On Deepening Human Connection
  Ruta Sepetys

  Photo by Rachel Kinney Studios

  In this post, Ruta discusses the importance of mining from our own experiences to tell stories with her new how-to book, You: The Story, her hope for readers, and more!

  Name: Ruta Sepetys
  Book title: You: The Story: A Writer’s Guide to Craft Through Memory
  Publisher: Viking Books
  Release date: May 16, 2023
  Genre/category: Nonfiction/How-To
  Previous titles: Between Shades of Gray, Out of the Easy, and Salt to the Sea
  Elevator pitch for the book: You: The Story is a powerful how-to book for aspiring writers that encourages you to look inward and excavate your own memories in order to discover the authentic voices and compelling details that are waiting to be put on the page.

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  Ruta Sepetys: On Deepening Human Connection
  Bookshop | Amazon
  [WD uses affiliate links.]

  What prompted you to write this book?
  I’m often asked about my writing process and when replying, I explain that to infuse depth of feeling into my fiction, I draw upon my own experience and compost of memories. Along the way, I’ve learned that every life journey has winding plots, unique characters, and vivid settings. Weaving in elements of lived experience can add dimension to our writing. So, I wrote You: The Story to encourage others to reflect upon their own experiences when contemplating story concepts and projects.

  How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?
  The idea had been percolating for years. When the pandemic arrived, I finally sat down and wrote some sample chapters. I’ve been part of the same writing group for nearly 20 years, so my pages went to the group first for discussion. I then sent the pages to my agent, and we had a conversation about the scope of the project.

  But it was when my editor, Tamar Brazis, came on board that the book really began to take shape. I’m a crossover author, so my readers are not only adults, but also students and teens. Tamar had fantastic ideas of ways to change the structure and presentation of the material to appeal to both audiences. She suggested the research and writing prompt sections.

  Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?
  Well, a learning moment for me was the discovery that discussing failure can be freeing. Although some readers know that I’m passionate about hidden history and giving voice to those who never had a chance to tell their story, I don’t often discuss my own story.

  Some readers are surprised to learn that prior to becoming a novelist, I spent 22 years in the music industry, working with songwriters and recording artists. During that time, I experienced many fiascos and failures. And I wove some of those details into the book, not only to illustrate the building blocks of story, but to provide encouragement for others and assure them that for many, failure is a prerequisite to success. Sharing some of my own hurdles felt liberating.

  Ruta Sepetys: On Deepening Human Connection
  Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?
  As I was writing, I was opening the door to my own memories, and I was surprised by how many things came flooding back to me. Sights, smells, and sounds—they were all in there, just waiting to be let out. And with the passage of time, I found that I had a different altitude on some of the experiences.

  Things that had once seemed so serious or terrible were now making me laugh. And that laughter revealed that I was not only writing about a deeply lived experience, but a healed experience. That was a lovely surprise.

  What do you hope readers will get out of your book?
  I hope readers realize that sharing stories deepens human connection. When we share our experiences—and read about the journeys of others—we might find commonalities that bridge the widths between us. Not everyone wants to write a book, but every human being has a story, and I’d love to help them reflect upon that story.

  Since I’m a novelist, the book is also geared for fiction writers and provides loads of ideas on perspective and ways to deepen character development.

  If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?
  I’d share the reminder that writing well is less about what we’ve seen, where we’ve traveled, or our education. It’s more about our emotions and feelings and how we express and infuse them into our work. I want to assure everyone that if they’ve felt deeply, they’ve lived deeply—they have the tools to be a writer!

• First Draft - https://www.firstdraftpod.com/episode-transcripts/2020/2/11/ruta-sepetys

  Ruta Sepetys, #1 New York Times bestselling and Carnegie-winning author of Between Shades of Gray, Out of the Easy, and Salt to the Sea, talks about her newest novel, Fountains of Silence.

  This episode was brought to you by Freedom — upgrade to Premium and use code FIRSTDRAFT for 40% off a yearly or Forever plan!

  Sarah Enni: Okay. Good morning, Ruta. How are you?

  Ruta Sepetys: I'm doing great.

  Sarah Enni: Good. I'm so excited we could chat.

  Ruta Sepetys: Me too. Thank you for having me.

  Sarah Enni: Oh my gosh. I've been hoping to talk to you for years. So I'm glad you came out with a new book so we can make it happen. We are gonna get to Fountains of Silence and recent news that has to do with Spain and exciting stuff. But first I like to start at the very beginning, which is where were you born and raised?

  Ruta Sepetys: I was born and raised in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan.

  Sarah Enni: And I really want to hear about your home life and about your family growing up. First I just wanna know how reading and writing was a part of growing up for you.

  Ruta Sepetys: It was a huge part of growing up. I'm the daughter of an American mother and a Lithuanian father. And my parents came from backgrounds of struggle, I would say. My father fled from Lithuania when he was a little boy, spent nine years in refugee camps, came to the United States when he was fifteen and didn't speak a word of English. And of course didn't read English. My mom was the baby of ten kids and her father died when she was two. And it plunged the family into hardship. My mom had to leave school.

  So again, reading and writing for my parents, these were things that they had to learn on their own. But as a result, it became so important for their children. And so our house was full of books and music, and my father's an artist. And so books, and music, and art, it played such a huge role from the time I can remember. So it's always been really important to my parents, important to me. So I started reading, even though I wasn't a strong reader, I started young. I loved books.

  Sarah Enni: This is so interesting to me when you say not a strong reader, what did that mean for you?

  Ruta Sepetys: Literally that when we tested in school, back in the 70s, they divided us into groups that were defined by birds. So Bluebird, people in the Bluebird group were really great readers and I think I was a Sparrow or something. And so that was the lower level. But my brother and sister were very strong readers. But my mom, it didn't bother her at all, and she just found books that I was interested in. And once I had those books, I was so motivated, and I figured it out and I became a strong reader. But I didn't start a strong reader.

  Sarah Enni: Actually many authors have said that to me. And I love now that graphic novels and stuff like that are more available to help. It's however you get into reading, you know, it's to be encouraged.

  Ruta Sepetys: Yes. At the time there were these books, and I guess you'd call them records cause they were LP companions. So they were small books for kids. I'm thinking of one, it was called Bedtime for Francis. And so it had a book, but with a companion record, and you would put it on your record player and I would listen and follow along with the words and the pictures. And then when I heard the chime I knew I had to turn the page and that really helped me.

  Sarah Enni: Cool. I really love that. Actually, my friend's mom was just telling me that she started to listen to audio books while she reads a book and I was like, "That's one way to guarantee you will never forget what's in that book." Thank you for getting into that a little bit. I want to ask also, when you say that your dad was in refugee camps, where was he? Was he moving around a bunch or where was he located at?

  Ruta Sepetys: He was moving around a bit. He left Lithuania in 1940 and they traveled through Poland and made it into Austria. And so he was in a refugee "DP Camp.” A "displaced person refugee camp" in Linz, Austria for a couple of years. Then they moved around in the mountains for about a year. And then they settled in Bieber Rock, Germany into a displaced person camp that was primarily comprised of Baltic people. So they set up their own schools in there, and my dad lived in that camp for quite some time.

  Sarah Enni: Interesting. It's fascinating because it seems you're a pan-European person, which is really great. And I really want to ask about music at home because of what you went on to do professionally for a little bit. So how was music a part of family life?

  Ruta Sepetys: It was a huge part of life in a very casual way. My parents were always playing music. My father loved jazz. I grew up in Detroit. My mom loved Motown. And also during that time, this is gonna show my age, but the radio was really prominent. My mom always had the radio on in the kitchen. She was listening for news and things like that. And by extension I was always hearing music.

  And so then I asked for a radio for Christmas, a little transistor, and I would listen to music in my bedroom. And it was really inspiring for me because within a song is a three minute story. And I used to love hearing those stories and trying to decipher, "Well, what's the story? And why did they choose this melody?" It made me very curious. And my mom, because she didn't have the opportunity to pursue lessons whether it be music or dance, she really wanted us to have lessons.

  So my brother plays guitar, my sister plays piano and violin, and I took piano lessons. I was horrible, but I gravitated toward voice, and I took voice lessons for many years. I wasn't any good, but I enjoyed it!

  Sarah Enni: As a singer in the car, I get it. I would love for you to lead me to how you... I know you studied abroad for college, but how did you decide to take music more seriously and lean towards that as a profession?

  Ruta Sepetys: I wanted to be a writer. When I was a young child, I read James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl, and that was it. I loved stories and I thought, "This is a job? It's not a job. Are you kidding? With the opportunity, I want to be a storyteller!" But I wrote my first book, it wasn't well received, in elementary school,

  And I thought, "Oh, this is harder than I thought." And also, "It's a bit scary. Hmm. You know, writing.. that can be hard and dangerous." And I thought, "Well, what else do I like?" And I knew that I loved music. And so I received a small scholarship, a vocal scholarship, to go to college. And I went to this independent college... sorry, a private college, in Michigan. And, I wasn't any good. And I thought, "Oh no!"

  Okay so, "Writing… didn't turn out that I was very good, and music. Now what am I gonna do?" But I wanted to pursue the business of music. And so instead of majoring in music, I majored in business - in international finance, international management. And that's what I did. And after I graduated from college, I moved here to Los Angeles and spent 22 years working in the music business. Still helping artists and musicians tell stories, but through music. But they weren't my own stories. I was helping them mine and distill their own stories to put them into compositions, and albums, and different promotions, and things like that.

  Sarah Enni: Yeah, that's interesting. I mean, international finance is a bit of a far cry from voice or music, certainly a different part of your brain even. How did you like it?

  Ruta Sepetys: I loved it. And that probably came from my father. My father's an artist, and also a soccer player. And my dad went into the ad agency business and created a graphic design arm. And I saw that my father was a fine artist, and is a fine artist, but there was a business attached to this art. And I saw my dad as the CEO of a company, and an entrepreneur, owning his own company. Which I think is probably common for a lot of immigrants you know? They're entrepreneurs. And certainly for Lithuanians.

  And so I was inspired by that and I had had no exposure to corporate America whatsoever. It was always owning; owning your own business. This is what Lithuanians do. And so you need to study finance. And I'm so glad that I did because I found that behind every artistic endeavor, whether it's podcasting, or writing novels, or being a musician, there's a business attached to it.

  And yes, it would be wonderful if we didn't have to concern ourselves with that, and we could just make art and be creative. But inevitably, you have to look at the numbers once in a while. And I liked it. I liked that part of it. And people are quite surprised when they find out that I don't have a degree in English. That's something I would love. I would love to go back to school and get an MFA, because now I'm a musician who plays music, but hasn't had the opportunity to study music theory. And so I'm doing it very much by feel and rhythm and flow. I tell people I'm a rhythmic writer.

  I learned in the music business, that we might not remember a sentence that one another says, but we’ll both get in the car today, we hear a song on the radio we haven't heard in five years, and we can sing every word to that song. And that's because melody and rhythm makes it memorable. So I have that down, I think. And as a child, even though I didn't know that's what was happening, I realized as an adult, "Oh, okay. So when I was eight years old, I could recite the opening monologue of the Twilight zone. Why was that?"

  Because Rod Serling spoke with such commanding rhythm. And so now I put that into my books. And that's been sort of an education. Even though there is a rhythm to finance as well. And even when I was doing my exams, let's say in accounting or statistics, I would create a melody and hum a melody as I was doing my math equations, because I found that that rhythm and flow helped me, created these beats for me to go through.

  It's so bizarre. But even in Fountains of Silence I have a rhythmic character, a little bellboy named Buttons, and he says, "Texas. Pow, pow!" And someone came to my book event two days ago in Dallas, and when they came through the signing line, after I gave them their book they said, "Texas. Pow pow!" And in my book, Salt to the Sea, I have a character, a shoe poet, who's a rhythmic character. But that's all by feel. So I'd love to go back and learn from someone who knows what they're doing, who can teach me.

  Sarah Enni: I think there's something to writers and storytellers being lifelong learners. Because I'm also like, "Yeah, I'd go back to get bachelor's degrees for the rest of my life if I could."

  Ruta Sepetys: I would too. And recently at an event I was at, at the university of Michigan, one of the directors said, "College is wasted on the college students." And it's so true. I would love to be back in the classroom. I'm happy to hear I'm not the only one.

  Sarah Enni: Yeah, no, I'm like, "Oh, I'll go and study." And to me it also strikes me that, I know there's a lot that you can learn about history from finance too.

  Ruta Sepetys: Absolutely.

  Sarah Enni: All in the numbers, or the ability to understand what they mean.

  Ruta Sepetys: Oh my goodness. History is the foundation of everything. Understanding the past gives us context to the present. And to your point, no one's ever brought this up, but this is so interesting. You're absolutely right. Think about finance and if we're studying economies, or economic collapse, or recession, or when the market is very strong, there's a history there. And history can be a little bit dangerous sometimes because there's this fragile tension that exists.

  Some people are desperate to remember, while others are desperate to forget. And to your point, that is also in whether its financial markets or literature, this fragile tension exists. And I read a study recently that reported that history now ranks among the lowest three majors in the United States. That students, unfortunately, don't believe it's an employable major. And that terrifies me because what happens if we lose our historians? And what happens if we lose the historical analysis around events? Or to your point, business administration. And my work sits on the shoulders of nonfiction, and academic papers, and testimony, and memoir. So we can't lose our historians.

  Sarah Enni: That's distressing. Okay, "Go be historians!" Or, get a history minor. History will help you with every aspect.

  Ruta Sepetys: And that's what's happening. I think some colleges in the Midwest have dropped a history major, but some universities are creating hybrid majors. So it might be poly/psy and history, which makes sense. But really that creates an opportunity for historical fiction and books, because if history classes become more general, we won't have the opportunity to study some of these more obscure parts of history in depth. So then here comes a novel about a particular time period in history, and it's maybe read by book clubs and discussed, and that becomes sort of a pop-up classroom. And hopefully refers the readers back to those definitive texts and back to history.

  Sarah Enni: Yeah, I think that's definitely been the case for my reading. I love historical fiction and then I'm like, "Wait. This is real?" I was watching Goodfellas for the first time and I didn't enjoy it, because halfway through I was like, "Wait a second. This is a real heist?" And then I just got my computer out and I turned off the movie and I was like, "I want to watch a documentary about this. I want to read books about this. I care about the real thing that happened and not this movie anymore."

  Ruta Sepetys: But it was the movie that opened the door and led you back. And for me that is a dream. Even if someone puts down my book twenty-five percent of the way through it and said, "Oh, I'm interested in this, but I'm interested in what really happened." That is such a huge win. Oh my gosh. That would be great. You don't have to finish my book. Read about the real events!

  Sarah Enni: Yeah, you turned someone's mind on. Not to dwell on numbers too long, but I want to hear more about managing and you starting your own company. Can you tell me exactly what does it mean to be a music manager?

  Ruta Sepetys: Well, I have to say I really had an advantage that I question whether young people today would have. And the advantage certainly wasn't anything to do with my family. I mean, my family had nothing to do with the music business. I moved out to LA with sixty bucks and a typewriter. I didn't even have a car at first when I came out here. But what I did have, what I found, were amazing mentors. And these mentors were storytellers.

  A songwriter, Desmond Child, who has sold over 300 million albums, I was his intern in Santa Monica. And sitting and watching him on a daily basis craft these songs from people's raw emotions, just what they were feeling at that moment. And then seeing them in the writing room, and then in the recording studio, and then hearing them in my car. This was amazing. And it was Desmond who said, "You need to start your own business."

  And that terrified me because you're never ready to launch out on your own. But he encouraged me to, and I did. And I started a small artist management firm, very boutique. Which is a pretentious word for really what it was. And I represented some musicians, and guitar players, producers, a film composer, a rock band from orange County.

  And I represented these same artists for years. And a big part of my job was sitting down with these people and saying, "All right, what's the story? And who are you in the story that is your life? And what do you want the story of your life to be?" Because if I was managing them, it wasn't just crisis management and bailing them out of jail when things went wrong.

  It was also, "Okay, where do you want to be a year from now? Where do we want to be two years from now? Where do we want to be five years from now? Who are some of your creative heroes?" We put together a creative manifesto. And I would ask them to list some feelings about things. And those creative manifestos gave me so much insight into, for example, their heroes and their inspiration.

  And I'll never forget one of my clients when I said, "Well, tell me about your greatest inspiration." And me assuming, cause we all make assumptions, that that would be a human being. And my client said that nature was his greatest inspiration. And that told me so much about him to then help carve a path, and chart a course, for his career. That was something that inspired him.

  So any opportunity I could bring to him that involved nature, I also knew that then, he would respond to artwork and things. And so I loved it. It was storytelling. It's such an organic level. And also taught me the power of collaboration because oftentimes there's this myth that creativity is very solitary. And yes, right? I am a classic introvert. My greatest inspiration is solitude.

  I'm one of those cliché writers. I even have a cabin in the woods. I mean, that's how cliché I am. But I learned that when energies are combined, oh my goodness, magical things can happen! And I saw it in the music business. I was in the room when it happened. And when a marginal idea became a magnificent idea. And sometimes even just through something funny, through brainstorming and thinking, "Oh that would never work." And then it was like, "Wait, maybe it will work." You know? And so this was super exciting. And all of that I learned through working in the music business. But the most important was how to distill story.

  Sarah Enni: Yeah. Yeah. Which is amazing. I'm actually so compelled by that idea of making a creative manifesto. I'm thinking about how often writers have to be their own managers. You have agents and things like that, but you sort of need to be thinking about a career as opposed to not thinking more broadly. You know what I mean? Like you're saying, learn the business, think about how you can manage yourself and think about a career. So I love the idea of making a creative manifesto.

  Ruta Sepetys: Yes! I have a particular form of a manifesto that I've used for years. But what I've found is that, it doesn't matter if it's business, or if it's the arts, or if we use the example of a boat; you can be in a boat or you can be driving the boat. And I find that with some of my clients, for example, they weren't interested in driving the boat. However, they got to their destination faster and perhaps with a more satisfying result, if they were driving the boat instead of just letting the boat drive them. I've been in the same writing group for fifteen years and this is something we talk about a lot, because we're working with publishers, and we do have agents. They're our managers and helping us.

  But every choice that we make, of the project that we're going to work on, are we just getting in someone else's boat and that boat is driving us? Or are we driving that boat? And I think a manifesto clarifying our sense of purpoe. I know that goals and things, that might frightened some people, but it can even be so big picture no ceiling. But when you have that, when you're given choices and decisions, it's easy to say, "Does this fit within the manifesto? And does this fit within what I've listed?" And it's so easy then, to navigate and say, "Oh, that's a great opportunity, but no, that's not going to get me where I want to go."

  Sarah Enni: That is fascinating. I love that and I could talk about that all day, but there are some more things I want to get to. I do want to ask, and I might be wrong about this, that the transition from music to writing, and from LA to Nashville, are all a little bit wrapped up together. Did those things happen around the same time?

  Ruta Sepetys: They did happen around the same time. I had an office in Santa Monica for many years. And then my brother, who also worked in the music business, he had moved to Nashville. He was a touring musician at one point, had made a record there, and really liked it. And there was a larger music scene developing in Nashville than just country music, even though I love country music.

  And I thought, "You know, this could be a really great addition for me to have a Nashville office." So in 2002 I moved to Nashville. And my brother started working with this amazing country artist, Eric Church, who was a writer at the time and now plays arenas. And I enjoyed it so much that I closed the LA office and I moved to Nashville. And that was, for me, one of those time periods of I would call it, again it's gonna sound silly, but personal empowerment to make a decision and be so confident about it.

  All of my clients were here in Los Angeles and I was leaving and saying, "I'm gonna move to Nashville and it's gonna work out." But there was something about it in the back of my mind, and in the depths of my heart, that told me that I was gonna be pursuing possibly my own creativity. And that it could be, pardon the pun, but the next chapter.

  And so I moved to Nashville and I joined SCBWI, The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. I started to go to conferences and I started to write. And I was still working in the music business full-time. None of my clients knew that I was writing a book. And I tell this story; when Between Shades of Gray, my first book, was released one of the musicians called me from California, was in a bookstore and said, "This is the weirdest thing. Do you know there's an author with your same name?"

  And I said, "Really? Open the back of the book. Is there a picture?" He's like, "Oh dude, this is bizarre. She looks just you." I said, "It is me!" And for a while I was living in these two different worlds and feeling sort of a bit guilty about it. Because of that phrase, "Be careful what you wish for.” All of a sudden I had released a book, and much to my shock, it became a New York Times Best Seller. And people started asking for more stories. And I thought, "Oh my goodness. This is a business that I have built, and with clients that I love dearly, and I'm involved in their creativity. And for 20 years helping them drive the boat.” So to speak.

  And then I thought, "Well, you know what? If I'm meant to transition to writing full-time, there'll be a sign." I really believe in this. Because throughout my whole life, like I said, the decisions have been very clear because I have parameters of, "This is what I want. And this is what I'm working for."

  And so I just said, "Well, it'll make itself clear." And when I wrote my first book, Between Shades of Gray, I knew that my father's extended family had been deported to Siberia, but I didn't have the story, they had passed away. So imagine how hard it was to write a book about that, not knowing my own family's story. So around the same time that I was really debating, "Do I try to write full-time?" I mean really? Writing totalitarianism for young adults? That's lucrative, right?

  And I thought, "Oh no! Well, let's see, maybe there'll just be a sign. Something will happen." Well, oh my gosh. It's a strange phenomenon. I feel you go searching for story, and the universe responds and story comes searching for you. And about the time that I put out that prompt like, "Well, let's see what happens. Am I meant to write full-time?"

  A man called me from Chicago. He had been cleaning out the basement of a Lithuanian church and found a trunk that belonged to a priest. And he said, "Ruta in the trunk was a folder with your grandfather's name on it." I said, "Oh, what's in the folder?" He said, "Nine letters and six photos of your family in Siberia. I found your story." And after releasing this book, he only recognized the name on the folder because of the book.

  And so I started this business hoping to help other people tell their stories through music, through books. And now it's brought me my own story. And that was so powerful. I was like, "Oh my gosh I'm doing this!" And I was whispering, "I quit, I quit, I quit." But then I had to go to my clients and I said, "My publisher is suggesting that I give them more time." And do you know every single one of them? And I know the myths about musicians and rock stars, that they're so selfish. These people said, "Oh, if you don't do this, we're gonna kill you." They were so great. They were so great. And last night at the event, there were so many of them there. It was amazing. It was great. They're part of my story.

  Sarah Enni: And I think it's so interesting to see someone enable other people to be creative in this way. And then when something finally comes around, to be able to recognize like, "Oh, this is what this is. And now I'm so prepared to move forward with it."

  Ruta Sepetys: But now it's just part of who I am. For example, I have a friend, Andrew Maraniss, who writes for Philomel my publisher as well (Strong Inside and Games of Deception). Andrew lives in Nashville, published an adult book that was very successful and I said, "Andrew, this needs to be adapted for young adults." And I went to my publisher, and I don't manage Andrew Maraniss, it's purely out of my enthusiasm. I said, "You guys should check this out." And now Andrew's doing it. And there's all this demand for his book and I love it! I think I love helping people more than I love helping myself.

  Sarah Enni: Well there's an instinct to it, right? I have that instinct too. When a friend tells me something, I just want to be like, "Okay. Do this, this, and this. And this is another thing to do." I can't... it's an impulse.

  Ruta Sepetys: It is, it is. And I feel bad cause maybe sometimes it's just too pushy. But I get so excited when I see something that I think, "Oh my goodness, this person is so talented. I just want to help them!"

  Sarah Enni: Sometimes hearing that gives people the boost of confidence that they need to take that step. There's a place for it. Sometimes I have to pull myself back, but...

  Ruta Sepetys: Yeah, same. I'm learning.

  Sarah Enni: You've mentioned Between Shades of Gray, before we get much further in talking about that, do you mind pitching that book for us?

  Ruta Sepetys: Between Shades of Gray? Yes! Between Shades of Gray tells the story of a 15 year old Lithuanian artist who's arrested with her mother and younger brother and deported by the Soviet secret police to Siberia. And the book chronicles, not only the girls struggle to survive, but her struggle to retain faith in mankind amidst this terror. You know, it's a lottery of life or death and who survives.

  Sarah Enni: And do you mind sharing the origin story of the book? Cause that factors into this time of your life too, I think.

  Ruta Sepetys: Sure, of Between Shades of Gray?

  Sarah Enni: Yes.

  Ruta Sepetys: So as I mentioned, I was constantly asking my music clients, "Hey, what's your story?" And one day one of them turned the tables on me and said, "All right, Ruta, twenty years, what's the story?" They said, "We want to know what's your story?" And I said, "Oh, I'm Lithuanian." And he had no idea what that was. He said, "Oh, I'm so sorry. How long have you had that?" Or people say like, "Oh, Lithuanians, so you're not Catholic?" And I'm like, "No, it's not a religion."

  Sarah Enni: It's not Lutheran.

  Ruta Sepetys: Yes, exactly. But people, understandably, they don't know that much about Lithuania. It wasn't on a map for 50 years. It was a Soviet occupied country. And so one of my clients toured in Lithuania and I went along. And in meeting my father's relatives, I learned there was so much to my own story that I didn't know. Although I knew my father was a refugee, my father himself was not told that when he fled the country my grandfather, his extended family, was deported.

  My grandparents didn't want him to feel survivor guilt and that he was a child. They said, "This was not your burden." But in learning that I just thought, "If this is part of my family history and my heritage, and I don't know about this communist terror, so much of the world probably doesn't know about it."

  And I was inspired to write a book. And the idea came pretty quickly. One girl, her dream of freedom, and a voice to speak for millions of victims of communism who never had a chance to tell their story. And that became Between Shades of Gray. Which is often confused with 50 Shades of Gray.

  Sarah Enni: You did write this really great op-ed for NPR about that. Do you mind? This is just a funny story.

  Ruta Sepetys: Yeah, it is a funny story. So Between Shades of Gray came out and my mother, who at the time was in her late seventies, she called me and she said, "You have a problem." I said, "What's the problem?" She said, "There's another book that's called Shades of Gray. It's just come out..” (E.L. James’s 50 Shades of Grey). And I said, "Mom, imagine how many books have the same titles? How many songs have the same titles? It's no big deal." She said, "This is a big deal." I said, "Why?" And then she told me and I thought, "Oh man, Lithuania is never gonna look so sexy."

  And I knew immediately what was gonna happen and that people would buy my book by accident. And we started seeing that first on the Kindle, because people wanted to read 50 Shades of Gray, but perhaps they didn't want to be seen buying it in public. So they bought it on an e-Reader and all of a sudden my sales jumped and people said, "Oh, you must be so upset." No, I wasn't. First I wasn't upset because if something brings people to books, I have no problem with that, if they're reading. And so I thought, "Okay." But then I thought, "Wow. They come for a spanking and they're getting a story about Joseph Stalin."

  And I had some beautiful emails from people who said, "I'm gonna be very honest. I bought the wrong Shade of Gray, but you know what? I started reading and I didn't put the book down. And I really felt so accomplished," they said, "That I learned something." And that was really great. But it continues. The book was released nine years ago, it's been nine years ago. But now that the film has come out, the film adaptation Ashes in the Snow, there's also a film tie-in. And I think that's easier for schools to take. Because imagine when kids were going home, seventh graders, and parents saw Shades of Gray in their book bag?

  Sarah Enni: It's just one of those publishing coincidences.

  Ruta Sepetys: Yes, but I have to tell you, I was holding my breath with my other books. I was like, "Oh no. Could there be...?"

  Sarah Enni: That would be like, "What kind of magic are you creating here?"

  Ruta Sepetys: Yeah. Dark magic.

  Sarah Enni: Yeah, exactly! Okay, so Between Shades of Gray, and Salt to the Sea, I'm gonna group those together because they're both World War Two stories, though a little different. I'll have you give more detail about Salt to the Sea in a moment. But of course, all of your books involve so much research. I'm interested in the tie-in between storytelling and hearing your dad's story, and being interested in your own family's story, and the concept of generational trauma for people who are refugees and who are displaced.

  And, of course, what your grandfather went through under communism. Generational trauma it's actually scientifically proven now and we know it's real. In addition to that, you also went out and saw other people's stories and took on even more of real people's pain and lived experiences. I'm so curious about what that was like for you, and how you thought about maybe a calling or duty to tell other people's stories?

  Ruta Sepetys: Yes. And I think it was something that I underestimated when I began this process. Because working in music and managing artists, yes I tried to be compassionate and things. But to your point about generational trauma, I was speaking to human beings who had been condemned to death. Innocent human beings. And had to reconcile that that was their sentence.

  That they received this sentence - fifteen years in Siberia - and they survived. And so, although there is generational trauma, what is often I feel overlooked is also generational joy and generational gratitude. Because when you face this beast of war, or this beast of totalitarianism, and come out on the other side, yes, you have lost. But if along the way you've lost… these people tell me that if they felt loss, it occurred to them it's because they loved.

  And that's what made them human. The fact that they felt sadness, at some point they felt, "Well, wait a minute, that means I did love something." Some of these people told me that their suffering had been their greatest spiritual teacher. So at the same time that I'm speaking with people and families about these different experiences, wow, the overwhelming takeaway was of gratitude.

  And it really put me in my place because I thought, "How in the world can I ever justify these small things that might annoy me during the day when these human beings are telling me the stories?" The harder thing for me to get over, which I believe is a component of generational trauma, is a desire for anonymity. This fear, which is driven by fear. People... let's take Between Shades of Gray and my new novel, The Fountains of Silence. In Between Shades of Gray people who were deported to Siberia.

  And if they survived and returned, if they spoke of Siberia, they were deported again. They couldn't speak of this. And so they lived with the secret for fifty years. In The Fountains of Silence, after the Spanish Civil War, the families who opposed Franco during the war were plunged into silence. They were so fearful to speak of it. A woman told me she had a cardboard father. She wasn't even allowed to put her father's photo on the wall.

  So she took the frame apart and took that piece of cardboard with the photo and put it in the bedside table. And that's how these people lived. And they didn't want to talk about it, they didn't want people to know that they were associated with a Spanish Republican family who had opposed Franco. And so this request for anonymity is also part of this generational trauma. Feeling that you can't step in and take ownership of your own history.

  And what does that do? I asked the questions when I was writing Fountains of Silence, “Does silence truly heal pain, or does it just prolong it?” And I have seen over the last nine years, with Between Shades of Gray, the people who I interviewed who insisted, "You cannot put my name in this book. You can't tell anyone that you have spoken to me."

  So I created these characters; the man who wound his watch, the girl with the dolly, to respect this request for anonymity. But now how over the years, because readers have read their story in all these countries and are doing school projects, or making YouTube videos, it has given these people courage to take ownership. And that's part of healing. And so when you think of generational trauma, what surprises me is we often think that that healing has to come within our own family.

  But no, sometimes it's the gift of an outsider who brings us that healing. And that's the power of books and the power of story. But for me, as I'm researching the stories, it's so painful. As I explained, I want to help everyone. And I lay awake at night thinking of the stories.

  And so when I write a book, instead of researching and putting it aside and then saying, "Okay, my research is done, I'm gonna start writing." I research and write at the same time because I fear that if I do it separately, I'm gonna lose the emotional momentum of what I'm feeling. And if I am crying with a survivor, or with the family member of a victim, out of respect for them and this experience, I want to put that emotion into the text so it will be as authentic as possible.

  So after I interview someone, I sit outside and hand write these notes of the emotional hits. And one of those emotional hits became the first line of Between Shades of Gray. I was interviewing a woman and she was just talking about the injustice of it all and how her family had suffered such trauma. And she said, "We were innocent. My dad was a college professor. They broke into our house. They took my dad."

  And she said, "They grabbed me out of bed." And she said, "Ruta, do you understand? They took me in my nightgown." And "they took me in my nightgown" became the first line of the book. So I try to live within this generational trauma, but to move from reaction to observation. Because if I just stay that tightly within it, I'll be a mess.

  Sarah Enni: Yeah. I was gonna say that's what occurs to me, especially coming from the perspective of other writers who might want to write historical fiction, just thinking about how you care for yourself when you are dealing with very extreme stories.

  Ruta Sepetys: Right. Also the funny thing is people, because some of the stories I write are extreme, they think that I'm going to be a very intense and serious person. But what I've found is that I have to give myself the opportunity to laugh. I have to give myself the opportunity to move. Meaning, I am laughing and I'm dancing every single day.

  And people think, "What's wrong with you? Do you have a split personality?" No! I've learned, even from when I was a child, that if I'm hurting, sometimes the best shield can be humor. The best shield for hurt - because I'm laughing and with one hand flapping and saying, "Look here, look here." And my other hand is over my heart saying, "Don't look here." So laughter that's a huge component of what I try to do.

  Sarah Enni: Seeking out to help counter...

  Ruta Sepetys: Seeking out humor. And I know that's what drew me to my amazing spouse. He's really funny and we need that laughter in life, you know?

  Sarah Enni: Yeah. Well we have just about ten to fifteen minutes left, so I'm gonna jump to Fountains of Silence. So we can get into that. Do you mind pitching that book for us?

  Ruta Sepetys: Sure. The Fountains of Silence is set in 1957 in Madrid, Spain during the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. And it follows the story of 18 year old Daniel Matheson, the son of a Texas oil Barron, who comes to Madrid with his parents. And in Madrid, he meets Anna, a girl who's working at the hotel. And together Daniel and Anna unknowingly embark upon a journey that puts both of their lives in danger.

  And when I told people, "Oh, I'm writing a book, it's set in Madrid during the dictatorship of Franco." There were a couple people who said, "Oh, I love Madrid. I've been. But remind me who was Franco?" And this really fascinated me because I myself, and look I was steeped in dictators with whether it was Salt to the Sea with Hitler, and Stalin in Between Shades of Gray. And yet Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, we know the villain's names… we teach them. Why don't we know more about Franco?

  Sarah Enni: And it lasted for so long.

  Ruta Sepetys: Thirty Six years.

  Sarah Enni: Yeah. And incredibly recently. I mean, I myself was woefully under... I did not know.

  Ruta Sepetys: But it just begs the question, what determines how history is preserved and recalled? Why do some of these stories become part of our collective consciousness and other parts of history remain hidden. And sometimes I tell students, especially middle schoolers, they get excited. I'm like, "What is history hiding from us?" They're like, "What?" Like, "We need to do the research." Exactly, what's the answer?

  Sarah Enni: I love that you just were talking about writing and researching at the same time. That's fascinating. I didn't Know that that was your process. This book took you I think, seven or eight years?

  Ruta Sepetys: Seven years!

  Sarah Enni: So I had imagined many of those years being really just focused on research. But it sounds like it was just seven years of trying to do both at the same time? Or how did that process work?

  Ruta Sepetys: It was, and I've explained to other people that my three other books contain threads of my personal family history. So I could write those books from the inside out. At least I had a knowledge of the culture. But for this, I'm not Spanish and I don't speak Spanish. And the language is the key to the soul of the culture.

  So I had to write this book from the outside in. I spoke to my publisher in Spain, first of all to request permission and get their opinion, because what right do we have to history other than our own? And I thought, “If I want to do this, it's gonna take me a long time, and I have to do it well.” And they said, "Ruta, we think you should do it.” Sometimes looking at history from a different altitude can be interesting.

  So immediately I started my research. And knowing I was gonna have to write from the outside in, told me it was gonna have to be an American in Spain. So early parts of my research were dedicated to that. Looking at the infusion of American business in Spain during a dictatorship. Franco didn't do business with other countries, but he was doing business with the United States. Why?

  And going into the diplomatic archives, and the presidential archives, and seeing the arguments on record. Because some people were saying, "Are we helping the Spanish people or are we helping the dictatorship?" And that was fascinating to me. And so yeah, I started to write it at the exact moment that I started to research .

  Sarah Enni: It's so fascinating. And the book throughout has those conversations you're saying is interstitial, straight from the archive dialogue. Harry Truman is in there a bunch, and I thought that added so much, it was so fascinating. Just reminders like,"Oh, I'm reading fiction, but it's so not. It's so vivid and so real."

  Ruta Sepetys: Thank you. And the diplomatic archives. These American diplomats who were in Spain in the fifties, first of all, some of them were so badly behaved and that made for a fascinating, fascinating read.

  Sarah Enni: They were so spicy.

  Ruta Sepetys: They were spicy! And I thought, "Oh my goodness. And how did these people get these positions?" And then, “What in the world made them go on record during these oral history interviews?” They just thought, "Oh, I'm just gonna tell all these stories." But then I had to decide what serves the history. And because I often say, “I write the books, but history writes my stories.” I can't even look at it from a point of view of, what information serves my story? No. What serves the history, and what's gonna give us a balanced approach, and not just tell one single story? Because history has many angles, I think.

  Sarah Enni: Yeah. And you've already brought it up, and it's something that I was thinking about as a thread through your books is, it's sort of like railing against silence. Literally telling the stories is the opposite of being silenced. And learning about, what is it called? The Pact of Silence?

  Ruta Sepetys: Oh! The Pact to Forgetting.

  Sarah Enni: The Pact to Forgetting. Do you mind just telling...?

  Ruta Sepetys: Yes. So, imagine, it's 1975 and Franco dies. Spain has been living under this dictatorship for thirty six years and now has the Herculean task of trying to transition to a successful democracy. And it was so fragile that they thought, "If we start prosecuting thirty six years of alleged offenses, it could plunge the country into another civil war." So they agreed to pass an Amnesty Law in 1977 and adopt what is now known as The Pact of Forgetting. That they would agree to forget.

  But again, this begs the question, what happens if we forget our history? And I understand this was transitional. This was a transitional period. But I think that silence sometimes breeds speculation. And people, if they don't have the story, they will make up their own. And oftentimes that creates a false narrative or misjudgment. It's not done on purpose, but we try to fill in the blanks and it's almost like, "Ooh, what are they not saying?"

  And so we make up these stories. And that's the one disadvantage I think. And of course, some people prefer to remain silent. As I've said, there's this fragile tension between history and memory. Some are desperate to remember, others are desperate to forget. We have to respect that. If I had grandparents who wanted to adopt a Pact of Forgetting about the Soviet occupation, it was so painful that they thought, "Don't do this." And so we have to respect that.

  But if there is a way that we can share a human beings story, when they see their story recognized, we can help restore a piece of human dignity. And that's, again, a power of books. Because sometimes history is boring but all of a sudden, through a character and a story, history becomes human. And I get emails from people who say, "How did you know this is my story? And I've never told a soul." And even if they never tell a soul, I can tell through the email that there's this validation. Suddenly the world is less lonely, you know? "No one understood. And no one had a story like mine. No one experienced this." And then suddenly you realize, "Oh, there are others."

  Sarah Enni: Well, I think we're seeing in the news right now that when one person speaks up, then other people feel brave enough to share their story, or contribute to a narrative that's unfolding. And people discovering what's true and adding facts, which I'm a big fan of. And speaking of this, you obviously love history, and filling up with facts and people's true stories and doing the diligent work of finding out what really happened, but you choose to express it in fiction. And you've talked about the power of story, but it just strikes me, do you ever feel any pull towards actually doing nonfiction, or how do you think about that?

  Ruta Sepetys: I don't feel the pull toward nonfiction. But mainly because first of all as I said, I rely so heavily on these texts, dissertations, academic papers that are written by historians. And I know that I'm not a historian. So I don't feel qualified to write nonfiction about these topics. But the larger reason is because if I approached a topic through nonfiction, I might be limited to one family's story thread. But in writing fiction, for The Fountains of Silence, I can interview hundreds of people and I can pull threads let's say from twenty different human beings, and weave them into one character.

  And that's important to me because I feel that then I'm representing a broader range of human experience. And in my first novel, Between Shades of Gray, there were countless camps, deportation camps, death camps, labor camps, and by pulling stories, hopefully I'm representing these threads of human experience that might apply to many different people. So that's one of the reasons I get to represent a broader range of human experience. And in doing so, hopefully present a more balanced portrayal, instead of just picking one side of history. Because it's never black and white, never. And that's what inspired the title Between Shades of Gray for my first book. And that's the other thing, if I did write nonfiction, it might be more black and white.

  Sarah Enni: Yeah, that's a really interesting point. And you always have multiple narrators as well to see all of the prism of one...

  Ruta Sepetys: In Salt to the Sea and in Fountains of Silence, I have multiple characters. Between Shades of Gray one narrator. And the novel that I am writing now is also first-person and a single narrator. And Fountains of Silence is my only novel in third person.

  Sarah Enni: How did you like that?

  Ruta Sepetys: I loved the freedom of it, but it was challenging for me. It was really challenging. Did I wanna write omniscient? Did I wanna write third-person close? And again, remember, I have no formal training. I have not studied this. So it was as if I were blindfolded. Again, writing and reading everything aloud, listening for rhythm and flow. Which is omniscient or close... is this better? So it was really a struggle.

  Sarah Enni: That's really interesting. Well, you did a great job!

  Ruta Sepetys: Thank you.

  Sarah Enni: So I want to ask about what you're doing next, but I would be remiss not to ask you about the exhumation of Franco that is happening literally today as we record this. Do you mind telling listeners? I was fascinated. As soon as I read your book, I've learned more about it, and it's happening. So do you mind talking about Valley of the Fallen?

  Ruta Sepetys: Yes. And also, please understand that I'm coming at this from the viewpoint of an outsider. And outsiders, sometimes are we unreliable observers? You know? I have to remind myself that maybe it's infused by opinion rather than just fact. There are so many different sides to this. But during Franco's dictatorship, he decided to build what is known as The Valley of the Fallen, which was an enormous financial undertaking.

  Millions of dollars, during a time when Spain was suffering from extreme poverty. Millions of dollars were being poured into this monument, which people thought would become a monument to Franco. And what is also painful about this history of The Valley of the Fallen is it was built by the prisoners of the Spanish Civil War. And although The Valley of the Fallen contains graves, let's say thirty thousand people, victims on both sides.

  So on the Franco side and the Spanish Republican side, it's particularly painful because people's relatives died building The Valley of the Fallen. Some people have no idea where their relatives even are. Are they at the Valley? And then when Franco died, he was buried. His tomb is there at Valley of the Fallen. The cross is so massive, you can see it from miles away.

  Sarah Enni: It's bigger than the Eiffel tower.

  Ruta Sepetys: It's bigger than the Eiffel tower. And imagine this, if we looked out the window and we saw this huge cross that could be seen from miles away, that was a monument to Hitler? That would be, it would be shocking and unacceptable. And I think for Franco, because he's lived for thirty six years, I think the legacy of his dictatorship changed a bit near the end of his life. Some people said, "Oh, well he's a benevolent dictator." But for some of these families it was still so painful to be faced with this.

  And then there are tourists who go to The Valley of the Fallen. But some people in Spain felt, "Wait. The story is not really being reflected here." And it was a constant source of pain. And so after many years there was discussion, "Do we move Franco?" And then also, how does that affect the Pact of Forgetting? If we've agreed to forget, all of a sudden literally digging up history.

  Sarah Enni: Monuments are the opposite of forgetting.

  Ruta Sepetys: Yes, exactly. And if we do exhume Franco, then have we broken our Pact of Forgetting? But I applaud Spain for doing this because, as the saying goes, “A wound that's not properly cleaned can't heal.” And so for me, even though yes, it's so painful, it's painful for people on both sides. Imagine for Franco's family. I mean this is painful for both sides. So if we get to a point where we can move from reaction to reflection and maybe once Franco is moved, we can get to that point of reflection.

  And why is that important that we're reflecting and not reacting? Because maybe at that point, old dividing lines will begin to fade, and we can get to the point where history no longer sits between us or stands between us, but flows through us. And I think for some people, moving Franco will help that flow rather than be a barrier. I hope. And again, am I idealistic? Yes. But it's just fascinating and the timing is just surreal. And someone said, "Oh, this is amazing that you timed the release of your novel with Franco's exhumation from The Valley of the Fallen." I said, "No, you don't understand." I have chills. It feels ghostly to me that this is happening.

  Sarah Enni: Pretty wild and fascinating. And I think I read your book, and then was reading these articles, and I was like, "Oh, I really understand what we're talking about." Which is great.

  Ruta Sepetys: That's such a huge compliment. Honestly. That is such a great compliment.

  Sarah Enni: Yeah, it was so fun. So I'll let you go in a couple of minutes. I'm gonna ask about what's coming up next, and then ask for advice, and then we can wrap up. So I'm interested both in what you're writing about next, and also how you choose these projects when you know the enormous amount of work that goes into writing historical fiction? You know, seven years for this one book! Then what makes a book stand out as, “This is the one to tackle next?”

  Ruta Sepetys: I would say that the creative catalyst for me comes from some sort of element of compassion. With Fountains of Silence, when I toured for Between Shades of Gray, the people in Spain were so compassionate about these Baltic victims and what happened, and they were crying. And so it made me want to reciprocate and say, "Well, what's your story?"

  And that's how I learned of the pain that they were suffering, and how many years they had suffered in silence. And that made me want to look into it. And the new book that I'm working on ties into this question. Thanks to Penguin Young Readers Group, my books are published in over sixty countries, and I have the good fortune to be able to tour. And when I toured Romania, I was so shocked at how little I knew about the plight of the Romanian people. And how the Soviets had sort of fed us this propaganda. I mean terrible statements, inappropriate language, you know that, "Oh, Romanians are gypsies."

  And the narrative of the orphanages in Romania that began to define the country and the people. And when I toured in Romania, I learned there is so much more to it. And the plight of the people was particularly terrifying because in other countries, let's take Lithuania or even Poland, there was a unity in victimhood. There was a solidarity.

  In Romania, the regime recruited people to inform on one another and it's estimated that one in every six human beings was an informer. So there was no unity, there was no solidarity, there was pure fear. And they recruited teenagers into a spy network, convincing them that it would benefit their family if they did. And these poor teens were responsible, in some cases, for their parent's death, for the death of their teachers, of their grandparents, punishment, imprisonment. And so I'm writing about this teen spy network in Romania just prior to the revolution.

  Sarah Enni: Wow. That sounds amazing!

  Ruta Sepetys: The story and the Romanian people are so amazing. It's so amazing. I mean, talk about resilience. Oh my goodness.

  Sarah Enni: And I know that for Fountains of Silence, you even rented an apartment in Madrid at one point and went back and forth. Are you going back and forth?

  Ruta Sepetys: I'm going back and forth to Romania. My latest trip was not only to Bucharest, but also to Transylvania, to that region. Oh my goodness. So beautiful. And again, like I've said, history has many angles. You interview someone in the big city and you get one angle of history. You go out into the countryside, or into the mountains, and the story changes. And it's not that one is true and one is untrue, but the human experience is different. And I want to represent those different human experiences.

  So that's crucial. My next trip will be in a couple months. I just keep going back and forth. And I couldn't do this work without the help of my foreign publishers who lead me to interpreters. I don't speak Romanian. I don't speak Spanish. That lead me to research sources. And inevitably when I interview someone I say, "Well, is there anyone else that you think might be interested in sharing something? Or you think that I should speak to?" Inevitably I'll get 10 names and this just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

  Sarah Enni: Wow. And I want to direct people to, you did this wonderful interview with Yin Chang of 88 Cups of Tea. The only reason I didn't grill you about interviewing all day, which I am obsessed with and could talk about, is that you did a great interview with her about that. So I'll make sure people are linked to that. How you interview people cause it was a really great discussion.

  This has been so amazing. We have to wrap up, but I want to ask for advice. So I'd love for you to just share with people, for anyone that's interested in writing historical fiction. To me it seems daunting and a little scary, but it's so fascinating. What would you say to someone who's maybe interested in tackling a project like that?

  Ruta Sepetys: I would say, first of all, give yourself permission to fail. And what do I mean by fail? I don't mean to get something wrong. But just that your first draft, they're gonna be clunky, and they're gonna be ugly, and they're gonna be imperfect. But there's perfection in imperfection. So give yourself the permission to fail.

  But then to begin the process, to make it easier, mine your own personal history and do that through a way... if any of your listeners, if their relatives are still alive, parents, grandparents, extended family members, interview them with broad questions. Meaning ask them to recall sense memories. "What did it smell like in your elementary school?" Or, "So you're looking out the kitchen window of the house you grew up in. What did you see?"

  And those kinds of interviews, interviewing your family first, will help you realize what people respond to. What's an easy in-road to an interview? But in the process you're collecting your own family archival information. Start there because I'm fascinated with hidden history and historical fiction. But the most important story we can find and preserve is our own.

  So I would say, absolutely start there. Pull out that old box of photos, sit with relatives, and say, "Who is this in this picture?" Label those photos and that'll create this curiosity that then will help you as you're moving along with someone else's story - telling someone else's story.

  Sarah Enni: And that's such a great piece of advice too cause there's a special art to interviewing someone when you're about to write a fiction account as opposed to a nonfiction account. So you can really indulge in like, "What food did you eat?" This kind of stuff.

  Ruta Sepetys: And, "What do you think people don't understand about this time period? What was a secret dream that you would have?" Or, "Tell me about someone else." Because in nonfiction, there's no speculation. But in fiction they can say, "Well, you know, that neighbor woman, I always suspected that she was..." You know? And these suspicions feed fictional threads. Just how someone was thinking.

  Sarah Enni: Yeah, well I love that! Ruta, this has been such a delight. Thank you.

  Ruta Sepetys: Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

Sepetys, Ruta THE BLETCHLEY RIDDLE Viking (Children's None) $18.99 10, 8 ISBN: 9780593527542

Siblings decode familial and wartime secrets in 1940 England.

Headstrong 14-year-old Lizzie Novis refuses to believe that her mother, a U.S. embassy clerk who was working in Poland, is dead. After fleeing from her grandmother--who's attempting to bring her back to America--Lizzie locates her 19-year-old brother, Jakob, a Cambridge mathematician who's stationed at the clandestine British intelligence site called Bletchley Park. Hiding from her grandmother's estate steward, Lizzie becomes a messenger at Bletchley Park, ferrying letters across the grounds while Jakob attempts to both break the ciphers generated by the German Enigma machines and help his sister face the reality of their mother's likely fate. With a suspicious MI5 agent inquiring about Mum and clues and codes piling up, the siblings, whose late father was "Polish Jewish British," eventually decipher the truth. Shared narrative duties between the siblings effectively juxtapose the measured Jakob with the spirited Lizzie. Lizzie's directness is repeatedly attributed to her being "half American," which proves tiresome, but Jakob's development from reserved to risk-tolerant provides welcome nuance. The authors introduce and carefully explain a variety of decoding methodologies, inspiring readers to attempt their own. A thoughtful and entertaining historical note identifies the key figures who appear in the book, such as Alan Turing, as well as the real-life bases for the fictional characters. Interspersed photos and images of ephemera help situate the narrative's time period.

A rich, enthralling historical mystery that engages and educates.(Historical mystery. 10-14)

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"Sepetys, Ruta: THE BLETCHLEY RIDDLE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Aug. 2024, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A804504574/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=b69dd2b1. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024.

The Bletchley Riddle

by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Middle School, High School Viking 400 pp. 10/24 9780593527542 $18.99 e-book ed. 9780593527566 $10.99

It's the summer of 1940 in this collaboration between Sepetys (whose historical fiction for older readers includes, recently, I Must Betray You, rev. 5/22) and Sheinkin (primarily nonfiction, recently Impossible Escape, rev. 9/23). Hitler has taken over most of Europe and is about to attack England, as top minds at Bletchley Park, outside of London, race to break German codes that could alert the Allies of Nazi battle plans. Nineteen-year-old Jakob Novis works at Bletchley Park, while his fourteen-year-old sister, Lizzie, is consumed with finding their embassy-worker mother, Willa, presumed dead in the German invasion of Poland in 1939. But Lizzie doesn't believe it. She tracks down clues of her own as the codebreakers race to crack a cipher created by the Nazis' Enigma machine. Secrets build upon secrets, riddles upon riddles, and figuring them out might just save a family, or a world. The fifty riveting final pages are a master class in suspense, as Lizzie risks going to London just as the Luftwaffe readies for their attack on the city. Jakob steals a car to find Lizzie, and as they drive off back to Bletchley after learning shocking revelations about their family, the sky fills with airplanes, "a sinister swarm of evil black birds... Hitler's wrath is descending." With its expert pacing and characterization and its careful delineation of historical and family stories, this is historical fiction at its best. A note and photographs are appended. DEAN SCHNEIDER

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Sources, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Schneider, Dean. "The Bletchley Riddle." The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 100, no. 5, Sept.-Oct. 2024, p. 88. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A809886592/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=7fc95071. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024.

* SEPETYS, Ruta & Steve Sheinkin. The Bletchley Riddle. 400p. Viking. Oct. 2024. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780593527542.

Gr 6-10--This dual-narrative novel follows siblings Jakob and Lizzie Novis through WWlI-era London just prior to the Blitz. Jakob is 19, working as a codebreaker at Bletchley Park, trying to unlock the secrets of the German Enigma machine. His younger sister Lizzie wants to remain in England but is caught in a furious battle with her American grandmother over an attempt to bring her to the U.S. Lizzie is vehement about staying because she wants to locate their mother, an embassy worker who went missing in Poland when the Nazis invaded. And while Jakob doesn't believe their mother is alive, when he and Lizzie start receiving coded messages in the mail, the siblings unite to uncover the truth. This book is an impressive joint effort between Sepetys and Sheinkin. Not only do they present a history of cryptography within details of life at Bletchley Park, they also highlight the Enigma-cracking contributions of well-known figures (e.g., Alan Turing) along with the lesser-known Polish team of Marian Rejewski, Henryk Zygalski, and Jerzy Rozycki. Sepetys and Sheinkin have created two protagonists who balance and complement each other in the dual-narrative format: Lizzie is assertive, quick-thinking, and persistent, while Jakob is reserved, thoughtful, and protective. The dangers of life in wartime England are ever present, but this book introduces enough levity to keep the tone light and engaging. VERDICT With broad appeal to both WWII and mystery enthusiasts, this highly recommended title is a first purchase for all libraries serving tweens and teens. --Michael Van Wambeke

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Van Wambeke, Michael. "SEPETYS, Ruta & Steve Sheinkin. The Bletchley Riddle." School Library Journal, vol. 70, no. 8, Aug. 2024, p. 96. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A806586335/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=b3936b53. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024.

The Bletchley Riddle

Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin. Viking, $18.99 (400p) ISBN 978-0-59352-754-2

This dynamic collaboration from Sepetys (I Must Betray You) and Sheinkin (Impossible Escape), set in May 1940, is marked by swift, snappy, and suspenseful storytelling narrated by Polish Jewish siblings Jakob and Lizzie. Nineteen-year-old Jakob has been recruited from Cambridge University by Britain's Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park to help decipher messages encrypted using the German Enigma machine. When his self-described straightforward-speaking 14-year-old sister Lizzie eludes their American grandmother's (first, but not last) attempt to bring her to Cleveland, she, too, ends up at Bletchley Park, assigned to carry packages between departments. Now, Lizzie endeavors to disprove the apparent death of their mother, who worked at the American Embassy in London and disappeared in Poland during the 1939 German attack. Short chapters make for fast-paced narration through simultaneously developing mysteries and relationships. Especially well depicted--and explained--is the excitement, as well as the daily drudgery, of codebreaking, culminating in a seamlessly entertaining and edifying read. Most characters, all portrayed as white, are fictional, but historical figures such as U.S. Ambassador Joseph Kennedy and mathematician Alan Turing play minor roles. Includes b&w archival photos and an endnote. Ages 10-up. (Oct.)

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"The Bletchley Riddle." Publishers Weekly, vol. 271, no. 28, 22 July 2024, pp. 69+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A803518197/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c8971833. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024.

You: The Story: A Writer's Guide to Craft through Memory. By Ruta Sepetys. May 2023. 224P- Viking, $19.99 (9780593524381). 808.3.

"The word writing can be daunting. But the word story is not." New York Times bestselling author Sepetys leads readers through the writing process by having them focus on their personal stories. She breaks down the elements of writing--plot, character development, setting, dialogue, etc.--in topical chapters that go beyond standard writing tips. Much like Stephen King did in On Writing, Sepetys describes each layer of writing, incorporating examples from her life. Through episodic, pop culture-filled writing samples that capture her formative years as the daughter of Lithuanian immigrants and her unusual path of working 20 years in the music industry in Hollywood to becoming a historical-fiction novelist, Sepetys also reveals some of the hidden elements of writing: exploration, hard work, self-doubt, failure, and vision. Chapters end with recaps of the writing strategies, related prompts that allow readers to draw on their own experiences and creativity, and entertaining "Stories to Uncover and Discover." In the latter, the ever-inquisitive author gives just enough detail about the Manson family, Pantone * colors, Toni Morrison, and other cultural references and asks guided questions that surreptitiously get readers investigating. Part writing guide, part memoir, Sepetys' fresh, fun handbook is all inspiration. --Angela Leeper

YA/S: Young adult writers will find much useful writing advice from beloved YA author Sepetys. AL.

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Leeper, Angela. "You: The Story: A Writer's Guide to Craft through Memory." Booklist, vol. 119, no. 15, 1 Apr. 2023, p. 12. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A745656485/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=e99c40ce. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024.

Sepetys, Ruta YOU Viking (Teen None) $19.99 5, 16 ISBN: 9780593524381

A gifted storyteller shares the method and memories behind her magic.

With chapters bearing labels such as "Plot," "Character Development," "Setting," and "Voice," award-winning teen historical fiction author Sepetys' first foray into nonfiction may look at first glance like an ordinary book on the craft of writing, but the introductory line, "life is story in motion," reveals a more sophisticated yet accessible approach: sideways, through the lens of memory. Her parents' early struggles and lifelong artistry gave her the sense that plots were everywhere. Discussing characterization, she recalls her 12-year-old self asking permission to paint her entire bedroom "brown like poop" (she even saved up for the paint). They agreed--and offered guidance on choosing an accent color. Eavesdropping on strangers trained Sepetys' ear to write dialogue, and she presents lowlights from her dating career as an exercise in character research. Each themed chapter ends with a recap of the main points presented, a set of writing prompts, and an intriguing set of "Stories To Uncover and Discover." Diving further into the subject of revision, Sepetys relates an anecdote that reveals how knowing only one side of a story leads to misunderstanding and errors, critical information for anyone writing history, whether theirs or someone else's. The dedication, hard work, and attention to detail that her fiction is known for show here in every carefully considered line, but most of all it's her heart that shines through.

Instructive and inspiring for storytellers of all ages. (Nonfiction. 12-adult)

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"Sepetys, Ruta: YOU." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Mar. 2023, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A738705319/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=d34a238b. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024.

SEPETYS, Ruta. You: The Story: A Writer's Guide to Craft Through Memory. 224p. Viking. May 2023. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780593524381.

Gr 6 Up--Sepetys presents a humorous and winsome "how-to" for novice writers, offering anecdotes from her own life as a starting point. She asks readers and writers to think about the oddities in their own lives to craft memoirs and narratives that are unique, full of emotion, and enchanting. Sections of this guide are broken down by literary elements, including plot, setting, and dialogue, with smaller chapters in each section related to the building blocks and puzzle pieces of those elements. This scaffolding of questions and techniques, coupled with personal memories for context, offers an accessible and easily digestible approach. With the same skill and craft that Sepetys employs to write relatable and moving invented characters, she paints a picture of her family, friends, and acquaintances, proving she is capable of more than enthralling fiction. Further, her endearing stories of painting her bedroom "poop brown" and eavesdropping at restaurants to get ideas for dialogue and characters offer deeply personal snippets to establish trust and connection with her readers. VERDICT This is a must for any collection where young readers have an interest in storytelling, as well as generally a good pick for fans of the author.--Kaitlin Malixi

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Malixi, Kaitlin. "SEPETYS, Ruta. You: The Story: A Writer's Guide to Craft Through Memory." School Library Journal, vol. 69, no. 6, June 2023, p. 94. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A751405833/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=e4b867d4. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024.

I Must Betray You

Ruta Sepetys. Philomel, $18.99 (336p) ISBN 978-1-9848-3603-8

Sepetys (The Fountains of Silence) unveils the culture of constant surveillance in communist Romania through an ominously sus-penseful historical novel set at the brink of revolution. Under the corrupt authoritarian Ceausescu's tenure in 1989 Bucharest, canny aspiring writer Cristian Florescu, 17, keeps his true observations secret as he studies English and jots down illegal thoughts, such as jokes and notes from a contraband travel guide, in a notebook. When an agent of the secret police blackmails him for accepting a dollar of foreign currency from the son of his mother's U.S. diplomat client, and promises life-saving medication for his grandfather, Cristian is forced to inform on his loved ones. Tensions intensify as the teen suspects everyone close to him for the betrayal that led to his blackmail, including best friend Luca, crush Liliana, and even his own family (all characters cue as white), and wrestles with how to use his new position to resist authority. As the betrayals' nuances become clear via interspersed intelligence reports, Cristian's tense first-person narrative foregrounds stark historical realities (families keep an inventory of American cigarettes as black market currency, police ruthlessly beat protesters), unflinchingly confronting deprivations and cruelty while balancing them with perseverance and hope as Romania hurtles toward political change. Back matter includes an author's note. Ages 12--up.

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"I Must Betray You." Publishers Weekly, vol. 269, no. 49, 23 Nov. 2022, p. 92. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A728493953/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=7d52c35f. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024.

I Must Betray You. By Ruta Sepetys. Read by Edoardo Ballerini and Ruta Sepetys. 2022. 7.5hr. Listening Library, DD, $63 (9780593502297). Gr. 8-11.

Ballerini is that rare talent who instantly, effortlessly transports listeners into a story. His agile adaptability further enhances Sepetys' (The Fountains of Silence, 2019) latest historical fiction as he expertly performs characters' specific details, empathically channels emotions, and deftly reveals a narrative rife with twists and turns. In the winter of 1989, Romania remains under the brutal control of Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu. Cristian is 17, living at home with parents, older sister, Cici, and beloved grandfather, Bunu. The Ceausescu regime relies on desperate citizens to surveil and betray one another, blackmailing Cristian into its fold: in exchange for medicine for ailing Bunu, Cristian must report on the activities of the U.S. ambassador's teenage son, whose family employs Cristian's mother. Now that he's an unwilling spy for the secret police, Cristian realizes he can't trust anyone--not his best friend, Luca; not even Liliana, the girl who's always had his heart. With Ceausescu's iron grip weakening, freedom might be possible. Ballerini imbues Cristian with a stupendous range--desperately frightened, stalwartly courageous, utterly betrayed, deeply in love. From the manipulative guard to the small children in prison, Ballerini manages to distinguish all the characters, major and mentioned, giving full due to all. Audiences are guaranteed a remarkable performance of an already tremendous book.--Terry Hong

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 American Library Association
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Hong, Terry. "I Must Betray You." Booklist, vol. 118, no. 16, 15 Apr. 2022, p. 63. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A702054558/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=1cf04b86. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024.

SEPETYS, Ruta. I Must Betray You. 336p. Philomel. Feb. 2022. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781984836038.

Gr 9 Up--Sepetys's latest book maintains the caliber readers have come to expect from an author whose focus on hidden histories has made her a YA powerhouse of historical fiction. Cristian is a 17-year-old living in Romania in 1989 with his family in the sterile concrete block housing that Ceausescu's communist state allows, with little to eat and no liberties. When Cristian reluctantly agrees to become an informer to protect his grandfather, nothing is sacred: not his budding relationship with Liliana, not his friendship with Luca, and not his musings about Romania in a notebook that will be a tool to fight back, if he makes that choice. Romania blossoms under Sepetys's attention to detail which comes from personal interviews, archival research, and traveling. These complexities are then infused into the setting and cast of characters whose surveillance means betrayal lurks everywhere, evidenced by the secret reports resourcefully sprinkled into the narrative. Mysterious as it is thrilling, the book's short chapters create an atmosphere of impending danger leading to a historical event in Eastern Europe that may be unknown to many yet is necessary to be told. The impending revolution pressurizes Cristian s next move, reminiscent of Matt Killeen's Orphan Monster Spy that blurs the line of good and evil. VERDICT Sepetys is a formidable writer, and her stories declare the need to write about global issues of social injustice. For that reason and her attention to detail, this is a must-read.--Alicia Abdul

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Abdul, Alicia. "SEPETYS, Ruta. I Must Betray You." School Library Journal, vol. 68, no. 2, Feb. 2022, pp. 85+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A692875679/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=7fc4966a. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024.

Sepetys, Ruta I MUST BETRAY YOU Philomel (Teen None) $18.99 2, 1 ISBN: 978-1-984836-03-8

A rare look at the youth-led rebellion that toppled Romania's Ceaușescu.

Seventeen-year-old Cristian Florescu, with his spiky hair, love of poetry and English, and crush on Liliana Pavel, is as much of a rebel as it's possible to be in Bucharest, Romania, in 1989. Communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu has been in power for 24 years, and most Romanians live in poverty, exporting what they produce to unknowingly fund Ceaușescu's obscenely extravagant lifestyle. Wild dogs attack children in the streets, and secret agents are everywhere. When an agent confronts Cristian with evidence of treason--a single dollar bill tucked inside his notebook--and also offers medicine for Bunu, his sick grandfather, Cristian agrees to spy on the American diplomat family whose son he's become friendly with. But as young Romanians gradually become aware that other countries have gained freedom from communism, they rise up in an unconquerable wave. Sepetys brilliantly blends a staggering amount of research with heart, craft, and insight in a way very few writers can. Told from Cristian's point of view, intercut by secret police memos and Cristian's own poetry, the novel crackles with energy; Cristian and his friends join the groundswell of young Romanians, combining pragmatism, subterfuge, hope, and daring. While the story ends with joy on Christmas Day, the epilogue recounts the betrayals and losses that follow. The last line will leave readers gasping.

Compulsively readable and brilliant. (maps, photos, author's note, research notes, sources) (Historical fiction. 12-18)

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Sepetys, Ruta: I MUST BETRAY YOU." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Dec. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A684108417/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=082afaf4. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024.

SEPETYS, Ruta. Between Shades of Gray: The Graphic Novel, adapt, by Andrew Donkin. illus. by Dave Kopka. 160p. Philomel. Oct. 2021. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780593204160; pap. $12.99. ISBN 9780593404850.

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., TX

KEY: * Excellent in relation to other titles on the same subject or in the same genre | Tr Hardcover trade binding | lib. ed. Publisher's library binding | Board Board book | pap. Paperback | e eBook original | BL Bilingual | POP Popular Picks

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Hardin, Gretchen. "SEPETYS, Ruta. Between Shades of Gray: The Graphic Novel." School Library Journal, vol. 67, no. 11, Nov. 2021, p. 83. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A683721520/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=5f8d6d6a. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024.

The Fountains of Silence.

By Ruta Sepetys.

Oct. 2019. 512p. Philomel, $18.99 (9780399160318). Gr. 9-12.

It's 1957 and aspiring photographer Daniel Matheson is visiting Spain with his Texas oil tycoon father. Daniel is eager for the opportunity to flesh out his portfolio for a photography contest--what would be more prize-worthy than photos of daily life in notoriously secretive Spain?--but he gets repeated warnings, some quite aggressive, against looking too closely. Another thing Daniel doesn't bank on is Ana, an arrestingly beautiful maid at the Castellana Hilton, where he's staying with his parents. As their affection deepens, so, too, do their differences: Ana, daughter of executed anti-Fascists, lives a tightly constrained existence, and Daniel has unprecedented freedom in her country and can't quite wrap his head around the danger he puts her in. In another meticulously researched novel, Sepetys (Salt to the Sea, 2015) offers a captivating glimpse into Franco's Spain, a region awash in secrets and misinformation. As Sepetys slowly unspools hard truths about the era, such as the prevalence of babies stolen from poor, Republican families, the facts become increasingly impossible to ignore, both for the reader and for Daniel. The romance ultimately takes center stage, but the troubling events in the margins add terrifyingly high stakes to Daniel and Ana's relationship. For all her extensive, careful research (evident in the back matter), Sepetys doesn't overwhelm readers with facts; rather, she tells a moving story made even more powerful by its placement in a lesser-known historical moment. Captivating, deft, and illuminating historical fiction. --Sarah Hunter

HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: A new novel from best-selling, award-winning Sepetys is always news, but this latest has a hefty promotional campaign to bolster it up as well.

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 American Library Association
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Hunter, Sarah. "The Fountains of Silence." Booklist, vol. 115, no. 21, 1 July 2019, p. 63. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A595705170/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=9df9ac33. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024.

The Fountains of Silence

by Ruta Sepetys

High School Philomel 498 pp. g

10/19 978-0-399-16031-8 $18.99

Sepetys's riveting historical epic examines the enduring effects of the Spanish Civil War through the perspectives of four young people living under the shadow of Franco's fascist dictatorship in 1957 Madrid. Ana and Rafael are siblings whose Republican educator parents were murdered for opposing Franco's Nationalist party. Now, almost twenty years later, the family still struggles. Ana is a maid in an American-style hotel, while Rafael splits his time between working in a slaughterhouse and digging graves. They earn pennies even as Franco's government grows rich off American tourism and oil industries. Their cousin Puri, a loyal fascist, is a caregiver at a Catholic orphanage, where she is increasingly disturbed by some troubling discoveries concerning the infants in her charge. Daniel, an aspiring American photojournalist whose mother is from Spain and father is a Texas oil baron, befriends Ana and Rafael and begins to question everything he's been told about Spain and its pretty facade--especially after he and Ana fall in love. Through lively characters and short, swiftly paced chapters permeated with elements of mystery and suspense, Sepetys thoroughly and sensitively explores the vast social, economic, and political issues that plagued postwar Spain, including the selling of stolen Republican infants to Nationalist families. Excerpts from newspapers, government documents, and interviews from and about the time add another layer of veracity. Back matter includes an author's note, an extensive bibliography, information on sources, a glossary of Spanish words and phrases, and a photo gallery. An exemplary work of historical fiction.

Most of the books are recommended; all of them are subject to the qualifications in the reviews. g indicates that the book was read in galley or page proof. The publisher's price is the suggested retail price and does not indicate a possible discount to libraries. Grade levels are only suggestions; the individual child is the real criterion. * indicates a book that the editors believe to be an outstanding example of its genre, of books of this particular publishing season, or of the author's body of work. For a complete key to the review abbreviations as well as for bios of our reviewers, please visit hbook.com/horn-book-magazine.

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Swan, Jennifer Hubert. "The Fountains of Silence." The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 95, no. 5, Sept.-Oct. 2019, pp. 100+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A610419073/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f577e4cc. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024.

Sepetys, Ruta. The Fountains of Silence. Philomel, October 2019. 512p. $18.99. 978-0399-16031-8.

5Q * 4P * J * S

It is 1957, and eighteen-year-old Ana works at the Castellana Hilton in Madrid, helping her family survive under the fascist regime of the dictator General Francisco Franco. Daniel, the son of an oil tycoon, is spending the summer learning about the country of his mother's birth. Although they are from separate worlds, Ana and Daniel feel an instant connection. While Ana is afraid of getting too close and possibly causing problems for her family, Daniel learns to confront his own privilege. A budding photojournalist, he wants to use his pictures to tell the hidden story of Madrid and possibly win a journalism scholarship. Daniel soon discovers that secrecy runs deep and he does not realize that some of the choices his family makes will have long-term effects for his family.

Everyone has a story to tell, and Sepetys captures an era that is not often written about. Character development is an integral part of the over-five-hundred-page tome. Told from different point of views, the story flows smoothly. The setting becomes a character itself. The clouds of secrecy and poverty--interspersed with a story of love, hope, and redemption--enthralls readers. The story is well researched and includes an author note, a research and sources section, a glossary, and a section of pictures that are integral to the story. The Fountains of Silence will make a good addition to any library, and readers who enjoy historical fiction will find that Sepetys has once again brought history to life.--Elizabeth Nebeker.

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC
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Nebeker, Elizabeth. "Sepetys, Ruta. The Fountains of Silence." Voice of Youth Advocates, vol. 42, no. 4, Oct. 2019, pp. 63+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A622154280/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c6cea923. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024.

The Fountains of Silence

Ruta Sepetys. Philomel, $18.99 (512p) ISBN 978-0-399-16031-8

Sepetys (Salt to the Sea) again deftly explores a painful chapter in history, this time Franco's Madrid. In 1957, 18-year-old Daniel, an aspiring photojournalist from Texas, visits Spain with his Spanish mother and American oil tycoon father. After arriving, he hones his lens on the culture, in some cases capturing forbidden images that earn the wrath of the menacing Guardia Civil, and he forms a relationship with his enigmatic hotel attendant, Ana, and her family, who are barely surviving, in stark contrast to Daniel's family's affluence. The tension heightens as a mystery involving orphans unfolds and Daniel and Ana's magnetic romance progresses. The novel revolves around Ana's brother, Rafa, a bullfighting promoter; her cousin Puri, who works at an orphanage; a lecherous American ambassador; and an experienced newspaper bureau chief, who mentors Daniel. Sepetys skillfully conveys Spain's atmosphere under Franco--who limited women's rights and squelched rebellion--with a pervasive feeling of fear and economic oppression. Compelling primary source materials, such as memos from U.S. presidents, oral history excerpts, and even hotel brochures, precede some chapters and contextualize the narrative. This gripping, often haunting historical novel offers a memorable portrait of fascist Spain. Ages 12--up.

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 PWxyz, LLC
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"The Fountains of Silence." Publishers Weekly, vol. 266, no. 48, 27 Nov. 2019, pp. 64+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A607823354/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=3d53356c. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024.

Early adolescent readers are a daunting audience for an author. Middle schoolers are not going to read a book they don't like. When they do read a book, if it isn't exceptional, you're going to hear about it. Even some of the greatest literature of all time is labeled "Meh" or "OK, I guess." Adolescents have no problem offering their opinion, and they love to be critical.

So please know that it's a pretty big deal when we tell you that all of our students love Ruta Sepetys. Each one. The lot of 'em.

Admittedly, we were a little late to the party. Her first novel Between Shades of Gray (Penguin) was published in 2011. A few million people heard about it, read it, and loved it, including The New York Times, Publisher's Weekly, the American Library Association, and the Carnegie award folks. We didn't read it until five years later, and a few hundred middle schoolers followed suit. Since then, we haven't stopped talking and our kids haven't stopped reading.

Though only three books bear her name (soon to be four: The Fountains of Silence [Penguin] will be published in October), Ruta is one of the most acclaimed authors of our time. She has received attention and accolades because people read something they loved and talked about it--a triumph exemplifying what happens when readers share good books. Her appeal is nearly universal, attracting adult and young adult readers alike. Eight years after its publication, Between Shades of Gray (now published as Ashes in the Snow) remains the most widely read book in our building and a favorite among literacy professionals.

She is first on our list when we recommend titles and the closest to a "sure thing" we have in middle school. Whether your kids are fans of fiction, nonfiction, action, adventure, realistic fiction, or drama, hand them Salt to the Sea (Penguin). If your students are ravenous readers or have never completed a novel before, have them start Ashes in the Snow. If you are seeking something that will keep a student company over a long weekend, engage a dormant reader, build background knowledge, or support the development of emotional intelligence, Ruta is the answer.

Her historical fiction brings to light stories that have been kept in the dark, perspectives that have been ignored or even silenced. Salt to the Sea tells the story of the worst maritime disaster known to mankind: the sinking of a ship with a death toll six times greater than that of the RMS Titanic, perpetrated upon civilians by the Allies in World War II. Ashes in the Snow tells the story of Lina, one of thousands of innocent Lithuanian children sent to languish in Siberia because their parents were intellectuals. The Fountains of Silence uncovers deeply shrouded secrets from Franco's Spain.

Sharing adolescent frustration and outrage at the injustice in the world, Ruta encourages students to learn more and teach others. "If historical novels stir your interest, pursue the facts, history, memoirs, and personal testimonies available," she writes in the author's note in Salt to the Sea. "What determines how we remember history and which elements are preserved and penetrate the collective consciousness?" Such challenges tap into the powerful sense of right and wrong that is at the core of every middle school student.

And then there's Ruta herself. She's warm and generous and patient with our students. Whether cheering them on via Twitter or waving from a video conference screen, Ruta is there for our kids. She greets them with an open and grateful heart, as if she is the lucky one. She speaks to them like thinking, rational young adults and tells them to keep reading, keep writing, keep researching. It's magical, witnessing the power of the personal connection our students feel to this best-selling author. They hold her in high esteem, with a sense of admiration typically reserved for professional athletes and box office superheroes, yet they speak of her as a friend. She has earned the familiarity of first-name basis (as in, "When is Ruta's new book coming out?").

Though we were initially late to the party, it's safe to say we've never left. Some of our favorite moments in teaching--our personal highlight reel of conversations and experiences with our students--are courtesy of Ruta Sepetys.

Her novels will help you forge connections and strengthen relationships with your students. The current climate of the United States presents unforeseen challenges for educators, not the least of which is deciding how many sad stories are too many sad stories. With reality rapidly taking on the dark tones of a dystopian novel, we often hear colleagues advocate for certain books because they are "so happy and positive," and it's easy to understand why they gravitate toward lightness. In the reality of mass shootings, of course we want to wrap our children in warmth and love. This is why her books are important. They don't shy away from difficult topics. Nestled safely between the pages of a story, we can engage our students in life-changing dialogue about what it means to be human even in the most inhumane circumstances.

If you find yourself in this situation, faced with a desire to deliver to students a truly rich and meaningful reading experience while also celebrating the enduring positivity of humanity, you must give them Ruta Sepetys. They will love you for it.

ILA 2019

Ruta Sepetys will be a keynote speaker during the Children's Literature Day lunch on Sunday, Oct. 13, which will be emceed by Mary Cotillo and Erin O'Leary. In addition, she'll be participating in the young adult session in the morning with fellow authors Kekla Magoon, Daniel Jose Older, Steve Sheinkin, Renee Watson, and Kiersten White. For more information, visit ilaconference.org/iplanner.

Known as The Crazy Reading Ladies (crazyreadingladies .blogspot.com), Mary Cotillo, above right, and Erin O'Leary (2crazyreadingladies@ gmail.com) are middle-level educators from Massachusetts. They created All In!, a schoolwide reading initiative that ignites adolescents' passion to read.

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 International Literacy Association
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Cotillo, Mary, and Erin O'Leary. "THE MAGIC OF RUTA SEPETYS: Highlighting the Children's Literature Day keynote's ability to captivate a challenging audience: middle schoolers." Literacy Today, vol. 37, no. 2, Sept.-Oct. 2019, pp. 36+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A601551754/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c1e95ec0. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024.

"Sepetys, Ruta: THE BLETCHLEY RIDDLE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Aug. 2024, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A804504574/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=b69dd2b1. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024. "The Bletchley Riddle." Publishers Weekly, vol. 271, no. 28, 22 July 2024, pp. 69+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A803518197/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c8971833. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024. Schneider, Dean. "The Bletchley Riddle." The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 100, no. 5, Sept.-Oct. 2024, p. 88. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A809886592/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=7fc95071. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024. Van Wambeke, Michael. "SEPETYS, Ruta & Steve Sheinkin. The Bletchley Riddle." School Library Journal, vol. 70, no. 8, Aug. 2024, p. 96. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A806586335/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=b3936b53. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024. Leeper, Angela. "You: The Story: A Writer's Guide to Craft through Memory." Booklist, vol. 119, no. 15, 1 Apr. 2023, p. 12. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A745656485/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=e99c40ce. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024. "Sepetys, Ruta: YOU." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Mar. 2023, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A738705319/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=d34a238b. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024. Malixi, Kaitlin. "SEPETYS, Ruta. You: The Story: A Writer's Guide to Craft Through Memory." School Library Journal, vol. 69, no. 6, June 2023, p. 94. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A751405833/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=e4b867d4. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024. "I Must Betray You." Publishers Weekly, vol. 269, no. 49, 23 Nov. 2022, p. 92. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A728493953/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=7d52c35f. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024. Hong, Terry. "I Must Betray You." Booklist, vol. 118, no. 16, 15 Apr. 2022, p. 63. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A702054558/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=1cf04b86. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024. Abdul, Alicia. "SEPETYS, Ruta. I Must Betray You." School Library Journal, vol. 68, no. 2, Feb. 2022, pp. 85+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A692875679/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=7fc4966a. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024. "Sepetys, Ruta: I MUST BETRAY YOU." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Dec. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A684108417/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=082afaf4. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024. Hardin, Gretchen. "SEPETYS, Ruta. Between Shades of Gray: The Graphic Novel." School Library Journal, vol. 67, no. 11, Nov. 2021, p. 83. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A683721520/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=5f8d6d6a. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024. Hunter, Sarah. "The Fountains of Silence." Booklist, vol. 115, no. 21, 1 July 2019, p. 63. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A595705170/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=9df9ac33. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024. Swan, Jennifer Hubert. "The Fountains of Silence." The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 95, no. 5, Sept.-Oct. 2019, pp. 100+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A610419073/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f577e4cc. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024. Nebeker, Elizabeth. "Sepetys, Ruta. The Fountains of Silence." Voice of Youth Advocates, vol. 42, no. 4, Oct. 2019, pp. 63+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A622154280/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c6cea923. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024. "The Fountains of Silence." Publishers Weekly, vol. 266, no. 48, 27 Nov. 2019, pp. 64+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A607823354/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=3d53356c. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024. Cotillo, Mary, and Erin O'Leary. "THE MAGIC OF RUTA SEPETYS: Highlighting the Children's Literature Day keynote's ability to captivate a challenging audience: middle schoolers." Literacy Today, vol. 37, no. 2, Sept.-Oct. 2019, pp. 36+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A601551754/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c1e95ec0. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024.

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