Ruta Sepetys, the writer of Between Shades of Gray, created a compelling tale about the horrors that the Lithuanians endured during World War 2. However, aside from the main story, Sepetys includes miniature flashbacks that occurred during Lina’s life in the form of short stories. These flashbacks go hand in hand with the existing circumstances, for example, the memories help Lina make decisions in the NKVD camps where she is held as a prisoner. Additionally, Lina eases her mind with thoughts of her blissful past while she is forced to perform hard labor. One of the best memory Lina uses to escape reality was when she arrived at the beet and potato farm.
She frequently filled her mind with this utmost happiest thought she possessed . . . her acceptance letter for the “summer arts program” (118).miserable …show more content…
She was “too nervous” to open it, and she anxiously asked her family, “[w]hat if they don’t accept me?” (118). The family showered her with encouragement to open the letter, so Lina finally opened the envelope and “removed a single sheet of folded paper” (118). The piece of paper that was presented thanked Lina for her “recent application for the summer arts program” (118). The program complimented her submitted “samples” and mentioned that her art was “impressive” (118). Moreover, it was also stated Lina was accepted and was offered a place in the program. Her family knew Lina was very capable of getting into the program provided they already had a cake prepared. They were “certain [they would] be celebrating” and her papa was compelled to tell Lina that she was “blessed with a gift [and] there are great things in store for [her]” (119). However, Lina was pushed back into reality when she saw the “Altaian woman waddled to the corner, grunted, and peed into a tin can”
She frequently filled her mind with this utmost happiest thought she possessed . . . her acceptance letter for the “summer arts program” (118).miserable …show more content…
She was “too nervous” to open it, and she anxiously asked her family, “[w]hat if they don’t accept me?” (118). The family showered her with encouragement to open the letter, so Lina finally opened the envelope and “removed a single sheet of folded paper” (118). The piece of paper that was presented thanked Lina for her “recent application for the summer arts program” (118). The program complimented her submitted “samples” and mentioned that her art was “impressive” (118). Moreover, it was also stated Lina was accepted and was offered a place in the program. Her family knew Lina was very capable of getting into the program provided they already had a cake prepared. They were “certain [they would] be celebrating” and her papa was compelled to tell Lina that she was “blessed with a gift [and] there are great things in store for [her]” (119). However, Lina was pushed back into reality when she saw the “Altaian woman waddled to the corner, grunted, and peed into a tin can”