Shades Of Gray Reflection

It was a time where discrimination was the worse in history, a time where millions of people died, and a time that will never be forgotten in history. What is that time in history you ask? It was called the Holocaust and is what started World War ll. For our Holocaust project, I read the book “Between Shades of Gray” written by Ruta Sepetys. This book is based off a girl along with her family and it’s their story of how they went through the Holocaust. I loved this book in many ways and it also made me realize how severe the Holocaust was. I’ve always known about the Holocaust but I never understood to this extent. This book has shown me how strong these people really were and what all they went through. I thought the book was a good example …show more content…
By all means, this was a good speechless feeling! One thing that made me realize this is an AMAZING book is it made me cry. I have never felt the connection to a book to where it actually made me cry. I have had many movies that have made me cry and I think it is because I feel their emotions and can see their faces. This proves how good the book is since I couldn’t see their faces but there was so good description that I could understand what they’re feeling along with what they were going through. One quote that really caught my attention and really impacted the way I feel about the book was “That’s when I saw it. A tiny sliver of gold appeared between the shades of gray on the horizon. I stared at the amber band of sunlight, smiling. The sun had returned.” (Sepetys, 336) I really don’t know why I like this quote so much since it really doesn’t have much to do with Lina or her relationship with Andrius. I think it was because after reading the book and seeing all the things Lina went through and how she always talked about all she saw was gray and then seeing something major that made her life happy again really makes me happy for Lina. Another reason I loved this book is that no matter what, Lina and her mother were always positive. “Our sense of humor,” said Mother, her eyes pooled with laughing tears. “They can’t take that away from us, right?” (Sepetys, 125) No matter what they went through …show more content…
It wasn’t because it was written badly or anything like that, but because of how sad it was. I felt this book did an amazing job of describing things but sometimes the stuff that was included was really sad. The book was based off of a true life of going through the Holocaust which makes it even more sad. “The next day, the guards dragged her stiff body out of the train. Her mother jumped down after her, crying. A gunshot fired. A thud hit the dirt. Another grieving mother was an annoyance.” (Sepetys, 256) The book description was so good it had me imagining the things included, and it was sad. Even though there were mainly sad parts in the book, I felt the ending made it a little better. Just knowing that Lina and Andrius get married and Lina gets out makes the book worth reading, too. Just being able to feel sorrow for everyone in the book then feeling happiness for them at the end. I also liked the love story throughout the book and the way it was included. I think this was one of the many reasons Ruta is an amazing author. She was able to tell a sad and depressing story of going through the Holocaust while telling a happy/sad love story. Just the fact that she could explain everything that happened with Lina and Andrius along with telling the story of how bad the Holocaust was to go through really surprises me. “I closed my eyes. I felt Andrius moving close. “I’ll see you,” he sad. “Yes, I will see