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Who would’ve thought I’d find myself reading historical fiction? It's 1941 and fifteen-year-old artist Lina Vilkas is on Stalin's extermination list. Deported to a prison camp in Siberia, Lina fights for her life, fearless,  risking everything to save her family. It's a long and harrowing journey and it is only their incredible strength, love, and hope that pull Lina and her family through each day. But will love be enough to keep them alive?- goodreads.com “Was it harder to die, or harder to be the one who survived?” I am not usually one to read historical fiction but I picked up Between Shades of Gray because I was such a big fan of Salt to the Sea . After finishing it, I didn’t enjoy Between Shades of Gray as much as Salt to the Sea (which was one of favorites of last year), but I still really liked it. I love Ruta Sepetys’s novels because they feel real. This seems obvious since they are historical fiction novels and based on true events, but I...

Wow… This book made me emotional… Winter, 1945. Four teenagers. Four secrets. Each one born of a different homeland; each one hunted, and haunted, by tragedy, lies…and war. As thousands of desperate refugees flock to the coast in the midst of a Soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom. Yet not all promises can be kept. Inspired by the single greatest tragedy in maritime history, bestselling and award-winning author Ruta Sepetys (Between Shades of Gray) lifts the veil on a shockingly little-known casualty of World War II. An illuminating and life-affirming tale of heart and hope. - goodreads.com summary    “Guilt is a hunter. Fate is a hunter. Shame is a hunter. Fear is a hunter.” “The Wilhelm Gustloff was pregnant with lost souls conceived of war. They would crowd into her belly and she would give birth to their freedom.”     While...

Hello readers! I have spent the past month reading The Nightingale for a book club that my mom started. It was really out of my comfort zone since I am not used to historical fiction but I really enjoyed it as a onetime read! In love we find out who we want to be. In war we find out who we are. FRANCE, 1939 In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn’t believe that the Nazis will invade France...but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When France is overrun, Vianne is forced to take an enemy into her house, and suddenly her every move is watched; her life and her child’s life is at constant risk. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates around her, she must make one terrible choice after another. Vianne’s sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old girl, searchi...

Hello guys! So a lot of you have probably heard of the popular Historical Fiction book, The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak. I recently had to reread this book for school and that rereading reminded me why I and so many others love this book! First, it has such a unique POV! For anyone who doesn’t know, The Book Thief is narrated from the Point of View of Death. This allows the author to jump around from character to character and even flash forward and backward in time. The flashing forward and backwards in time is something that confused me on my first read but after rereading it, I understood it and appreciated it much more. Throughout The Book Thief Markus Zuzak creates realistic and relatable characters that you can’t help but become invested in. You always want the best for these characters that are just living in the worst time. Now I’m going to divert for a second and talk about the movie. If you have read The Book Thief but not seen the movie, I definitely recommend s...