Between Shades of Gray

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No, this is not the trashy novel that's so popular these days.  This book is quite the opposite.  Here's a description of Between Shades of Gray:

"In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina is preparing for art school, first dates, and all that summer has to offer. But one night, the Soviet secret police barge violently into her home, deporting her along with her mother and younger brother. They are being sent to Siberia. Lina's father has been separated from the family and sentenced to death in a prison camp. All is lost.
Lina fights for her life, fearless, vowing that if she survives she will honor her family, and the thousands like hers, by documenting their experience in her art and writing. She risks everything to use her art as messages, hoping they will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive.
It is 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?"

This book was heart-wrenchingly, wonderful.  I've read tons of books that take place during World War II (in fact, my husband teases that we often only ever read about WWII at book club), but this is the first book I have ever read about what took place in countries seized by the Soviets under Stalin's rule.  I feel like this particular part of the war is very hidden in comparison to the plethora of information we have about Hilter and the Nazis.   I learned a lot more about the War just by reading this book. 

I felt a particular connection with the mother in this story and I confess that I had a hard time putting down the book, because I simply had to know what would happen to the family.  I won't ruin the end for you, but I freely admit to shedding quite a few tears while reading it.

The author gives an account of how she came to write this book.  The small video clip made me love her even more.  Go here to watch the video.  It's definitely worth a watch.