Review By: Anonymous
Published: 2021
Genres: Historical Fiction, Graphic Novel, YA Fiction, War
Audience: Grades 7-12, Adult
Goodreads Link: Between Shades of Gray: The Graphic Novel
Content Warnings: War, death, family separation, starvation, harsh labor conditions
Publisher Summary
June, 1941. A knock comes at the door and the life of fifteen-year-old Lina Vilkas changes forever. She’s arrested by the Soviet secret police and deported from Lithuania to Siberia with her mother and younger brother. The conditions are horrific and Lina must fight for her life and for the lives of those around her, including the boy that she loves. Risking everything, she secretly passes along clues in the form of drawings, hoping they will reach her father’s prison camp. But will her messages, and her courage, be enough to reunite her family? Will they be enough to keep her alive? A moving and haunting novel perfect for readers of The Book Thief, now available as a stunning graphic novel.
Review
Between Shades of Gray: The Graphic Novel Adaptation by Andrew Donkin and Ruta Sepetys (illustrated by Dave Kopka) is a powerful and visually striking retelling of the original bestseller. The illustrations are beautiful and deeply expressive, helping readers understand not only what the characters experience, but also what they feel as they endure the hardships of war. Through facial expressions, color choices, and visual pacing, the artwork captures fear, loss, and resilience in ways that words alone sometimes cannot.
One of the most impactful elements of the story is the repeated separation of families. Parents and children are torn apart with little warning, creating lasting emotional trauma. For students who have experienced displacement or instability, this graphic novel can serve as both a “mirror and a window,” validating difficult feelings while encouraging empathy and discussion.
The graphic novel format makes this complex and emotional historical narrative much more accessible, particularly for ELL students or struggling readers, while still honoring the seriousness of the topic. However, students may benefit from some background information about World War II and Soviet deportations before reading, as the original novel provides more dense historical context.
