Mindi
asked
Ruta Sepetys:
One of my favorite lines from Salt to the Sea is when Alfred thinks that there is so much ugliness in the world, and we should not be forced to face it. The novel itself forces the reader to face the ugliness of the world, but to embrace the love and beauty that exists despite--or in spite--of it. How does this theme reflect your view of the function of art, especially YA literature, if at all?
Ruta Sepetys
Hi Mindi,
Wow, thank you for your observation about Alfred and for this beautiful question.
I think that hardship, struggle, and loss are an important part of the human experience because they are intertwined with love and joy. If we feel loss, it's because we have loved. And what could be more important than the capacity to love? Art and literature give us an opportunity to place beauty and horror next to each other and when they're side by side, we are able to see (and evaluate) the depth of both. Death amplifies life. Sorrow allows us to appreciate joy. So if we turn away from the ugliness, we are denying ourselves an experience of true beauty in the future.
Thank you for asking!
Wow, thank you for your observation about Alfred and for this beautiful question.
I think that hardship, struggle, and loss are an important part of the human experience because they are intertwined with love and joy. If we feel loss, it's because we have loved. And what could be more important than the capacity to love? Art and literature give us an opportunity to place beauty and horror next to each other and when they're side by side, we are able to see (and evaluate) the depth of both. Death amplifies life. Sorrow allows us to appreciate joy. So if we turn away from the ugliness, we are denying ourselves an experience of true beauty in the future.
Thank you for asking!
More Answered Questions
Ariana
asked
Ruta Sepetys:
I have also to find that you are planning on publishing another WWII story can you give us any hints on the story line? As well as this, being an avid reader I very much hope that you would strongly consider making a sequel to out with the easy. It's left me with so many "what-if's" and "I-wonder's". I would also like to say that, Between Shades of Gray is my all time favorite book Thank you for that!!:)
Danielle Shull
asked
Ruta Sepetys:
Hello, Ruta. First, I want to tell you that I'm a middle school teacher and have had so many students absolutely fall in love with your books. Thank you so much for that! On behalf of a student, my question is a two-part question regarding "Between Shades of Gray." (She is so excited I'm asking this!) What took you to writing this book, and what do you imagine happened to the kids after the end of the book?
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