Sydney asked Ruta Sepetys:

Hello Ruta! I recently read "Between Shades of Gray" and was deeply connected to the novel. My grandparents shared many of the experiences you described, and I was amazed of how detailed you wrote while keeping the facts straight. My question is how did you research for this novel? Are there any new books to be expected in the near future? Thank you!

Ruta Sepetys Hi Sydney!

For "Between Shades of Gray," the research was particularly challenging because there was very little information in English on the deportations of Lithuanians to Siberia and Lithuanians hadn't spoken of the terror for decades. For research I first read all of the nonfiction sources available. I speak with academics and historians. I then travel to the country where the story takes place to research the landscape, the culture, and the people. I generally interview many people while researching a book. I then weave stories from many people together into one character so that way I'm representing a larger human experience and not just one person.

Thanks for asking!

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