Ruta Sepetys does such an amazing job drawing attention to historical episodes that aren't part of the traditional narrative taught in history classes: in this case, Romania during the fall of the Iron Curtain. This is what people are afraid of when they say they are afraid of communism: a world that resembles a dystopia as much as anything written as fantasy. She is a must-read author of YA historical fiction, and I recommend her titles to adults as much as I recommend them to kids.

That said, as I read it I kept thinking that this title felt like her most accessible for younger YA readers. While necessarily violent, the romance is subdued compared to some of Sepetys' other stories, and the 17 year old male protagonist will help the cross-gender appeal for middle-school aged fans of Alan Gratz and Jennifer Nielsen.

Ruta Sepetys is an incredible story teller. When I got the chance to read an ARC of this, I knew I had to stop everything and read it (shout out to my husband for happily spending four hours with me in the hotel common space to read this). Her knack for finding these untold stories and creating characters and plots that intertwine historical facts - it’s just astounding.

This story is quick - it is go, go, go and intense from the start. Readers are kept on the edge the whole time: who do we trust, what will the government find out, will anyone be safe. The twists and turns pull you back and forth from loving to worry to hating to stressing and everything in between.


There are many horrifying moments of abuse - physical and emotional. Sepetys does an excellent job of balancing each and illustrating how the atrocities committed continue to haunt people today.

ruta sepytys has done it again. i have never read a book as well researched as rutas. she is a phenomenal writer and an unmatched story teller. i would read her grocery list.

I very much love, respect, and admire the amount of research Ruta Sepetys puts in to her books. I love that she writes stories about historical moments that many people don't know much about. This isn't my favorite one of her books, but she is overall such a good, good writer.

Sepetys is so brilliant at weaving stories about “unknown” pieces of history that I knew I would have to finish it in one sitting. Recent Romanian history should not be unknown, but I'm so glad we have authors like Sepetys to bring this story of defiance and bravery in the face of authoritarian governments to light. I literally did not move from my chair once I picked up this book. Did. Not. Move. until I finished. Positively brilliant and essential.

This is a historical fiction piece, to envision youth going through this and the bravery it took to speak up when the consequences were brutal and could result in loss of life, friends and family motivates young and old alike to speak up to create change. Cristian ends up as an informant because someone in his life rats on him, and there are many possible candidates. The oppressive feeling of surveillance leaps off the pages as he starts down the path of informant, while also trying to find out who informed on him, and trying not to inform too much. However, another character is dealing much more heavily with the role of citizen informant, double dealing, and sexual assault by handlers and we only get the barest glimpse of their struggle.

I was captivated with Cristian’s story and the young people who took the lead in trying to create change in Romania in the 80’s. Although this is a historical fiction piece, to envision youth going through this and the bravery it took to speak up when the consequences were brutal and could result in loss of life, friends and family motivates young and old alike to speak up to create change. Highly recommend! Thank you, NeGalley for sharing an Advance Read Copy with me!