I adore Ruta Sepetys’ Forgotten History books. They all have short two page or one page chapters which make it compelling to read as it always makes you want to turn the next page for more and before you know it, you’ve read 300 pages of emotional turmoil, resistance, spirit and heartbreak.

Now the Forgotten History series, just to be clear, aren’t connected. None of the characters pop up into others books mainly because they are from different times, and places. They’re only connected because they serve to illuminate forgotten or overlooked aspects of history like Soviet repression in the Baltics, the Romanian independence, Spanish resistance etc.

1. Between Shades of Grey: This may be nostalgia talking but this was the first Ruta book I read and it is just a great introduction to her writing. Not only is poignant in how she portrays the continued resilience of the human spirit despite being encamped in Siberia, it shows also shows the nuances or the shades of grey as it will when it comes to survival and community in dire conditions.
2. Salt to the Sea: Told through four alternating chapters of four refugees from Eastern Prussia trying to escape the German invasion and the Soviet march across Europe to get to freedom. However, their boat to freedom is the ill-fated Wilheim Gustoff. It is harrowing as you know the dire fate that is going to befall but I was compelled to read on to find out about the Nazi gold, the creepy twist on one of the Narrators and of course, to find out who survives.
3. I Must Betray You: Her latest book is excellent story of the paranoia and distrust fueled by the Communist dictactor of Romania, Nicolae Ceasusescu who manage to out-Stalin Stalin in committing war crimes and torture on his own citizens. Christian is recruited into an extensive spy network when citizens spies against their own neighbors, family and friends under fear of punishment and hope for medicine for his ailing grandfather. But as the distrust continues, betrayals abound and he is exposed to Western news that Communism is falling across Europe, Christian finds the courage to take part in the independence protests.
4. The Fountains of Silence: Much like the communist Eastern Bloc, Spain under Franco is full of distrust, torture for dissenters and poverty for most of the oppressed. It goes through the resistance and the fall out after the Spanish Civil War and the brave people who risk it all for love and freedom, if not for their futures, at least for future generations.
5. Out of the Easy: While this was an interesting book exploring segregation, lower class living, an underlying mystery involving gangsters and pimps and prostitution in 1950s New Orleans, it doesn’t have the impressive scope of the others.