{"title":"Books by Ruta Sepetys","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9780141335889","title":"Between Shades Of Gray","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe haunting and powerful Second World War novel by Ruta Sepetys that inspired the feature film, ASHES IN THE SNOW, OUT NOW\u003ci\u003e.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e One night fifteen-year-old Lina, her mother and young brother are hauled from their home by Soviet guards, thrown into cattle cars and sent away. They are being deported to Siberia. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e An unimaginable and harrowing journey has begun. Lina doesn't know if she'll ever see her father or her friends again. But she refuses to give up hope.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Lina hopes for her family.\u003cbr\u003e For her country.\u003cbr\u003e For her future.\u003cbr\u003e For love - first love, with the boy she barely knows but knows she does not want to lose . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Will hope keep Lina alive?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Set in 1941, \u003ci\u003eBetween Shades of Gray\u003c\/i\u003e, is an extraordinary and haunting story based on first-hand family accounts and memories from survivors.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43201477869746,"sku":"9780141335889","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780141335889_ff4b86c1-18dc-43bc-95b4-cd3372a0c106.jpg?v=1786011373"},{"product_id":"9780141347400","title":"Salt to the Sea","description":"\u003cp\u003eWINNER OF THE CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL 2017\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt's early 1945 and a group of people trek across Germany, bound together by their desperation to reach the ship that can take them away from the war-ravaged land. Four young people, each haunted by their own dark secret, narrate their unforgettable stories. Fans of \u003ci\u003eThe Book Thief\u003c\/i\u003e or Helen Dunmore's \u003ci\u003eThe Siege\u003c\/i\u003e will be totally absorbed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis inspirational novel is based on a true story from the Second World War. When the German ship the \u003ci\u003eWilhelm Gustloff\u003c\/i\u003e was sunk in port in early 1945 it had over 9000 civilian refugees, including children, on board. Nearly all were drowned. Ruta Sepetys, acclaimed author of \u003ci\u003eBetween Shades of Grey\u003c\/i\u003e, brilliantly imagines their story.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Ruta Sepetys is a master of historical fiction' Elizabeth Wein, author of CODE NAME VERITY\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43201510178994,"sku":"9780141347400","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780141347400_c006df45-55de-4b29-8581-0714713b7f79.jpg?v=1786011523"},{"product_id":"9780670920853","title":"Between Shades Of Gray","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestseller \u003ci\u003eBetween Shades of Gray\u003c\/i\u003e by Ruta Sepetys is a harrowing story of a Lithuanian family who suffer unimaginable hardship and deportation during World War II, pitched perfectly for children and adults alike.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThat morning, my brother's life was worth a pocket watch . . .\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne night fifteen-year-old Lina, her mother and young brother are hauled from their home by Soviet guards, thrown into cattle cars and sent away. They are being deported to Siberia. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn unimaginable and harrowing journey has begun. Lina doesn't know if she'll ever see her father or her friends again. But she refuses to give up hope.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLina hopes for her family.\u003cbr\u003eFor her country.\u003cbr\u003eFor her future.\u003cbr\u003eFor love - first love, with the boy she barely knows but knows she does not want to lose . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWill hope keep Lina alive?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSet in 1941, \u003ci\u003eBetween Shades of Gray\u003c\/i\u003e is an extraordinary and haunting story based on first-hand family accounts and memories from survivors.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'This superlative first novel by Ruta Sepetys demonstrates the strength of its unembellished language. A hefty emotional punch' \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Her prose is restrained and powerful, as unadorned as the landscape in which her characters struggle to survive... Few books are beautifully written, fewer still are important; this novel is both' \u003ci\u003eThe Washington Post\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBorn and raised in Michigan, Ruta Sepetys is the daughter of a Lithuanian refugee. Ruta lives with her family in Tennessee. Between Shades of Grey is her first novel.\u003cbr\u003ehttp:\/\/www.betweenshadesofgray.com\/\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43201833042098,"sku":"9780670920853","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780670920853_079000ed-63c8-4b25-9562-47523693adce.jpg?v=1786014901"},{"product_id":"9781444967616","title":"I Must Betray You","description":"\u003cp\u003eT\u003cb\u003erapped by an evil dictatorship, will Cristian be forced to betray his family or will he risk everything he loves to resist? A powerful, heart-breaking thriller based on real events. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e*Winner of the \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eYoto Carnegie Shadowers' Choice Medal for Writing 2023*\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCristian has lived his entire life in the grip of a repressive dictatorship. The country is governed by fear. When the secret police blackmail him, Cristian has an impossible choice. Save the life of his sick grandfather by informing on his family, or risk his life - and all of theirs - by resisting?   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt 17, Cristian dreams of being free but doesn't know where to turn. In this climate of constant suspicion, can he trust his best friend, his girlfriend or even his family?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eClosely based on the real events of the Romanian Revolution of 1989, this is a powerful, heart-breaking thriller from the author of \u003ci\u003eSalt to the Sea\u003c\/i\u003e, winner of the Carnegie Medal.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43204440522930,"sku":"9781444967616","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781444967616_16637c97-1ffc-4c31-b838-d8b5d807c369.jpg?v=1786021100"},{"product_id":"9780593524404","title":"You: The Story","description":"\u003cb\u003eA powerful how-to guide that helps aspiring writers find the stories hidden within—from the #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eSalt to the Sea \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eBetween Shades of Gray.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e★ \"Instructive and inspiring for storytellers of all ages.\"\u003ci\u003e—Kirkus Reviews \u003c\/i\u003e(starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLife is story in motion. Each day, you add to your story, revise it, and view it from a different angle. You erase things. Tear pages out. And sometimes, in hindsight, wish you could put them back. A day is a story. A year is a story. A life is a story. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eYou are a story. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRuta Sepetys is known for creating vivid characters and harrowing plots. After five award-winning works of historical fiction and countless hours of meticulous research, she can affirm that the secret to strong writing is embedded within your life experience.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eYou: The Story \u003c\/i\u003eencourages you to look inward and excavate your own memories in order to discover the authentic voices and compelling details that are waiting to be put on the page. Masterfully weaving in humorous and heartfelt stories from her own life that illustrate an aspect of the craft of writing (such as plot, character development, or dialogue), Sepetys then inspires readers with a series of writing prompts and exercises.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCompelling, deeply intimate, and inspirational, \u003ci\u003eYou: The Story\u003c\/i\u003e awakens the emerging writer within each and every one of us and reveals that with some reflection, curiosity, and courage, your story can be told.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44203552473266,"sku":"9780593524404","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780593524404_0c2292d2-febd-4d38-9862-780f28d94df8.jpg?v=1786014682"},{"product_id":"9780861549023","title":"The Bletchley Riddle","description":"A thrilling middle grade historical adventure from bestselling authors Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin**Shortlisted for the Young Quills Award for Historical Fiction 2025**Remember, you are bound by the official secrets act... It is the summer of 1940. The world is at war. These days, you don’t know who you can trust or who might be a secret spy… Maths whizz Jakob Novis has been recruited to the secret codebreaking centre at Bletchley Park. As Jakob works to crack the Nazi’s Enigma cipher, his younger sister Lizzie is busy on an undercover mission of her own: to find their mother.    Filled with codes to decipher and mysteries to unravel, this is the unputdownable historical adventure that will have you on the edge of your seats.   'A thrilling World War II code-breaking adventure filled with ciphers, secrets, and spies.' Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee'Exquisite historical storytelling! I only wish I could read it again for the very first time.' Jennifer A. Nielsen, #1 New York Times Bestselling author of Iceberg","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44583379402930,"sku":"9780861549023","price":8.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780861549023_8ffa4dac-257a-41b4-8bbe-b0d311af7421.jpg?v=1786016366"},{"product_id":"9780141347332","title":"Out of the Easy","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eOut of the Easy \u003c\/i\u003eis set against the vivid backdrop of 1950s New Orleans. Written by \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author Ruth Sepetys, this novel has something for everyone: love, mystery, murder, blackmail and warmth.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJosie Moraine wants out of The Big Easy - she needs more than New Orleans can offer. Known locally as a brothel prostitute's daughter, she dreams of life at an elite college, far away from here.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut then a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie caught between her ambition and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans is luring Josie deeper in as she searches for the truth, and temptation beckons at every turn.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eBetween Shades of Gray\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'This superlative first novel by Ruta Sepetys demonstrates the strength of its unembellished language. A hefty emotional punch' - \u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'. . . moving and heart-wrenching.' - \u003ci\u003eThe Guardian\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRuta Sepetys was born and raised in Michigan and now lives with her family in Tennessee. Her first novel, \u003ci\u003eBetween Shades of Gray,\u003c\/i\u003e was shortlisted for the 2012 Carnegie Medal and the Waterstones Children's Book Award.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56224600621429,"sku":"9780141347332","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780141347332_f2c1f20f-6048-4f8c-b2a1-b6ded5190f74.jpg?v=1786011522"},{"product_id":"9780241421857","title":"The Fountains of Silence","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA haunting and romantic novel set in post-war Spain by Ruta Sepetys - winner of the Carnegie Medal 2017.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMadrid, 1957.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDaniel, young, wealthy and unsure of his place in the world, views the city through the lens of his camera.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAna, a hotel maid whose family is suffering under the fascist dictatorship of General Franco.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLives and hearts collide as they unite to uncover the hidden darkness within the city.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA darkness that could engulf them all . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMaster storyteller Ruta Sepetys once again shines light into one of history's darkest corners in this epic, heart-wrenching novel about identity, unforgettable love and the hidden violence of silence.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Ruta Sepetys is a master of historical fiction' Elizabeth Wein, author of CODE NAME VERITY\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e**PRAISE FOR THE FOUNTAINS OF SILENCE**\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLonglisted for the Carnegie Medal 2021\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Spain under Francisco Franco is as dystopian a setting as Margaret Atwood's Gilead' \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'A staggering tale of love, loss and national shame' \u003ci\u003eEntertainment Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Gripping. 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With carefully adapted text, new illustrations and \u003cb\u003elanguage learning exercises\u003c\/b\u003e, the print edition also includes instructions to access supporting material online.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTitles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction, introducing language learners to \u003cb\u003ebestselling authors and compelling content\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe eight levels of Penguin Readers follow the Common European Framework of Reference for language learning (\u003cb\u003eCEFR\u003c\/b\u003e). Exercises at the back of each Reader help language learners to practise grammar, vocabulary, and key exam skills. Before, during and after-reading questions test readers’ story comprehension and develop vocabulary.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eAshes in the Snow, \u003c\/i\u003ea Level 5 Reader, is B1 in the CEFR framework. The text is made up of sentences with up to four clauses, introducing present perfect continuous, past perfect, reported speech and second conditional. It is well supported by illustrations, which appear regularly.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eAshes in the Snow follows fifteen-year-old Lina Vilkas as she’s taken from her home in Lithuania with her mother and younger brother. 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