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Ruta Sepetys’ refugee story Salt to the Sea takes 80th anniversary Carnegie Medal

The Fountains of Silence

A haunting and romantic novel set in post-war Spain by Ruta Sepetys - winner of the Carnegie Medal 2017. 
 
Madrid, 1957. 
 
Daniel, young, wealthy and unsure of his place in the world, views the city through the lens of his camera. 
 
Ana, a hotel maid whose family is suffering under the fascist dictatorship of General Franco. 
 
Lives and hearts collide as they unite to uncover the hidden darkness within the city. 
 
A darkness that could engulf them all . . . 
 
Master 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. 
 
'Ruta Sepetys is a master of historical fiction' Elizabeth Wein, author of CODE NAME VERITY 
 
**PRAISE FOR THE FOUNTAINS OF SILENCE** 
 
Longlisted for the Carnegie Medal 2021 
 
'Spain under Francisco Franco is as dystopian a setting as Margaret Atwood's Gilead' New York Times 
 
'A staggering tale of love, loss and national shame' Entertainment Weekly 
 
'Gripping. Ruta Sepetys is the finest writer of historical fiction working today' The Wall Street Journal 
 
'Captivating, deft, and illuminating historical fiction.' 
Booklist 
 
'A stunning novel that exposes modern fascism and elevates human resilience.' 
Kirkus 
 
'An exemplary work of historical fiction.' 
The Horn Book

Ruta Sepetys is the finest writer of historical fiction working today.

A stunning novel that exposes modern fascism and elevates human resilience.

Captivating, deft, and illuminating historical fiction.

Spain under Francisco Franco is as dystopian a setting as Margaret Atwood's Gilead in Ruta Sepetys's suspenseful, romantic and timely new work of historical fiction.

Ruta Sepetys is a New York Times bestselling author and winner of the Carnegie Medal. She was born and raised in Michigan in a family of artists, readers and music lovers. The daughter of a refugee, Ruta is drawn to under-represented stories of strength through struggle and hopes to give a voice to those who weren't able to tell their story. Her award-winning historical novels are published in over fifty countries and have received over forty literary prizes.

Madrid, 1957. Daniel, young, wealthy and unsure of his place in the world, views the city through the lens of his camera. Ana, a hotel maid whose family is suffering under the fascist dictatorship of General Franco. Lives and hearts collide as they unite to uncover the hidden darkness within the city. A darkness that could engulf them all . . . 
 
Carnegie Medal winning author 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.

Previously Between Shades of Gray

Ashes in the Snow

The haunting and powerful Second World War novel by Ruta Sepetys that inspired the MAJOR FEATURE FILM, OUT NOW. 
 
 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. 
 
 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. 
 
 Lina hopes for her family. 
 For her country. 
 For her future. 
 For love - first love, with the boy she barely knows but knows she does not want to lose . . . 
 
 Will hope keep Lina alive? 
 
 Set in 1941, Between Shades of Gray, is an extraordinary and haunting story based on first-hand family accounts and memories from survivors.

The haunting and powerful Second World War novel by Ruta Sepetys that inspired the major feature film, out now. 
 
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. 
 
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. 
 
Lina hopes for her family. 
For her country. 
For her future. 
For love - first love, with the boy she barely knows but knows she does not want to lose . . . 
 
Will hope keep Lina alive? 
 
Set in 1941, Ashes in the Snow, originally published as Between Shades of Gray, is an extraordinary and haunting story based on first-hand family accounts and memories from survivors.

Salt to the Sea

WINNER OF THE CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL 2017 
 
It'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 The Book Thief or Helen Dunmore's The Siege will be totally absorbed. 
 
This inspirational novel is based on a true story from the Second World War. When the German ship the Wilhelm Gustloff 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 Between Shades of Grey, brilliantly imagines their story. 
 
'Ruta Sepetys is a master of historical fiction' Elizabeth Wein, author of CODE NAME VERITY

Ruta Sepetys is a master of historical fiction.

A rich, page-turning story that brings to vivid life a terrifying-and little-known-moment in World War II history.

Out of the Easy

Out of the Easy is set against the vivid backdrop of 1950s New Orleans. Written by New York Times bestselling author Ruth Sepetys, this novel has something for everyone: love, mystery, murder, blackmail and warmth. 
 
Josie 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. 
 
But 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. 
 
Praise for Between Shades of Gray: 
 
'This superlative first novel by Ruta Sepetys demonstrates the strength of its unembellished language. A hefty emotional punch' - The New York Times 
 
'. . . moving and heart-wrenching.' - The Guardian 
 
Ruta Sepetys was born and raised in Michigan and now lives with her family in Tennessee. Her first novel, Between Shades of Gray, was shortlisted for the 2012 Carnegie Medal and the Waterstones Children's Book Award.

Josie 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. 
 
But 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, temptation beckons at every turn.

Between Shades Of Gray

The New York Times bestseller Between Shades of Gray 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. 
 
That morning, my brother's life was worth a pocket watch . . . 
 
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. 
 
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. 
 
Lina hopes for her family. 
For her country. 
For her future. 
For love - first love, with the boy she barely knows but knows she does not want to lose . . . 
 
Will hope keep Lina alive? 
 
Set in 1941, Between Shades of Gray is an extraordinary and haunting story based on first-hand family accounts and memories from survivors. 
 
'This superlative first novel by Ruta Sepetys demonstrates the strength of its unembellished language. A hefty emotional punch' New York Times 
 
'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' The Washington Post 
 
Born 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. 
http://www.betweenshadesofgray.com/

Ruta Sepetys is the author of acclaimed YA novel, Between Shades of Grey. Born and raised in Michigan in a family of Lithuanian descent, Ruta now lives with her husband in Tennessee. Ruta was a highly successful promoter of classical music concerts, booking and touring with orchestras worldwide, before turning to writing full-time. In 2015 Ruta has been awarded The Rockefeller Foundation's prestigious Bellagio Center writing residency, where she will interact with other leading international artists, writers and thinkers.

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. 
 
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. 
 
Lina hopes for her family. 
For her country. 
For her future. 
For love - first love, with the boy she barely knows but knows she does not want to lose . . . 
 
Will hope keep Lina alive? 
 
Set in 1941, Between Shades of Grey is an extraordinary and haunting story based on first-hand family accounts and memories from survivors.

Ruta Sepetys

Abridged Edition

With carefully adapted text, new illustrations, language practise activities and additional online resources, the Penguin Readers series introduces language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction. 
 
Ashes in the Snow, a 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. 
 
Ashes in the Snow follows fifteen-year-old Lina Vilkas as she&rsquo;s taken from her home in Lithuania with her mother and younger brother. Lina uses her love of art to try and find her father and keep herself and her family alive.

Ruta Sepetys

Penguin Readers Level 5: Ashes in the Snow (ELT Graded Reader)

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