November 2019 Host:  Nancy

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Setepys

Summary

This is a young adult historical fiction book that details the 1941 invasion by the Soviet Union of Lithuania and other Baltic countries.  Hundreds of Lithuanians were rounded up, condemned, and sent to Siberia to work camps.  Thousands died during this ordeal.  This is the story of Lina, a young girl and her family who eventually are sent via cattle car to a work camp in the Arctic Circle.  Lina and her family face starvation, exposure to the extreme cold, disease, and abuse by the Russian soldiers.  Lina uses her artistic talent to try and reach her dad to let him know where they are.  This is an incredibly powerful story gleaned from first-hand accounts of those who endured the Baltic Genocide.  This is a book that stays with you after you read it and is both inspiring and incredibly sad.

Menu

Cocktails

Tandoori Style Chicken

Rice with Lentils

Eggnog Dip with Vanilla Wafers