I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys on February 1, 2022
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Family / General, Young Adult Fiction / Historical / Europe, Young Adult Fiction / Thrillers & Suspense / General
Pages: 336
Format: Hardcover
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This was an eye-opening book! If you haven’t read this one you SHOULD! I could not put this book down about the communist regime in Romania.
In 1989, Romania is ruled by dictator, Nicalae Ceausescu. I didn’t realize that was a fact. This is a fictional story but based in facts. Cristian Florescu and his family are forced to stand in lines, wear winter coats at all times to stay warm, and ration their food. These were the facts that people of Romania lived by in the 80’s.
Cristian wants to have a normal life and be a writer. He meets a girl he has a crush on but doesn’t know if he can trust her. Half the population of Romania informs to the government. He is close to his Grandfather and his Grandfather even made a comment that someone under their roof was not to be trusted. But Cristian thought he was talking about him. He was blackmailed into informing. He’s left with only two choices: betray everyone and everything he loves—or use his position to creatively undermine the most notoriously evil dictator in Eastern Europe.
Cristian risks everything to unmask the truth behind the regime, give voice to fellow Romanians, and expose to the world what is happening in his country. He eagerly joins the revolution to fight for change when the time arrives. But what is the cost of freedom?
This book was one I finished so quickly! I just couldn’t believe this was even close to a reality for the Romanians. My heart just goes out to these people and I was cheering for Cristian throughout the whole book. This is a little piece of history that I didn’t learn much about and was so eager to read about, even through fiction. I think everyone should read this book. This was easily five stars.