Halfway Between Shades of Grey

First and foremost I feel it is necessary to address the novels mixing tones. This book, thus far, is very dark in its nature due to the time period it is based within and the encompassing realistic situations it deals with. That being said, I feel that -at least within its beginning- it is very calm (as odd as that sounds). I'm not sure if the calmness is there in the sense that the characters are calm, but it is written calmly, to me. 

Start with its opening. It opens up somewhat in media-rest.  We know nothing of the characters in nature and before we can even put who is who to each other, the plot just starts moving. But the main character is really unaware of what is occurring and the severity of it, the true severity. But the language is not panicked and I believe that is because the characters are not written panicked, really. Her mother is obviously distraught but is hiding it as parents would. But that calmness is underlined with gritty, apocalyptic language (such as the bald mans plea for death while in the back of the truck). We can only take the plot in as our main character does, and as her feelings grow, so do we.

While reading the story, though, I find it difficult to handle as far as emotions go. Similar to Eleanor & Park, I find it is extremely difficult for me to not skip ahead and find out just what in the hell happens. And while some young adult readers, high schoolers in particular, may struggle with the language and themes and overall mood of the book, I think it is a powerful and necessary story to delve in to, similar to the novel Night. It provides an intimate level of understanding concerning the severity of the time; reflecting on a young girls role in a society stricken with terrible doings. Generally speaking, teachers often underestimate what young teens can and cannot handle within the realm of books. And more often than not, that drives students away because they end up being stuck with the same old stories that most can't even relate to (Romeo and Juliette anyone?). Which is why students should absolutely read this book. I'm not in anyway saying that students will be able to relate to a young girl living during the early Soviet era, being stolen from her home and family, etc. But it is the emotions that they can derive understanding from. Its the idea of being stuck in a cruel world with no certainty or understanding of how or why it came to be like that and what in the he'll they are supposed to do about it. 

It is difficult for me to break down a story without knowing it fully. But, so far, I would give it a B-.