I Must Betray You

 Bibliography: Sepetys, R. (2022). I Must Betray You. Philomel Books. ISBN: 978-1-9848-3603-8

Plot Summary: Taking place in Romania during the Cold War the story follows Cristian, a young man who aspires to be a writer. But his country has other plans. Out of necessity and against his better judgment, Cristian agrees to inform the government about the Van Dorns, a family his mother works for. Despite being a government informant, Cristian partakes in many anti-communist activities that will eventually get him into trouble. 

Critical Analysis: The book begins with a great use of imagery:"They lived in darkness. Breathing shadows. Hands plunged deep within their pockets, hiding frozen fingers balled into fists (xi)." "A lie is like a snowball. IT rolls, becomes bigger, heavier, and eventually, it's difficult to lift (115). This use of language flows throughout the text and keeps the reader thoroughly engaged. The vocabulary is appropriate for a young adult reader, neither too simple nor too complex.  Though the storyline itself is fiction, the author clearly did her research as the historical events that take place in Romania are accurate. As stated in "Research and Sources" at the end of the book, she consulted with historians, political scientists and many who lived in Romania during Ceausescu's rule and downfall.  A great read for those who love history as well as anyone who loves mysteries and spy novels. 

Reviews:

    Goodreads.com: "A gut-wrenching, startling window into communist Romania and the citizen spy network that devastated a nation...."

    Kirkus Reviews: "Compulsively readable and brilliant."

Awards:

    New York Times Bestseller, 2022

    Carnegie Medal, 2022
    
Connections: 
    
    Use in a European or World History high school class during a unit on the Cold War.  Have students create a timeline of events using only the book, then compare to a timeline of actual events.

    Use in a middle or high school English class. As they read have students write down any words they don't know and define them. Then discuss the book as a class using questions from:

https://www.teachingbooks.net/media/u/20230316/a58f976a-i-must-betray-you-discussion-guide.pdf

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