Willie said normal was boring and that I should be grateful that I had a touch of spice. She said no one cared about boring people, and when they died, they were forgotten, like something that slips behind the dresser.
Ruta SepetysI looked down at the little pink face in the bundle. A newborn. The child had been alive only minutes but was already considered a criminal by the Soviets.
Ruta SepetysOne day when I was fourteen, I told Charlie that I hated Mother. โDonโt hate her, Jo,โ he told me. โFeel sorry for her. Sheโs not near as smart as you. She wasnโt born with your compass, so she wanders around, bumping into all sorts of walls. Thatโs sad.โ I understood what he meant, and it made me see Mother differently. But wasnโt there some sort of rule that said parents had to be smarter than their kids? It didnโt seem fair.
Ruta SepetysAndrius, I'm...scared." He stopped and turned to me. "No. Don't be scared. Don't give them anything Lina, not even your fear.
Ruta SepetysI left the jutra to chop wood. I began my walk through the snow, five kilometers to the tree line. That's when I saw it. A tiny silver of gold appeared between shades of gray on the horizon. I stared at the amber band of sunlight, smiling. The sun had returned. I closed my eyes. I felt Andrius moving close. "I'll see you," he said. "Yes, I will see you," I whispered "I will." I reached into my pocket and squeezed the stone.
Ruta Sepetys