Sepetys balances history and storytelling in ‘I Must Betray You’

Two weeks. We are not far away from having two full weeks off of school. And while you celebrate holidays, spend time with family, and likely take the time to mindlessly scroll social media or possibly get through a movie or two, if you’re looking for a good book to fill that time, think about this one.
The novel I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys may be a book many readers would not traditionally reach for; it’s historical genre and faded cover may draw many away. Before I lose too many readers on the idea of yet another textbook lecture in disguise, this book does NOT simply recite a documentary.
On the contrary, this novel captures a teen spirit trying to navigate the timeless struggles of trust, belonging, and loyalty. The first words grip you in but the last are truly the ones that never let you go.
The protagonist, Christian, is a 17-year-old boy growing up in Romania. In 1989, the Iron Curtain begins to fall, starting in Poland. Christi (as he is often called) shares the secret hope among many Romanians for the fall of communism to reach his country. Though he detests the system he and his family are forced to live in, Christi must agree to spy for the communist government; he must betray his closest companions and own morals. The narrator is caught between helping those he hates and deceiving those he dares to love. Throughout the book, Christi remains caught between these ulterior motives and begins to question himself alongside the different worlds he chooses to surround himself with.
If names and dates mean nothing to you, the author includes a skillful blend of explanation, allusion, and context clues to guide a reader from any level through a jaw-dropping storyline. This novel is an ideal start. The author writes in a thoughtful way that many historians can’t express: she is not just a historian, she is also a storyteller. Sepetys weaves the plot together naturally and in a fast pace.
Christi’s journey chronologically aligns with the events of the revolution. Each chapter is introduced with a date and place: a useful tool to keep readers engaged. Reading the story is crystal clear. With no extra effort necessary to understand the developing world around Christian, the reader can truly get to learn the character’s mindset and motives in an otherwise unimaginable time.
It won’t be long before it’s January, and we’re all preparing to return to school. I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys is worth a read or at the very least worth a try over our upcoming winter break.