Title: I Must Betray You
Author: Ruta Sepetys
ISBN: 9781984836038
Publisher: Philomel Books
Copyright Date: 2022
Genre: Historical Fiction, Thriller
Format: Novel
Reading Level/Interest Level: Grades 9-12
Awards or Honors: None
Plot Summary
Cristian Florescu is a 17-year-old boy living in Bucharest, Romania, in 1989. The city is under the control of Nicolae Ceaușescu, a communist dictator who keeps up appearances of peace and prosperity to the rest of the world, while in reality, his citizens are under lock and key with the use of his Securitate agents and constant surveillance. The Romanian citizens must wait in hours-long lines for food and are forbidden from speaking out against the government, even when in their own homes. Fear abounds in the city that everyone around them is an informant, or someone who sells information about dissenters to the Securitate. Families stockpile cartons of Kent cigarettes to be used as bribes for favors, such as getting the power turned back on in their apartments. Cristian knows that this isn’t the life he wants, but is forced to keep quiet, instead writing out all of his treasonous thoughts in his secret journal, which he hides under the floorboards in his closet-turned-bedroom.
When Cristian is blackmailed into becoming an informant, that which he despises the most, he must spy on the American Ambassador, whose son he has befriended, and report back details to the government in exchange for medicine for his sick grandfather. Not to mention, he must keep this secret from his friend Liliana, who he begins a romantic relationship with. Torn between protecting his beloved sister, parents, and grandfather, and speaking out against the tyrannical rule he detests, Cristian is poised at the precipice of a revolution that will change everything. When revolution does come and Cristian heeds the call, what will he risk to stand tall and speak out?
Author Background
Ruta Sepetys, the daughter of a Lithuanian refugee, is unwaveringly proud of her Baltic heritage. She is an accomplished author of six historical fiction novels, of which I Must Betray You is her latest. Known for “giving voice to underrepresented history and those who experienced it” (Sepetys, n.d.), she has been honored by the President of Lithuania with the Cross of the Knight of the Order. In 2018, her image was added to a limited edition stamp in celebration of the anniversary of Lithuanian Independence (pictured below).
Critical Evaluation
What an absolute page-turner! This book had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. The incorporation of historical aspects was flawless, with so much information packed into each paragraph without sacrificing the flow of the story or bogging the reader down with unnecessary details. I went into a full-out “Wiki Wander” of this time period to get even more information on the communist rule in Romania and was interested to see all the historical photos found at the end of the novel. The chapters were all incredibly short, a four-minute read on Kindle at the most, moving the pace along quickly and keeping me hooked the whole time. This story also had much more of a romance than I anticipated, which was a pleasant surprise.
Cristian’s voice was incredibly authentic and raw, which made me feel for him as a character and empathize with what he was going through, even though there was no way anything I’ve experienced could be similar. I feel that teens will enjoy his characterization and see their own struggles mirrored in his experience. This novel also had a found-footage element, bringing a sense of reality to the story as well. The only criticism I have is that the foreshadowing was a little bit heavy-handed: there were many statements along the line of “if I only knew” or “I was an idiot to think this” type of phrases, which got sort of tiresome. On the flip side, a majority of the chapters ended with incredible one-liners that made me keep reading way past my bedtime, so I say that with a grain of salt.
Creative Use for a Library Program
Host a murder mystery at the library with a historical theme. Instead of a murderer, the villain of this game is the informant.
Speed-Round Book Talk
What lengths would you go to to protect your loved ones? Teenage boy Cristian risks everything he holds dear to speak out against the communist dictator’s regime while simultaneously protecting his family: two actions that cannot continue to coexist. In this pulse-pounding historical thriller, try not to hold your breath as you experience the Romanian revolution through Cristian’s eyes.
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation
There is some violence against children in this novel that is definitely unsettling and may be problematic for readers. Though it is hard to read and imagine, the situations depicted in this novel are based on real events, and it is important for teens to understand what Romanian citizens, even those their age, went through during this tumultuous time. However, there are no challenges to this item at this time.
Reason for Inclusion
The authentic voice of Cristian and the tribulations he goes through in this novel are the main reason I included I Must Betray You in this blog. He is just another teenager trying to do the right thing and is caught between protecting his family and speaking up, something I think teens today are uniquely positioned to understand. His courage is an inspiration, and though this is a work of fiction, it is still a good example of how you can make a difference, no matter your age, background, race, or gender identity.
References
Getty Images. (1989). Protesters wave Romanian flags at an anti-communist demonstration in Republic Square, Bucharest, 21 December 1989 [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50821546
Robine, J. (1989). Young Romanian people drive on a military truck brandishing the Romanian flag through the streets of Bucharest during fights to overthrow the Socialist Republic of Romania [Photograph]. AFP. Retrieved from https://www.politico.eu/article/thirty-years-after-romanian-revolution-questions-remain-death-of-nicolae-ceausescu/
Ruta Sepetys Updates [@rutasepetys]. (2018, June 29). In celebration of the anniversary of independence, the Lithuanian postal service has issued "Lithuania in the World" [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/rutasepetys/status/1012789501373149185
Sepetys, R. (n.d.). About [Image]. Ruta Sepetys, seeker of lost stories. https://rutasepetys.com/about/
Sepetys, R. (2022). I must betray you [Cover Image]. Philomel Books. Retrieved from https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-must-betray-you-ruta-sepetys/1140064351
Starowieyska, M. (n.d.). Ruta Sepetys [Photograph]. Ruta Sepetys, seeker of lost stories. https://rutasepetys.com/about/
Taggart, R. (1989). A young man in Bucharest’s Republic Square on 26 December 1989, the day after Ceausescu was shot [Photograph]. Reuters. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/07/romanians-seek-a-reborn-revolution-25-years-after-ceausescu
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