Harry V. Keefe '39 Library Media Center, Boston Latin School: Wolfpack Reads!

“In a country with no freedom, each joke felt like a tiny revolution”

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys – 5/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Published in 2022 by Penguin Random House

Genre: Historical Fiction

Reviewer: Mairéad G, Class III

This book is available at BLS. Get it today!

How much do you know about the Romanian revolution? Not much? You’re not alone; many people know next to nothing about it. Ruta Sepetys’ young adult novel I Must Betray You is trying to fix that. 

The book takes place in 1989, when the Cold War is ending and many communist regimes are losing control all around the world, save a still strongly Communist-controlled Romania. It’s here where we meet Christian, the teenage protagonist, who lives in fear and poverty. The country is ruled by a tyrannical dictator and force of secret police, who could be anywhere. These secret police trick him, forcing him into being an informant for the government and betray everyone he loves. Will he comply with the police and stay safe, or will he join the revolution and fight for his country's freedom? 

Revolutions have always been a part of history. Everywhere in the world, our pasts can be tied together by the common thread of fighting for freedom. Many of these revolutions were turning points in history, taught about for centuries to come, and remembered for longer. That being said, there are so many revolutions from history that the world does not remember nearly enough. Ruta Sepetys is an amazing author, using her skills to bring light to these histories not commonly known about, and she does this with eye-opening and genius prose. The fast paced chapters and interesting character arcs keep readers interested and on the edge of their seats, while teaching people about an important part of history. 

Age Recommendation: 14+ (12+ if mature reader)