I Must Betray You
Sepetys,
Ruta. 2022. I must betray you. (N. Ballerini, Edoardo.) [Audiobook]. Portland,
ME: Listening Library. ISBN: 9780593502297
2. PLOT
SUMMARY
Cristian is a 17-year-old boy that has grown up
under an oppressive Communist dictatorship under Ceausescu. This means that
things like a small cramped apartment, meagre rations, dog attacks, and
whispering at all times to avoid persecution was normal. Cristian lived in his
small apartment with his parents, his sister, and his beloved Bunu. Bunu taught
Cristian how to think for himself and understand the gravity of the conditions
in Romania. He is forced to work for the Securitate as an informer (on a US diplomat)
when he’s caught breaking one of the many unreasonable laws. The agent also promised
to help his sick Bunu. This puts Cristian on edge, but it doesn’t stop him from
writing in his journal, sharing illegal snacks with his crush, Liliana, and
talking to his Bunu about a better life. When he finds Bunu beaten to death in their
apartment Cristian’s anger and despair drive him to stand up for the things
Bunu taught him. He sends his journal to the US diplomat as the youth in Romania
begin to form an uprising that eventually frees the country from Ceausescu, but
not before people are tortured, killed, and tormented.
3. CRITICAL
ANALYSIS
Cristian,
his family, and friends are all people filled with complex emotions and put in
very difficult circumstances. The fear that they express is completely
understandable and relatable. The relationships built and the lack of trust in
the people around them is explained in a way that builds on itself and adds to
the tension of the situation. Cristian’s relationship with Liliana is described
in a very moving way. Bunu is warm and sweet, but unapologetically honest and
inspiring. Cristian is curious, observant, friendly, funny, and very afraid.
His mother is a ball of tension, and his dad hasn’t really spoken in years. Cici,
Cristian’s sister, is kind and talented. She loves her family and wants the best
for them. Each person is an expression of what a life of suspicion and fear can
do to people. The plot is accurate according to the interviews that Sepetys
conducted and the research she references at the end. There are enough details
that it feels real, but it doesn’t slow down the events. Everything in the
story seems like it would be reasonable considering the situation. I can see
every person acting the way they did, and the author does a great job of
demonstrating their circumstances. This is definitely a story about standing up
for what you believe in despite the odds, and the importance of not losing hope
even in the midst of impossible circumstances. The addition of Romanian words
was a nice touch, and the balance of revealing a dark time in history with the
individual story is beautifully done.
4. REVIEW
EXCERPTS
Starred
review in Booklist: “Sepetys (The Fountains of Silence, 2019) once again
masterfully portrays a dark, forgotten corner of history: Bucharest, Romania,
winter 1989... By focusing on one voice, 17-year-old Cristian Florescu, Sepetys
amplifies the isolation, fear, and uncertainty experienced during the final months
of Ceaușescu’s regime.”
Reviewed
in Horn Book Magazine: “In quick, economical language, she provides
historical detail and shows readers a context in which one contraband can of
Coke can result in a police report, but also one in which the courage and
solidarity of youth can change a country's oppressive regime.”
Starred
review in Kirkus Reviews: “Told from Cristian’s point of view, intercut
by secret police memos and Cristian’s own poetry, the novel crackles with
energy; Cristian and his friends join the groundswell of young Romanians,
combining pragmatism, subterfuge, hope, and daring. While the story ends with
joy on Christmas Day, the epilogue recounts the betrayals and losses that
follow. The last line will leave readers gasping. Compulsively readable and
brilliant.”
Starred
review in Publisher’s Weekly: “Sepetys (The Fountains of Silence)
unveils the culture of constant surveillance in communist Romania through an
ominously suspenseful historical novel set at the brink of revolution.”
Starred
review in School Library Journal: “Sepetys is a formidable writer, and
her stories declare the need to write about global issues of social injustice.
For that reason and her attention to detail, this is a must-read.”
5. CONNECTIONS
*Invite students to write
a letter to Cristian asking any questions they still have about the story or
sharing their favorite parts.
*This book can be used to
initiate discussions about different forms of government or the fall of the
communist party in Europe.
*Other books written by Ruta
Sepetys:
Sepetys, Ruta. Between
shades of gray. ISBN: 9780142420591
Sepetys, Ruta. Ashes
in the snow. ISBN: 9781984836748
Sepetys, Ruta. Salt to
the sea. ISBN: 9780142423622
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