Between Two Lockers with Ruta Sepetys

A few weeks ago, I reviewed the amazing, heartbreaking but hopeful Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys, about a Lithuanian family caught up in Stalin's Baltic purges, and how he got away with deporting and starving millions of people and NO ONE DID ANYTHING ABOUT IT, mainly because they needed an ally against Hitler, and after WWII it was easy to just pretend Stalin wasn't doing anything wrong, since he was killing his own people (not really, but as far as the West cared, he was). So if I can get political for a second (and ha, I make the rules so I will!), this book really made me watch events in Libya with interest, and I'm glad we're paying attention for once to people who want help deposing their murderous, insane dictators. Yay UN! Way to actually make a decision and act on it in record time!

So, what does this have to do with Ruta's book, you ask? Not much, beyond the parallel of insane, murderous dictators between Stalin and G(h)(Q)(h)addaf(f)i(y?), so we'll move on to Ruta herself! And she's fabulous and delightful and got really REALLY unlucky in her future husband in MASH.

And bonus: leave a comment, and you can win a copy of the book, with a signed bookplate AND a downloadable soundtrack! You guys, I am so jealous of that soundtrack, you don't even KNOW.

THE ACTUAL BOOK-RELATED QUESTIONS

You've said the idea for this book came from discussions with your Lithuanian family, where you realized how dangerous Lithuania was for your grandparents in 1940. What does your family think of the book?

My family here in the States has read the book and they've been incredibly supportive! Most of my extended family in Lithuania doesn't speak English so they'll wait for the Lithuanian version that will be published by Alma Littera.

How did you decide what to include and what to leave out? It seems like it would be extremely difficult not to try to tell everyone's story.

Absolutely, there were so many stories. But once I met with the group of survivors who were sent to the Arctic, I knew I wanted to focus on their journey. It was so horrific.

What was the hardest part of writing the book? Was there something that surprised you?

Hardest part: Writing about such terrible events and knowing they all really happened.

Most surprising: That the book has sold in over 22 countries!

That was the hardest part of reading the book, for sure!

And now things get a little bit lighter!

Ruta -- (grabs a cocktail and turns up the music...)

THE YA QUESTIONS

If your real life adolescence was a YA book...What would you, the main character, be like?

I'd be the geeky girl next door who was fine to hang out with when you were little, but becomes kind of creepy as a teen because she has stringy hair, wears a "Made in Detroit" t-shirt, and refers to characters from books as if they were real people.

Wait, they're not?

Who is your secret crush?

Landry Clarke from Friday Night Lights. He's smart, well- read, loves thrash metal, and is allowed to go to football parties. So as soon as he gets over Tyra, I'll be waiting!

What is your number #1 source of angst?

My grades...and also the fact that my boobs are non- existent. After all, how will Landry ever notice me if I am sans rack?

At what point would the reader pump his/her fist in victory?

When Landry's band has their first gig, I'm the only person who shows up. We chat. He checks out the music on my iPod.

There's some spark. He drives me home. (Thank God I stole my sister's I Love Kisses lip gloss!)

Crucifictorius 4EVA!!!!!!!!!!!

And who would play you in the film adaptation?

Saoirse Ronan, but we'd have to give her a prosthetic Cyrano/Ruta nose. But she seems lovely so I think she'd oblige, don't you?

I think that'd work!

THE SLUMBER PARTY Qs

What is your secret power?

Making boys fall in love with my best friend.

What is your #1 favorite food?

Pizza from City House in Nashville.

Tell me about your area of expertise.

I've worked in the music business for over twenty years. I know a bail bondsman in every state. Got a rockstar in trouble? Give me a call...

That's what I call a useful expertise! Especially with SXSW last week.

If you could assemble your own Ocean's 11 of fictional characters, who would you pick?

The theme of my Ocean's cast is "Saucy Men of Brit Lit." Here they are:

Mr. Rochester

Mr. Thornton

Heathcliff

Mr. Darcy

Tom Lefroy

Yes, please! They can break into my bedchamber anytime, especially if they bring Col. Brandon and Cpt. Wentworth along.

Tell me something scandalous!

I once had a romantic interlude with...an Amish guy. (Oh please, it's not as bad as it sounds!)

Hmm ... suuuuuure it wasn't that bad ...

What is your favorite adult beverage?

Cask strength Laphroaig single malt scotch whisky.

Who is your "freebie"?

Anderson Cooper! Yeah, yeah, I know.

YA authors are so cool. Who would you give a BFF charm to?

Richard Peck. He's the king of cool.

Out of all of the characters you've written, which one do you most wish you could be?

I wish I could be Elena!

If you were invited to the FYA slumber party (and obvs, you ARE), what pajamas would you wear, and what is the most crucial snack food and/or movie you'd bring?

Pajamas: Detroit Lions Billy Sims jersey

Crucial Snack: Oreos

Movie: Good Will Hunting

THE MASH CATEGORIES! 

Ruta obligingly gave us one scary choice (at least we HOPE they were her scary choices!) as part of her three, so we were nice and gave her a good one for the fourth. The magic number was 6!

Mansion Apartment Shack House

Spouse
Hugh Hefner
Charlie Sheen
Larry King
Coach Taylor

Honeymoon
Tijuana
Jail
Siberia
Prague

# of Kids
5
10
15
20

Job
Mary Kay Saleslady
Compulsive Gambler
Tortured Soul Writer
Food Critic

Income
Food stamps
Trust Fund
10 million
The national deficit

Hometown
Detroit
Compton
Bronx
Austin, TX

Pet
Chia pet
Pet rock
A mannequin named Doris
A gila monster

Car
Dodge Dart
Smart Car
An old yellow school bus
Clean, affordable, well-run mass transit

Ten kids with Larry King? At least you know he'll pay child support, as long as he can remember you were married!