I knew the legends of the birds. Seagulls were the souls of dead soldiers. Owls were the souls of women. Doves were the recently departed souls of unmarried girls. Was there a bird for the souls of people like me?

— Ruta Sepetys

I leapt eagerly into books. The characters’ lives were so much more interesting than the lonely heartbeat of my own.

— Ruta Sepetys

In 1991, after fifty years of brutal occupation, the three Baltic countries regained their independence, peacefully and with dignity. They chose hope over hate and showed the world that even through the darkest night, there is light. These three tiny nations have taught us that love is the most powerful army. Whether love of a friend, love of country, love of God, or even love of enemy-love reveals to us the truly miraculous nature of the human spirit.

— Ruta Sepetys

I remembered Papa talking about Stalin confiscating peasants' land, tools, and animals. He told them what crops they would produce and how much they would be paid. I thought it was ridiculous. How could Stalin simply take something that didn't belong to him, something that a farmer and his family had worked their whole lives for? "That's communism, Lina," Papa had said.

— Ruta Sepetys

I stared at the enormous homes, the landscaping and flower beds immaculate. It was as if dollar bills, instead of leaves, hung from the trees.

— Ruta Sepetys

It gray louder. Louder. They were singing, singing at the top of their lungs. Andrews joined, and then my brother and the gray-haired man. And finally, the bald man joined in, singing out national anthem. 'Lithuania, land of heroes...

— Ruta Sepetys

It's safer for you to stay with the others,' he said. Safer? He didn't realize. I was already dead.

— Ruta Sepetys

I wanted to stay locked away from the pain and destruction. I didn't want to be strong. Furthermore, I didn't want to be the 'smart girl'. Furthermore, I was so very tired. Furthermore, I just wanted it all to be over.

— Ruta Sepetys

I was surrounded by hundreds of drowned children, heads in the water, their little feet in the air. All the little duckies, with their heads in the water Heads in the water. It was my punishment. Honor lost. Everything lost. Shame is a hunter. My shame was all around me now.

— Ruta Sepetys

Jo, they have a baby grand piano, but no one in the family plays. They have shelves of books they've never read, and the tension between the couples was so thick it nearly choked us."" Let me tell you something 'bout those rich Uptown folk," said Coke. "They got everything that money can buy, their bank accounts are fat, but they ain't happy. They ain't ever gone be happy. You know why? They soul broke. And money can't fix that, no sir. My friend BIX was poor. Lord, he had to blow that trumpet ten hours a day just to put a little taste in the pot. Died poor, too. You saw him, Jo, with that plate on his chest. But that man wasn't soul broke.

— Ruta Sepetys