No Son [. . .] Not a traitor to your country. Much worse. A traitor to your soul.

— Ruta Sepetys

Per aspera ad astra, Papa,' I whispered. Through hardship to the stars.

— Ruta Sepetys

Perhaps tomorrow I would actually put pen to paper.

— Ruta Sepetys

Revolting. If women were so careless to become pregnant at such a time, let women sort it out.

— Ruta Sepetys

Sometimes kindness can be delivered in a clumsy way. But it's far sincerer in its clumsiness than those distinguished men you read about in books. Your father was very clumsy.”" Sometimes there is such beauty in awkwardness. There's love and emotion trying to express itself, but at the time, it just ends up being awkward. Good men are often more practical than pretty. . . . [He] just happens to be both.

— Ruta Sepetys

Sometimes there is such beauty in awkwardness.

— Ruta Sepetys

Tapas was sent to the principal today," announced Jonas at dinner. He wedged a huge piece of sausage into his small mouth." Why?" I asked." Because he talked about hell," sputtered Jonas, juice from the plump sausage dribbling down his chin." Jonas, don't speak with your mouth full. Take smaller pieces," scolded Mother." Sorry," said Jonas with his moth stuffed. "It's good." He finished chewing. I took a bite of sausage. It was warm, and the skin was deliciously salty." Tadas told one of the girls that hell is the worst place ever and there's no escape for all eternity."" Now why would Tapas be talking of hell?" asked Papa, reaching for the vegetables." Because his father told him that if Stalin comes to Lithuania, we'll all end up there.

— Ruta Sepetys

The only reason I'd lift my skirt is to pull a pistol and plug you in the head.

— Ruta Sepetys

There's a saying, 'Death hath a thousand doors to let out life; I shall find one.' But the children. That's what I struggle with.' He shook his head. 'Why the children?

— Ruta Sepetys

The soldier stared at Ingrid. His silence was elastic, slowly curling a rope around her neck.

— Ruta Sepetys