Ruta Sepetys, an internationally acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction, spoke to Owensboro Catholic High students on Monday. In addition to talking about her latest book I Must Betray You, Sepetys held a writing workshop with a smaller group of students.
According to OCHS Media Specialist Marilyn Pace, Sepetys was originally scheduled to speak in April 2020 as a part of the school’s after the students had read her book Salt to the Sea. Those plans were canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions, but Pace stayed in contact and was able to work out Monday’s visit.
I Must Betray You is a historical thriller about 1989 communist Romania and the citizen spy network that devastated a nation. According to book description, the main character, 17-year-old Cristian Florescu, “is blackmailed by the secret police to become an informer. He’s left with only two choices: betray everyone and everything he loves—or use his position to creatively undermine the most notoriously evil dictator in Eastern Europe.”
Pace said the OCHS students read the book to go along with the school’s study of the effects of war on young people.
Sepetys talked about her experiences writing and the revolutions she has written about in various novels, and she also spent a short time taking questions from students. She then met with about 45 students in the media center, taking them through the process of writing — from the beginning idea to publishing a book.
“She was wonderful with the kids in the writing session,” Pace said. “She was very gracious to answer their questions. She was just tremendous.
Sepetys is known for her well-researched historical fiction on topics that have not been previously written about, covering WWII and the following Cold War. Originally tagged as a Young Adult author, almost half of her readers are adults.
Born in Michigan, Sepetys is the daughter of a Lithuanian refugee. She is the first American writer of young adult literature to speak at the European Parliament and NATO. She is also a winner of the Carnegie Medal, a British literary award that annually recognises one outstanding new English-language book for children or young adults.
According to her website, Sepetys is renowned for giving voice to underrepresented history and those who experienced it. Her books have won or been shortlisted for over 40 book prizes, are included on over 30 state reading lists, and are currently in development for film and television.
To learn more about Sepetys or her novels, visit her website here.
