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New York Times bestselling author, Ruta Sepetys, to discuss new book at Kenton County Erlanger library


New York Times #1 bestselling author Ruta Sepetys will discuss her new book I Must Betray You on Thursday, September 22 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Kenton County Erlanger Branch library.

In her latest novel, Sepetys writes about a Romanian teenager who is approached by the communist regime to be an informer. An excerpt from Sepetys’ interview with the New York Times states the intent of her work:

Author Ruta Sepetys

“What I want to get across is the strength and fortitude of the Romanian people, particularly the young people,” Sepetys says. “Oftentimes what we don’t think about is that these authoritarian regimes or totalitarian regimes, they often are disassembled from within. And that’s what happened here. And it was the young people, on Dec. 21, who took to the streets, completely unarmed, and in some cases were attacking tanks with their bare hands. They put themselves in harm’s way. The courage, it blows my mind. And the leader gunned them down, until the military switched sides and sided with the people.”

Winner of the Carnegie Medal, Sepetys is acclaimed for giving voice to underrepresented history and those who experienced it.

Her books have won or been shortlisted for over forty book prizes, are included on over thirty state reading lists, and are currently in development for film and television. Her first novel, which chronicles the Soviet atrocities in Lithuania, has been adapted into the renowned major motion picture, Ashes in the Snow. Sepetys is the daughter of a Lithuanian refugee. Born in Michigan, she was raised in a family of artists, readers, and music lovers. Sepetys is passionate about the power of history and story to foster global dialogue and connectivity.

Sepetys is considered a “crossover” novelist as her books are read by both students and adults worldwide.

Copies of her books will be for sale at the event.

The event is free, but registration is required by visiting kentonlibrary.org/events. The Erlanger Branch library is located at 401 Kenton Lands Road, Erlanger.

This program is made possible by the Kenton County Public Library Foundation which assists the library in funding special events, services, and projects, including providing every kindergartener with a book annually in September through their schools.

To learn more about Ruta Sepetys, visit her website at rutasepetys.com.

Kenton County Public Library


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