I’ve been reading her books for years, and back in 2019, was able to see her live when she was promoting The Fountains of Silence. During the discussion, I learned that Sepetys, as a Lithuania American, was driven to write about forgotten moments in time because she never heard the country of ancestors and its struggles spoken about in public discourse. In fact, Lithuania as a country was only included on maps after the fall of the Soviet Union. If you enjoy reading historical fiction and learning about countries and people who rarely enter popular discussion, then I strongly recommend reading one of Sepetys’s books. Each book is meticulously researched, and Sepetys takes her time speaking to people who lived during the times she wants to write about. I’ve read plenty of historical fiction, but sometimes it’s hard for me to evoke an image of a place I know nothing about. Because of the level of detail and nuance Sepetys employs in her writing, I always get a clear picture of the setting from her. Sepetys has written five books, with her latest book being published this year (2022). Although I would recommend enjoying all of them, here are three that can help you get started with her work. If you want more recommendations on which authors to read next, check out our Reading Pathways on Taylor Jenkins Reid and Helen Oyeyemi.
