I Must Betray You
- Downloads：3779
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-12-17 07:53:19
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Ruta Sepetys
- ISBN：1444967614
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
- Download
Summary
Trapped by an evil dictatorship， will Cristian be forced to betray his family or will he risk everything he loves to resist？ A bestselling YA thriller based on real events， from a prizewinning author。
Cristian has lived his entire life in the grip of a repressive dictatorship。 The country is governed by fear。 When the secret police blackmail him， Cristian has an impossible choice。 Save the life of his sick grandfather by informing on his family， or risk his life – and all of theirs – by resisting？
At 17， Cristian dreams of being free but doesn’t know where to turn。 In this climate of constant suspicion， can he trust his best friend， his girlfriend or even his family？
Closely based on the real events of the Romanian Revolution of 1989， this is a powerful， heart-breaking thriller from the author of Salt to the Sea， winner of the Carnegie Medal。
Cristian has lived his entire life in the grip of a repressive dictatorship。 The country is governed by fear。 When the secret police blackmail him， Cristian has an impossible choice。 Save the life of his sick grandfather by informing on his family， or risk his life – and all of theirs – by resisting？
At 17， Cristian dreams of being free but doesn’t know where to turn。 In this climate of constant suspicion， can he trust his best friend， his girlfriend or even his family？
Closely based on the real events of the Romanian Revolution of 1989， this is a powerful， heart-breaking thriller from the author of Salt to the Sea， winner of the Carnegie Medal。
Reviews
Olivia Swindler
，
It’s hard for me to put into words how much I loved this book。 The storytelling was compelling， heartbreaking， and reminded me of a YA version of The Nightingale。 The way the characters’ stories are woven together is beautiful。 It was impossible to put this book down。 It left my heart heavy for the grave injustices done in Romania， and so thankful for the youth who were willing to risk everything to fight for their freedom。
Melissa Neal
，
I really enjoyed reading this story and would have probably rated it 3 or 4 stars。 But then my co-worker was telling me about this book and she was in Romania during the revolution and she read the book and told me that this book is exactly her life。 She said the accuracy was amazing in this story of the Romanian revolution and the way of life for teenagers during this time period。
Raul
，
Vivimos en un mundo tan incierto que apenas conocemos lo que paso hace unos 30 años en nuestro continente， pero sabemos qué especie lo pisaba hace 65 millones de años。 Casi me da vergüenza reconocer que no conocía nada de la Rumania de los 90， cuando yo ya tenía algunos añitos。 Mis primeros "contactos" con ese país son los de la selección de futbol de Hagi y Raducioiu en el mundial del 94。 Vale， era joven y nadie me va a culpar por no conocer nada por aquel entonces， pero reconozco que hasta est Vivimos en un mundo tan incierto que apenas conocemos lo que paso hace unos 30 años en nuestro continente， pero sabemos qué especie lo pisaba hace 65 millones de años。 Casi me da vergüenza reconocer que no conocía nada de la Rumania de los 90， cuando yo ya tenía algunos añitos。 Mis primeros "contactos" con ese país son los de la selección de futbol de Hagi y Raducioiu en el mundial del 94。 Vale， era joven y nadie me va a culpar por no conocer nada por aquel entonces， pero reconozco que hasta este momento， en el que he leído este libro， seguía en blanco。 Y tiene más delito cuando aquí en España hemos recibido tanta emigración de ese país y creo que pocos se habrán planteado que había detrás de ella。Bueno， pues este libro es el reflejo de la Rumania del año 1989。 El comunismo todavía está presente en el este de Europa， y aunque poco a poco varios países consiguen derrocar esos regímenes totalitarios， Rumania parece quedar al margen de todo。 Mientras en EEUU los jóvenes tienen las neveras llenas y un mundo lleno de oportunidades， los rumanos hacen colas interminables con la esperanza de recibir una lata de alubias que no esté caducada。 Y la gente calla， atenazada por el miedo。 Con un ritmo casi perfecto y una prosa exquisita， la autora nos pone en la piel de un joven de diecisiete años que se tiene que enfrentar a la realidad de su país día tras día。 Bromear， ir al colegio o hablar con un extranjero son cosas no exentas de peligro en esa sociedad， llena de informantes y desconfianza。 Me encanta que no sea una historia de amor con un malo malísimo lo que destaque en la historia。 Todo parece que tiene su peso justo en la trama y cala más el contexto que lo que pasa dentro de él。Crea una atmosfera perfecta， juega con los colores y las metáforas de manera soberbia。 Consigue emocionar y te sientes en la piel de todos los personajes y entiendes las motivaciones tan distintas que les mueven。 No creo que sea un libro sobre ideologías， simplemente se cuentan las cosas cómo sucedieron。 El poder corrompe， y a la vista de lo que se cuenta sobre los descubrimientos en la casa del dictador， esta afirmación no puede ser más acertada。Me ha encantado el libro， de verdad。 Un cinco como una casa， sin titubeos ni peros。 Buscaré más libros de la autora， ya que los dos que he leído hasta el momento me parecen muy recomendables。 。。。more
Noemí Gutiérrez
，
4，5⭐
Michael S
，
A must read！ Never knew YA Historical Fiction was a thing until this book and loved how fast paced it was。 Short chapters and lovable characters = an engaging way to teach history to people。 Who knew Romania 1989 was in such a dire state？ It was less than 40 years ago！
Elena
，
What a great book！ I’m speechless。
Mariiaa16
，
THIS IS THE BEST BOOK EVER CREATED！！
Kayla
，
It's honestly really hard to go wrong with Ruta Sepetys。 It's honestly really hard to go wrong with Ruta Sepetys。 。。。more
Barbara
，
Very effective historical fiction。
Leannah
，
i love this book。 I have never been the biggest fan of historical fiction because I always thought it was so boring。 I had to read this book for book club and I'm so glad this was the book we chose。 There was everything: romance， suspense， action。 It was so much better than I thought it was going to be。 But， I feel like there was something missing。 There was so much potential for this book， but it was just missing something。。。I also noticed how they were going through all of this fighting at the i love this book。 I have never been the biggest fan of historical fiction because I always thought it was so boring。 I had to read this book for book club and I'm so glad this was the book we chose。 There was everything: romance， suspense， action。 It was so much better than I thought it was going to be。 But， I feel like there was something missing。 There was so much potential for this book， but it was just missing something。。。I also noticed how they were going through all of this fighting at the end of the book and everyone was dying， and it was a murderous， bloody war going on here， but when they're done， they act like everything is fine。 Like they didn't just watch thousands of people die or go through hours of torture。 It was so strange。 But overall， this book was aMaZiNg。 。。。more
Karen Gray
，
Sepetys is such a compelling storyteller。
Happy Reading Watching
，
This story is heartbreaking and heavy like most historical novels。 I don't feel comfortable rating this one。I did learn more about a history I knew very little about。 I will be doing my own research on educating myself more about this time in history。 ⚠️Trigger Warnings ⚠️There are too many to list & honestly feel like I'll miss some。 I highly recommend looking them up before starting this one。 Reread？ No This story is heartbreaking and heavy like most historical novels。 I don't feel comfortable rating this one。I did learn more about a history I knew very little about。 I will be doing my own research on educating myself more about this time in history。 ⚠️Trigger Warnings ⚠️There are too many to list & honestly feel like I'll miss some。 I highly recommend looking them up before starting this one。 Reread？ No 。。。more
Sana Fayiz
，
idk if i like his sister or not 🐥
Chloe Irwin-Chambers
，
I really， really enjoyed this book it was so good。 I was so glad it had that ending， in real life too。 People don't deserve to live that way。 It just kept me really invested I really， really enjoyed this book it was so good。 I was so glad it had that ending， in real life too。 People don't deserve to live that way。 It just kept me really invested 。。。more
Readingwithavengeance
，
** 3。5 ⭐️’s **
Cherry
，
4。5。 I learned a ton about the Romanian Revolution and really felt for the people who went through it。 Quick， easy to read chapters that are engaging and enthralling， lots going on。 Was a fast read overall because of that。 The revolution bit at the end felt a little rushed and I almost felt dissatisfied but per the authors note at the end， I thought it made a lot of sense。 Very admirable what the Romanians did in real life。
Kathleen
，
WSJ recommended this book。 I was intrigued by the book because I had just met a young woman from Romania。 So， I will tell her about the book。 And our library district has an available ebook， so I downloaded it。 14 days to read！ From Kirkus:A rare look at the youth-led rebellion that toppled Romania’s Ceaușescu。Seventeen-year-old Cristian Florescu， with his spiky hair， love of poetry and English， and crush on Liliana Pavel， is as much of a rebel as it’s possible to be in Bucharest， Romania， in 19 WSJ recommended this book。 I was intrigued by the book because I had just met a young woman from Romania。 So， I will tell her about the book。 And our library district has an available ebook， so I downloaded it。 14 days to read！ From Kirkus:A rare look at the youth-led rebellion that toppled Romania’s Ceaușescu。Seventeen-year-old Cristian Florescu， with his spiky hair， love of poetry and English， and crush on Liliana Pavel， is as much of a rebel as it’s possible to be in Bucharest， Romania， in 1989。 Communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu has been in power for 24 years， and most Romanians live in poverty， exporting what they produce to unknowingly fund Ceaușescu’s obscenely extravagant lifestyle。 Wild dogs attack children in the streets， and secret agents are everywhere。 When an agent confronts Cristian with evidence of treason—a single dollar bill tucked inside his notebook—and also offers medicine for Bunu， his sick grandfather， Cristian agrees to spy on the American diplomat family whose son he’s become friendly with。 But as young Romanians gradually become aware that other countries have gained freedom from communism， they rise up in an unconquerable wave。 Sepetys brilliantly blends a staggering amount of research with heart， craft， and insight in a way very few writers can。 Told from Cristian’s point of view， intercut by secret police memos and Cristian’s own poetry， the novel crackles with energy; Cristian and his friends join the groundswell of young Romanians， combining pragmatism， subterfuge， hope， and daring。 While the story ends with joy on Christmas Day， the epilogue recounts the betrayals and losses that follow。 The last line will leave readers gasping。 。。。more
Frankie Gibson
，
Gut-wrenching。 I couldn't put it down， listened to the audio non-stop。 Can't even imagine the suffering and inhumane treatment。 Gut-wrenching。 I couldn't put it down， listened to the audio non-stop。 Can't even imagine the suffering and inhumane treatment。 。。。more
Angie
，
3。75
Daxton Sabey
，
if I could do 4。5 stars I wouldthis book taught me a lot about living in a setting that I probably had no other way of learning about
Emily
，
4。5
Dana Gabriela
，
Da， poate revoluția de la 1989 a însemnat *sfârșitul șoaptelor*， și chiar ar trebui ca această carte să fie citită de toți cei care încă mai regretă regimul ceaușist， poate vor vedea cruda realiate a comunismului， că Nicolae Ceușescu era perceput în afara României mai rău ca Stalin; dar azi deși avem o voce ce se face auzită， nu este ascultată。 Noi， românii， suntem o nație care se mulțumește cu ceea ce i se dă și care nu a făcut nimic pentru a cinsti memoria acelor oameni ce s-au jertfit pentru Da， poate revoluția de la 1989 a însemnat *sfârșitul șoaptelor*， și chiar ar trebui ca această carte să fie citită de toți cei care încă mai regretă regimul ceaușist， poate vor vedea cruda realiate a comunismului， că Nicolae Ceușescu era perceput în afara României mai rău ca Stalin; dar azi deși avem o voce ce se face auzită， nu este ascultată。 Noi， românii， suntem o nație care se mulțumește cu ceea ce i se dă și care nu a făcut nimic pentru a cinsti memoria acelor oameni ce s-au jertfit pentru o țară liberă。 。。。more
Yvette De Haan
，
In the last weeks of 2022 I read one of my favorite novels of the year！ Beautiful， fast paced story about the horrors in communist Romania and the uprising that followed。
MB
，
Loved this book！ So informative…。。
Sofia Seguel
，
3。75* es el que menos me ha gustado de la autora pero igual estuvo increíble。 Aprendí muchísimoooo de cosas que no tenía idea habían pasado， muy muy impactante todo
Laura Sweeney
，
3。5 stars - interesting story of Romanian history。 Would be good for teen readers！
Katie
，
Another one that was made even better by listening to the audiobook！
Kaitlyn Hardy
，
just another sepetys read that i devoured in 2 days leaving me solemn🙃。 sepetys knows how to awaken & change your heart。 her novels will remind you that so much hardship existed — and still does — outside of our little lives full of freedom and choice。 𝘪 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 was intensely eyeopening。 it was suspenseful in every way possible。 communism & its toll on the people came into such light through this novel for me & it made my heart sink。 freedom & choice should have always been everyone’s bi just another sepetys read that i devoured in 2 days leaving me solemn🙃。 sepetys knows how to awaken & change your heart。 her novels will remind you that so much hardship existed — and still does — outside of our little lives full of freedom and choice。 𝘪 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 was intensely eyeopening。 it was suspenseful in every way possible。 communism & its toll on the people came into such light through this novel for me & it made my heart sink。 freedom & choice should have always been everyone’s birthright & it’s always so heart wrenching for me to read novels that depict such opposition to that birthright。 𝘪 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 beautifully demonstrated romania’s fear & frightened souls — their struggle to speak up against regime。 but it also detailed the empowerment & hope that raged within the younger demographic — the students & children who thought， “there has to be something better than this。” cristian was brilliant & brave。 he was what everyone needed — he was that hope。 & i cheered for him the whole way through。 sepetys knows how to make you think。 she knows how to make you experience something outside of yourself & what you think you know。 i learn with every page turn & i’m so grateful for that。 & while this is a work of historical fiction， the dictatorship of nicolae ceausescu & his indoctrinated reign of communism was very real; very brutal; & very frightening。 for 30 years。 i urge everyone to read any of sepetys novels & think outside of yourself。 it’s a good reminder to learn about & understand those who still desperately fight for what we have & what they’ve always deserved。 。。。more
Samantha
，
Another beautiful， heartbreaking book by Ruta Septeys。 I have always enjoyed her work over the years， it just absolutely destroys me in the best way。 I also learned things from this novel that I never knew， and I will be doing some more research on my own about Romania and what happened in 1989。
riley :）
，
i love everything she writes。 interesting stories and i learn so much。 i liked this better than fountains of silence i think。
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=I Must Betray You
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=I Must Betray You&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,I Must Betray You&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0