Ruta Sepetys at a Glance

Full Name: Ruta Sepetys

Pronunciation: ROO-tuh suh-PEH-tees

Born: November 19, 1967

Nationality: Lithuania, United States

Education:

• Hillsdale College (BS, International Finance)
• ICN Business School (Nancy, France)
• Centre d'études Européennes (Toulon, France)

Genres:

• Historical fiction
• Young adult fiction

Biography & Background

Ruta Sepetys Biography

Ruta Sepetys is a Lithuanian American author. Born and raised in Michigan, Sepetys earned a degree in international finance from Hillsdale College. After graduation, she moved to Los Angeles, California, where she opened an entertainment management business, merging her knowledge of business and music to support emerging musicians. Although she now focuses full time on her writing career, Sepetys maintains her interest in the music industry as the director of the Make a Noise Foundation, which raises money for music education.

In 2011, Sepetys made the shift to writing with the publication of her first novel, Between Shades of Gray. Although it was written for young adults, the book gained widespread popularity with adult audiences too. The novel also marked her entrance into the historical fiction genre with its portrayal of a Lithuanian girl sent to a Siberian labor camp in the 1940s. Sepetys followed up the success of her debut with Out of the Easy (2013), the story of a young girl in 1950s New Orleans, which was named an Editor’s Choice by The New York Times. Her third novel, Salt to the Sea (2016), was awarded the Carnegie Medal for Writing, while her next works, The Fountains of Silence (2019) and I Must Betray You (2022), continued her exploration of history from marginalized perspectives.

Sepetys’s website is titled “Seeker of Lost Stories,” reflecting her interest in representing history from the perspectives of those who have been lost or forgotten. Her novels offer audiences new insight into historical events, bringing them alive for readers of all ages.

Fun Facts About Ruta Sepetys

• Sepetys originally went to college to study opera before earning a degree in international finance.
• Sepetys was chosen to appear on a set of Lithuanian stamps commemorating 100 years of Lithuanian independence for bringing global awareness to the country.
• Before writing her first novel, Sepetys was in entertainment management and was featured in Rolling Stone magazine’s 2007 “Women in Rock” issue.

Ruta Sepetys’s Awards & Honors

• 2013 — Knight’s Cross, Order for Merits to Lithuania
• 2017 — Carnegie Medal for Writing (Salt to the Sea)
• 2023 — Josette Frank Award for Fiction (I Must Betray You)

Interviews & Podcasts

Hear from Ruta Sepetys in her own words.

Interviews with Ruta Sepetys

_{KIRKUS REVIEWS}

Ruta Sepetys Makes History Thrilling for Readers (January 31, 2022)

Sepetys discusses her mission to illuminate overlooked chapters of history and shares insight into the research that informed I Must Betray You. This interview highlights her commitment to humanizing historical events through character-driven storytelling.

_{PUBLISHERS WEEKLY}

Four Questions for Ruta Sepetys (January 25, 2022)

In this brief but thoughtful exchange, Sepetys explains how she chose to write about life under Romania’s Ceaușescu regime and details what goes into crafting a suspenseful, oppressive atmosphere.

Podcasts with Ruta Sepetys

_{NEW YORK TIMES PODCASTS}

Ruta Sepetys Talks About I Must Betray You (July 17, 2024)

Sepetys reflects on the political and emotional stakes behind I Must Betray You, explaining how historical silence inspired her to write. This podcast provides powerful context for how fiction can amplify voices left out of official historical records.

_{BRAVE NEW TEACHING}

Giving a Voice to the Voiceless: An Interview with Ruta Sepetys (May 18, 2023)

A valuable conversation for educators and fans alike, this interview explores how Sepetys’s novels open classroom conversations about history, empathy, and civic awareness. Her reflections on writing for young audiences are especially compelling.

Ruta Sepetys Quotes

How foolish to believe we are more powerful than the sea or the sky.

— Salt to the Sea (2016)

Sometimes we set off down a road thinkin’ we’re goin’ to one place and we end up another. But that’s okay. The important thing is to start.

— Out of the Easy (2013)

War is catastrophe. It breaks families in irretrievable pieces. But those who are gone are not necessarily lost.

— Salt to the Sea (2016)

Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly.

— The Fountains of Silence (2019)

As the saying goes, better to die standing than live kneeling.

— I Must Betray You (2022)

Notable Books by Ruta Sepetys

Between Shades of Gray (2011)

Sepetys’s debut novel introduces readers to 15-year-old Lina, a Lithuanian girl deported to a Siberian labor camp during Stalin’s regime. Based on true stories, the novel sheds light on a little-known atrocity and established Sepetys as a writer dedicated to uncovering hidden histories.

Explore the full breakdown with SuperSummary’s study guide.

Salt to the Sea (2016)

Set during the final days of World War II, this novel follows four young refugees as they board the doomed Wilhelm Gustloff, a real Nazi military transport ship that sank in January 1945. Sepetys gives voice to civilians caught in the chaos of history, using multiple perspectives and lyrical prose to highlight loss, survival, and hope.

Uncover more about this novel with SuperSummary’s study guide.

The Fountains of Silence (2019)

This novel explores life in post-Civil War Spain through the eyes of Daniel, an American photographer, and Ana, a hotel worker. Sepetys uses their story to examine silence, complicity, and the cost of authoritarianism. Rich with detail and emotionally resonant, this book solidifies her gift for blending history with human drama.

Ready to dig in? Check out SuperSummary’s study guide.

Authors Like Ruta Sepetys

Markus Zusak

Recommended Read: The Book Thief (2005)

Narrated by Death, The Book Thief follows a young girl living in Nazi Germany as she finds solace and power in books. Like Sepetys, Zusak captures history through the eyes of a young protagonist, using poetic language to explore grief, resilience, and the power of storytelling.

Explore the full breakdown with SuperSummary’s study guide.

Kristin Hannah

Recommended Read: The Nightingale (2015)

Set in occupied France, The Nightingale tells the story of two sisters who resist the Nazis in very different ways. Hannah, like Sepetys, focuses on women’s perspectives in wartime, revealing the emotional costs of survival and sacrifice.

Uncover more about this novel with SuperSummary’s study guide.

Elizabeth Wein

Recommended Read: Code Name Verity (2012)

Told through a series of confessions and coded notes, Code Name Verity follows two young women working for the British war effort—one a spy, the other a pilot. Like Sepetys, Wein uses young voices to heighten emotional intensity and historical realism.

Want to learn more? Dive into SuperSummary’s study guide.

Follow Ruta Sepetys

Connect with Ruta Sepetys on the following platforms:

• Website: rutasepetys.com
• Facebook: Ruta Sepetys
• Instagram: @rutasepetysauthor
• X: @RutaSepetys
• YouTube: @RutaSepetys
• Bluesky: @rutasepetys.bsky.social