Book Review: I Must Betray You

“History is the gateway to our collective story and the story of humanity.”

-Ruta Sepetys

Ruta Sepetys’ latest book is, as fans would expect, a masterpiece of historical fiction. What I always appreciate about this author is her diligent research which results in works of fiction that truly teach about world history, particularly the untold stories.

I Must Betray You is set in 1989 Romania as communist regimes across Europe are crumbling and the citizens of Romania, struggling under tyrannical dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu, are ready to rise up.

The story is told from the perspective of 17-year-old Cristian Florescu who lives in a tiny, cold apartment with his family, often without power or food, and has just been asked to become an informant for the brutal (not so) secret police.

As the book continues, Cristian navigates repressive daily life as a Romanian citizen trying not to be caught doing anything illegal, while also daring to hope for a better future. He learns that citizens of other countries enjoy freedom and opportunities he didn’t think possible, and he wonders whether he can do something to bring about change in Romania… spoiler alert: he can!

If you’re interested in learning more about underrepresented stories from history, check out I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys.

Review written by Global Scholar mentor: Mrs. Brannon