Novel Project: Between Shades of Gray
Characters
Lina Vilkas
At the beginning of the book, Lina was fifthteen years old, but by the end of the book she is sixteen. She has honey colored hair with bright blue eyes. Lina is very talented in drawing and would consider herself an artist. Lina is very strong and determined at the camps because she wants to live. She has a brother named Jonas, her mother's name is Elena, and her father's name is Kostas. Based on what she displayed through the book, I was able to determine that she has a crush on Andrius. "I...I saw the NKVD throwing dead bodies off the train into the mud. Two children." (66)
Jonas Vilkas
Jonas was an innocent young boy until he and his family were taken by the NKVD. Later he becomes more responsible and mature so he can stay healthy and help his mother and sister. Jonas nearly died of disease but he kept fighting and he is still working hard. He looks up to Andrius because he is older and more experienced. "For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as a firebrand. My heart is stricten, and withered like grass; I forgot to eat my bread." (189)
Elena Vilkas
Elena is the mother of Lina and Jonas, and the wife of Kostas. She has honey colored hair like her daughters, and blue colored eyes. She is described as elegant and beautiful. She is used as a translator for the NKVD, and she is a very positive person. She is also a teacher at a school close to the camps. She is very smart and she is always trying to protect her children. She even went so far as to give up most of her food rations to help feed Lina and Jonas. "Our sense of humor, they can;t take that away from us right?" (125)
Andrius Arvydas
Andrius is a seventeen year old boy and he is help captive by the NKVD with Lina and the others. Andrius has brown wavy hair and blue eyes, and is strong.Andrius is a very kind hearted person because he is forced to work with the NKVD and he always does the best that he can to provide food and other necessities to Lina and her family. Andrius falls in love with Lina and they eventually kiss on Lina's birthday. Andrius is there with his mother but sadly his mother is forced to be a prostitute and she has to sleep with the NKVD officers. "No. Don't be scared. Don't give them anything, Lina, not even your fear." (243)