A powerful example of having a voice amidst oppression, I Must Betray you is an emotional journey into Cold War-era Romania through the eyes of a brave 17-year-old fighting against a corrupted regime. It is a stark reminder of very recent history, and a haunting lesson in the long-term impact of dictatorships that countries across the globe are still reckoning with.
Our story begins and ends with Cristian Florescu, who is our guide into the horrors of Romania in 1989. In a period of revolution and suspicion throughout Eastern Europe, Cristian is blackmailed into being a spy for the communist regime. But Cristian has the heart of a poet and has ideals that don't fit well into the world he is forced to live in, so he learns to fight back in the ways he can and begins to protest despite not having a voice.
This is not a frivolous teen novel. While the primary characters are teenagers, they deal with situations and events that grown individuals should not be forced to endure, much less those in the budding blush of youthful experience. But yet, it is because they were young and wanted more for themselves that university students throughout the former Eastern Bloc fueled what became the catalyst for change. It is the Romanian students to whom the book is dedicated to, and they are real individuals who inspired this incredible story.
This book should be approached with the awareness of the historical events that inspired it but should be enjoyed as any good story should. The characters are relatable despite the circumstances they find themselves in, and the story pushes forward with the staccato beat of fast dialogue and short chapters. It's a quick but inspiring read, and I hope that others find it as impactful as I have!
Our story begins and ends with Cristian Florescu, who is our guide into the horrors of Romania in 1989. In a period of revolution and suspicion throughout Eastern Europe, Cristian is blackmailed into being a spy for the communist regime. But Cristian has the heart of a poet and has ideals that don't fit well into the world he is forced to live in, so he learns to fight back in the ways he can and begins to protest despite not having a voice.
This is not a frivolous teen novel. While the primary characters are teenagers, they deal with situations and events that grown individuals should not be forced to endure, much less those in the budding blush of youthful experience. But yet, it is because they were young and wanted more for themselves that university students throughout the former Eastern Bloc fueled what became the catalyst for change. It is the Romanian students to whom the book is dedicated to, and they are real individuals who inspired this incredible story.
This book should be approached with the awareness of the historical events that inspired it but should be enjoyed as any good story should. The characters are relatable despite the circumstances they find themselves in, and the story pushes forward with the staccato beat of fast dialogue and short chapters. It's a quick but inspiring read, and I hope that others find it as impactful as I have!