This novel can be summed up in one word: WOW! From the first page, Ruta Sepetys crafts a masterpiece through the eyes of a teenage boy on the threshold of manhood having to endure this evolution through a trial by fire. A modern historical narrative set in 1989, "I Must Betray You" captures the faith and agony the Romanian people endure to save themselves and their country. For the reader who appreciates Dystopian undertones of 1984, The "Dirty War" in Argentina, Su Tong's Wives and Concubines, and Divergent; "I Must Betray You" is an absolute must addition to your reading pile. For the film enthusiast, Sepetys's novel pairs well with Yimou Zhang's 1991 film "Raise the Red Lantern" and the modern Korean Drama "Crash Landing On You". As is often the case when society and governments are on shaky grounds, there is heartache and deception, as well as the faint waif of hope that grips the reader from page one.