In “Between Shades of Gray” by Ruta Sepetys, the prisoners would have easier survived if they signed the NKVD papers. If they signed the papers they would have been able to send letters, they would’ve been treated better by the NKVD officers, and they would’ve never been held to a twenty-five year sentence hard work labor sentence. With these rights they would be stronger. They would be able to communicate with others and they would be able to trade to get what they needed. They would’ve been better off with signing.
One of the main advantages of signing the NKVD papers, was the ability to send and receive letters. In the book, Lina says, ”People who signed the twenty-five-year sentence were able to go to the village. We were not.” This shows that they could communicate through sending letters. This would have been a good way of calling for help. In the book, Elana says, “Well, then you’ll have to bribe that cranky cow who signed… You can buy her off to mail your letters.” This was also bad because they were spending the little food or valuables they had to send letters, which they could send for free if they signed.
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In the book, Lina says, “Komorov yelled and pulled a pistol from his belt. He pointed it at Mother. She jumped down into the first hole. The pistol moved to my head. I jumped in…. Kamorov walked around the hole, looking at us, pointing the pistol…. Suddenly, he began kicking dirt from the large pile into the hole. He laughed and kicked faster and faster.” He shot at the dirt trying to scare them. This was just because he wanted them to sign the papers. They would have been treated much better if they had