Ceaușescu has convinced world leaders of his benevolence, as he starves, imprisons, and kills his people.

The outside world has no idea how Romanians live.

Their “refrigerator had enough food to feed a Romanian for an entire year.” Cristian watches pirated American movies and wonders if Americans really live like that. Cristian has access because his mother quietly obediently cleans the luxurious Van Dorn household. Is this suspicious? Everyone is suspicious of everyone else.Ĭristian who speaks English is assigned to investigate Dan Van Dorn, son of an American diplomat. Luca has rigged a car battery to generate light so they can all do homework. But who set him up? Luca? Cristian has been in love with Luca’s sister, Liliana for ages, but maybe she’s the informer. Now if he wants meds for outspoken Bunu, he’ll have to inform. They’ve framed him, said he owned American stamps. The family members take turns standing in line to buy whatever food is available-a dented, expired can of beans, a potato the size of a lime.Ĭici, Cristian’s sister, says, ‘beware of your friend Luca, who is eager and asks too many questions.’ Cristian is ordered into the office of the Securiate, the brutal secret service. Bunu says, “This never knowing, it weakens us…It’s a form of control. The electricity is turned off randomly and frequently. Kent cigarettes are used as currency to procure illegal services, such as medicine for Bunu, Cristian’s grandfather who is dying of leukemia. The Romanian people eat rough bread or gruel. But any crops that are grown are exported to pay government debt. The citizens are told that the fields are lush with crops. Even within families, you don’t know if you’re safe. Romanians’ houses are bugged, but where? In the light fixtures? A huge percentage of the people are informers. One of these Reporters lives well in every apartment building. The powerful “Reporters” are the only citizens who can afford black Dacias, the only Romanian-made car.

All apartment balconies must remain empty for clear viewing by authorities. Such is “I Must Betray You” (Philomel 2022) set on 1989 Romania, when it existed under the totalitarian regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife Elena.Ĭristian Florescu, 17, lives with his family in Bucharest where the Communist Party has the legal right to see everything anyone owns at any time. Ruta Sepetys’s novels are young adult books that “crossover” as adult books.

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