I Must Betray You

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of illness or death.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did the first-person narration affect your experience of life under the Ceauşescu regime? Did reading the story from Cristian’s perspective make the oppression feel more immediate and personal?

2. What was your emotional reaction to learning about the fate of significant characters like Bunu and Cici? Were you satisfied with how Sepetys wove these personal tragedies into the larger historical context of the Romanian Revolution?

3. In her novels, Sepetys often explores historical tragedies through the eyes of young people caught in difficult circumstances, such as the refugees fleeing war in Salt to the Sea. How does Cristian’s story in I Must Betray You compare to her other works? What unique perspective does his position as both victim and unwilling participant in the regime offer?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Cristian struggles constantly with the moral dilemma of betraying those he loves to protect his family. Have you ever been caught in a situation where you had to choose between conflicting loyalties? How did you navigate that tension?

2. Cristian maintains his integrity by trying to give minimal information to the Securitate while appearing to cooperate. When have you found yourself in a situation where you had to navigate between compliance and maintaining your values? How did you handle it?

3. Cristian lives in constant fear of surveillance, with listening devices potentially hidden in light fixtures and portraits of Ceauşescu watching from every wall. In our current digital age, how do you balance convenience with privacy concerns? Has reading this novel changed your perspective on modern surveillance?

4. Cristian finds refuge and self-expression in writing in his secret notebook. What creative or personal outlets help you process difficult emotions or experiences in your life?

5. Cristian’s grandfather, Bunu, serves as his moral compass throughout much of the novel, encouraging him to think independently and stand up for his beliefs. Who has been a similar guiding influence in your life, and what values did they instill in you?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel depicts how a totalitarian regime maintains control through fear, surveillance, and turning citizens against each other. What parallels, if any, do you see in contemporary political systems around the world?

2. How does Sepetys’s portrayal of 1989 Romania challenge or confirm your understanding of life under communist regimes during the Cold War? What aspects of daily life under Ceauşescu’s rule surprised you the most?

3. Elements of American culture like Kent cigarettes, Coca-Cola, and Bruce Springsteen hold almost mythical significance for Cristian and his friends. How does the novel explore the global influence of American culture, and what does this suggest about the relationship between culture and political freedom?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Throughout the novel, references to cold and darkness appear frequently, from the freezing apartments to the darkness provoked by unreliable electricity. How do these motifs reflect both the physical reality and the psychological state of Romanians under Ceauşescu?

2. The novel incorporates official Securitate reports between chapters. How do these documents contribute to the story’s atmosphere and tension? What purpose do they serve in the larger narrative?

3. Sepetys titled the novel I Must Betray You, creating immediate tension between loyalty and betrayal. How does this paradox play out in the various characters’ choices throughout the story?

4. Compare and contrast the characters of Cristian’s mother and Bunu. How do their different responses to the regime illustrate various ways people cope with oppression?

5. Cristian’s notebook represents both risk and potential freedom. How does the novel explore the power of words and personal testimony in challenging authoritarian systems?

6. Compare the character arcs of Cristian and Cici throughout the novel. How do their parallel journeys as informants reveal different aspects of surviving under totalitarianism?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Design a memorial that honors the Romanian Revolution of 1989 based on your reading of I Must Betray You. What elements, symbols, or quotations from the book would you incorporate, and why would these be meaningful representations of this historical moment?

2. Write a conversation between Cristian and another young protagonist from a different historical novel (perhaps Lina from Between Shades of Gray or Josie from Out of the Easy). What would it reveal about their respective historical circumstances?

3. Cristian’s story unfolds during a pivotal moment in European history. What objects or items from the novel would you select for a time capsule meant to represent this historical turning point? Why are these items significant to understanding the Romanian experience of 1989?

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