You Betray Must I: Vocabulary Flashcards from the Shadowing Activities (Carnegie/Yoto)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, concepts, and characters from the You Betray Must I unit and related topics.

You Betray Must I

A Ruta Sepetys historical fiction novel set in 1989 Romania under Ceaușescu, exploring fear, loyalty, and truth.

Shadowing

A guided group reading activity used with shortlisted books; students discuss, reflect, and share recommended material under leadership.

Securitate

Romania's secret police/state security service under Ceaușescu; symbol of surveillance and repression.

Ceaușescu regime

The communist dictatorship in Romania led by Nicolae Ceaușescu, known for censorship, propaganda, and political repression.

Timisoara

Romanian city where anti-government protests began in December 1989, triggering the Romanian Revolution.

Romanian Revolution (1989)

The uprising that toppled Ceaușescu and ended communism in Romania.

Communism

An ideology advocating communal ownership of production and a classless society, typically managed by a centralized state.

Totalitarianism

A government that seeks total control over public and private life through repression and propaganda.

Verisimilitude

The appearance of realism or believability in fiction, especially in historical settings.

Historical fiction

A literary genre that blends real historical events/settings with invented characters and plots.

Epilogue

A concluding section of a book that may include extras, notes, or reflections after the main narrative.

First-person narration

Storytelling from the perspective of a single character using 'I', creating intimate viewpoint.

Dual narrative voices

A narrative structure presenting two different characters' perspectives within one story.

Diary entry

A character's journal-style writing used to reveal thoughts, feelings, and personal reactions.

Violence content warning

A caution about depictions of violence, coercive control, abuse, sexual violence, or torture in a text.

Subplot

A secondary storyline running parallel to the main plot, often involving different characters.

Setting: 1989 Romania

The time and place of the story—the late-1980s Romanian regime under Ceaușescu.

Oppression

Systematic cruelty or unjust control by the state over people and communities.

Injustice

Unfair treatment under a regime, denying basic rights or freedoms.

Revolution

A fundamental political change often achieved through uprising against an oppressive regime.

Propaganda

State-produced messaging designed to influence opinions and maintain control.

Censorship

The suppression or banning of speech, information, or art by the state.

Cristian

Protagonist/narrator in You Betray Must I; a teen navigating fear, loyalty, and moral choices.

Liliana

Cristian's mother in the novel; a central figure whose actions shape the family story.

Romania 1989

The historical context of the novel; the year of the Romanian Revolution and Ceaușescu's fall.