Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Heartbreaking WWII novel shows power of hope, connection.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
Based on 40 kid reviews
Kids say this book is a powerful and emotionally gripping read that delves into the harrowing experiences of refugees during WWII, showcasing the brutality of war through multiple perspectives. While praised for its beautiful writing and depth, many reviews caution that the mature themes, including graphic violence and sexual abuse, make it more suitable for older teens rather than younger readers.
- emotional depth
- mature themes
- graphic content
- powerful writing
- recommended for teens
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
SALT TO THE SEA follows four young adults harboring deep secrets. Their fates intertwine the winter of 1945 on the German ship the Wilhelm Gustloff, filled five times over capacity with mostly civilians as it attempts to flee the advancing Red Army on the Baltic Sea. Aryan-looking Lithuanian nurse Joana is around 21 and leads a motley group of refugees on foot; Polish 15-year-old Emilia only wants to stay away from the prying eyes of predatory soldiers; Prussian 19-year-old Florian is an art student and forger with a dangerous mission; and Alfred is the outlier, a young German soldier working on the Wilhelm Gustloff. After Florian saves Emilia's life, the two encounter Joana's group, and through a series of close calls and desperate situations they end up traveling together, protecting one another, and hoping the Wilhelm Gustloff will save them from the evils of the Russian Army, whose cruelty rivaled that of the Nazis.
Is It Any Good?
This powerful, gorgeously written exploration of a little-known WWII tragedy proves why Ruta Sepetys has emerged as a preeminent historical novelist in young adult literature. Salt to the Sea, which includes meticulously detailed author's notes, maps, and research and sources, is an ideal blend of historical facts, riveting drama, compelling characters, and suspense. Similar to when you watch Titanic for the first time, you know the ship is doomed but not exactly how the fictional characters will fare within that tragedy. In Joana, Emilia, and Florian, Sepetys has created three diverse characters who ultimately bond and care for one another. Sepetys also adds touches of humor and romance to her history, and it works beautifully.
This is a book parents should read with their teens and recommend to school media specialists and English teachers. It has so much to offer teen and adult readers, and it's a perfect companion novel to Sepetys' Between Shades of Gray, which is set in 1941 at a Siberian forced-labor camp. In fact, those who've read that novel will recognize one of the main characters in Salt to the Sea. By focusing on aspects of WWII that are less saturated in historical fiction, Sepetys provides readers with a way to connect to the day-to-day battle civilians had to fight on all sides. This is a story of humanity in the face of unthinkable horror, of love blossoming in the midst of hatred, of kindness turning strangers into family. Read it, talk about it, and treasure that authors like Sepetys have chosen to write specifically for young adult readers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the horrors of war as depicted in Salt to the Sea. Is the violence necessary to tell the story? If so, why? Is historically accurate violence different from completely fictional violence?
Salt to the Sea is written in four perspectives, three from sympathetic characters and one from an unsympathetic character. Why do you think the author chose to include Alfred's point of view? What does his perspective show about Nazi ideology and rule?
Why do you think the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff isn't widely known or memorialized? Is it because it was a German ship and some of the passengers were Nazi party officers or members? Does the book make you want to learn more about the tragedy or WWII stories in general?
How do characters demonstrate compassion toward one another? How do they summon the courage to help each other and the perseverance to keep going throughout their difficult journey?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : History
- Topics : Friendship , History
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Philomel
- Publication date : February 2, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 18
- Number of pages : 400
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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