Salt to the Sea
Heartbreaking WWII novel shows power of hope, connection.
Parents say
Based on 7 reviews
Kids say
Based on 29 reviews
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Salt to the Sea is award-winning author Ruta Sepetys' (Out of the Easy) stirring historical novel set during World War II about a little-known maritime disaster: the 1945 sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff, a German ship filled mostly with civilians trying to escape the advancing Russian (or Red) Army. The author doesn't shy away from the horrors people faced during the war, such as references to the fact the army routinely raped (the word itself isn't used, but it's obvious) women in the countries they were occupying. People are shot at, drown, and die of injuries and sickness. Although there are only a few kisses, there's a teen pregnancy in the story. Readers will learn a great deal about aspects of WWII that aren't as frequently discussed, such as the Red Army advancing, what happened to ethnic Germans in the Baltic States, and the circumstances surrounding this wartime tragedy.
Community Reviews
Action-packed & emotion-filled historical fiction
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Violent, but good
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What's the Story?
Ruta Sepetys' historical novel 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 with only three books, 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 each other. Once again, Sepetys 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, set in 1941 in a Siberian forced-larbor 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 of them 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?
Book Details
- Author: Ruta Sepetys
- Genre: History
- Topics: Friendship, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models, History
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Philomel
- Publication date: February 2, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 18
- Number of pages: 400
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 13, 2017
Our Editors Recommend
-
Between Shades of Gray
Harrowing, moving account of life in Stalin's labor camps.
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The Book Thief
Powerful, moving tale of book-loving girl in Nazi Germany.
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Out of the Easy
Well-told story of sex worker's daughter; for mature teens.
For kids who love history and World War II stories
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