Salt to the Sea

Salt to the Sea

Bibliography

Sepetys, Ruta. 2016. SALT TO THE SEA. New York, NY: Philomel Books. ISBN 9780399160301

Plot Summary

During the winter of 1945 during World War II, the lives of four young teenagers intertwine, with the culmination being on the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that was the setting of one of the greatest maritime tragedies. Each teen grapples with their own ghosts and looks for love and hope during this dark period in history.

Critical Analysis

Ruta Sepetrys's  book, Salt to the Sea, is a wonderful and heartbreaking work of historical fiction, tackling a World War II event that very few people know about, one that was almost kept hidden. 

The heart of this book is its main characters, Joana, Florian, Emilia, and Alfred, four teenagers whose outlooks on the war and their struggles differentiate in many ways. Each character has a unique personality, facets of themselves that Sepetrys lays bare. Their emotions pour from the pages with the help of the author's artful storytelling and grasp of language. The characters each face a different struggle, and these struggles begin to mesh together with one another, which all leads up to a very dramatic climax. Despite the constantly shifting perspectives, the readers don't lose sight of the character's goals or their hopes and dreams. The stories can be followed easily, which proves that Ruta Sepetrys is a master at her craft.

The history behind these true events is sorrowful and harrowing, but Sepetry takes it on and creates a poignant and unforgettable story that readers will continue to think about long after they put the book down. 

Review Excerpts

2017 Carnegie Medal

School Library Journal Starred: "Artfully told and sensitively crafted, Sepetys's exploration of this little-known piece of history will leave readers weeping."

Publishers Weekly Starred: "Sepetys excels in shining light on lost chapters of history, and this visceral novel proves a memorable testament to strength and resilience in the face of war and cruelty."

Connections

More by Ruta Sepetrys: Between Shades of Gray

                                       Out of the Easy

                                      The Fountain of Silence

                                      I Must Betray You

If You Liked Salt to the Sea: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

                                              The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

                                              Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Activity: Write a jounral entry from the point of view of one of the characters.