Publication
Penguin Books (2017), 448 pages
Description
"As World War II draws to a close, refugees try to escape the war's final dangers, only to find themselves aboard a ship with a target on its hull"--
Similar in this library
Media reviews
Four out of five stars. I enjoyed most of this book. However some parts seemed unnecessary and a little slow but over all it was a nice quick read that kept me interested. I wish that there was more to the ending, it was a bit difficult to understand and I re-read it twice just to make sure I got
Show More
the message on who Florian was reading the letter from. I thought it was a great YA read with nice use of language and context. Alfred was annoying, and after reading a few of his chapters it was refreshing to know that even the other soldiers thought so too. Sepetys really did a great job developing the characters, making you love some of them, feel sorry for some, feel sad for some and be annoyed with some. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member EBT1002
Florian, Joana, and Emilia are refugees from East Prussia, Lithuania, and Poland, respectively, struggling to make their way to the Baltic port of Gotenhafen in hopes of securing passage to safety on the ship, Wilhelm Gustloff. The novel's context is Operation Hannibal, a huge sea evacuation effort
The novel is told from several first-person points of view. Florian is a disillusioned art restorer with a strong need to redeem himself. Joana is a nurse, driven to help any injured person whenever possible. Emilia is pregnant and alone, terrified that her Polish identity will ultimately lead to her destruction. Each of them carries a secret. And each of them illuminates an aspect of human compassion and hope. In contrast, Alfred is a German sailor whose unflinching loyalty to Hitler is buoyed by his deep longing to be seen and appreciated. With a history of being ridiculed and ostracized, he tells his story through a series of letters to a sweetheart back home, letters we learn early on are never written much less mailed. But his internal dialogue with the girl he loved provides an interesting variation on the first-person narrative.
There are a few harrowing scenes in this story; Operation Hannibal was not an unmitigated success. But the stories of our little band of refugees are compelling and engaging. I stayed up quite late on the last night of May to finish reading it. This was a delightful way to learn about this small slice of WWII history.
Show More
to take refugees to safety as the Russians advanced westward during the waning months of World War II. The stories of these three characters and the friends they make along the way provide the deeply human element of a WWII chapter that has largely fallen into obscurity. Their longing for home, for safety, and their ability to love and laugh even in the midst of numbingly cold weather, pervasive terror, and desperate hunger brings home the indomitable human spirit. The novel is told from several first-person points of view. Florian is a disillusioned art restorer with a strong need to redeem himself. Joana is a nurse, driven to help any injured person whenever possible. Emilia is pregnant and alone, terrified that her Polish identity will ultimately lead to her destruction. Each of them carries a secret. And each of them illuminates an aspect of human compassion and hope. In contrast, Alfred is a German sailor whose unflinching loyalty to Hitler is buoyed by his deep longing to be seen and appreciated. With a history of being ridiculed and ostracized, he tells his story through a series of letters to a sweetheart back home, letters we learn early on are never written much less mailed. But his internal dialogue with the girl he loved provides an interesting variation on the first-person narrative.
There are a few harrowing scenes in this story; Operation Hannibal was not an unmitigated success. But the stories of our little band of refugees are compelling and engaging. I stayed up quite late on the last night of May to finish reading it. This was a delightful way to learn about this small slice of WWII history.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jnwelch
This is an excellent novel set during WWII. It centers around three teenagers who, along with others, are trying to escape war-torn East Prussia in 1945. Joana is a generous-spirited Lithuanian nurse, a critical skill for those fleeing; reluctant-to-give-his-name Florian is a mysterious Prussian
The chapters are short, and the pages move fast. It all feels as if it could easily be real - and it is indeed based on extensive research and interviews by the author, as discussed in her afterword. The ship they all seek to board to get away is a real one, the Wilhelm Gustlof, and its little-known real life destiny is dramatic. Harrowing images of danger and loss are leavened by the growing bonds of those traveling together, including a key romantic one. Sepetys has given a moving tribute to those often forgotten victims of wars, people who have no stake in the conflict and hope only to survive and find some place safe.
Show More
who is on a personal mission that aligns with those fleeing; and Emilia, saved by Florian from a predatory soldier, is a damaged but determined Polish girl with her own secret. Their stories are interspersed with that of the insufferably self-centered Alfred, a late-developed Hitler youth, devoted to the Fuhrer, who unwittingly assists their flight. The "liberating" Russians are even more dangerous than the still hopeful German soldiers, and we get to see multitudes of people suffering from the clash of powers. Many others join the teenagers in the sustained flight, including the beloved "shoe poet", a cobbler who gets insights into others based on their footwear, and giant stubborn Eva who has disdain for everyone except the nurse Joana.The chapters are short, and the pages move fast. It all feels as if it could easily be real - and it is indeed based on extensive research and interviews by the author, as discussed in her afterword. The ship they all seek to board to get away is a real one, the Wilhelm Gustlof, and its little-known real life destiny is dramatic. Harrowing images of danger and loss are leavened by the growing bonds of those traveling together, including a key romantic one. Sepetys has given a moving tribute to those often forgotten victims of wars, people who have no stake in the conflict and hope only to survive and find some place safe.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mamzel
Ruta Sepetys writes the best historical fiction I have read in a long time. Maybe ever. I was lucky to read an ARC of this book.
At the end of WWII, evacuations were organized to escape Germany ahead of the Russian Army. People who had managed to survive fled to the port of Gotenhafen. The reader
All of these characters wind up on the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship designed to take regular people on pleasure trips but now turned into a means of escape. It is estimated that 10,000 people were aboard when she set sail. With 12 lifeboats and a few liferafts. In January. In the Baltic.
Waiting for these ships were Russian subs. Regardless of the fact that the vast majority of people aboard were civilians, they launched three torpedoes and sank the ship. The Germans never made the sinkings public. Four ships and 25,000 people were lost during Operation Hannibal. Many more, however, did make it out of Germany.
I highly recommend this very readable book to readers who enjoy history and action, and even a little romance.
At the end of WWII, evacuations were organized to escape Germany ahead of the Russian Army. People who had managed to survive fled to the port of Gotenhafen. The reader
Show More
meets and follows a disparate group as they make their way to the port. Joana is a 21-year old nurse, the rock of the group. Florian is a young art historian/forger who avoided military service and found himself part of the Nazi raid on art objects. Emilia is only 15, pregnant, and Polish. There is also a cobbler who can size a person up by their shoes and his little wandering boy who was picked up along the way. Finally there is Alfred, finally able to serve his country even though he is young and has severe skin problems on his hands. He creates letters to a girl named Hannelore, which are never mailed but show he is passionate and fully dedicated to the Fuhrer.All of these characters wind up on the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship designed to take regular people on pleasure trips but now turned into a means of escape. It is estimated that 10,000 people were aboard when she set sail. With 12 lifeboats and a few liferafts. In January. In the Baltic.
Waiting for these ships were Russian subs. Regardless of the fact that the vast majority of people aboard were civilians, they launched three torpedoes and sank the ship. The Germans never made the sinkings public. Four ships and 25,000 people were lost during Operation Hannibal. Many more, however, did make it out of Germany.
I highly recommend this very readable book to readers who enjoy history and action, and even a little romance.
Show Less
LibraryThing member scatlett
Absolutely fantastic. Written from the points of view of four teens who are desperately trying to escape from the advancing Soviet troops in the Winter of 1945, Ruta Sepetys's portrayal of the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff and the loss of over 9,000 lives is heartwrenching, particularly as over
Show More
half the casualties were children. A must read. Show Less
LibraryThing member wildrequiem
It's sad and crazy how, no matter how many books I've read on the wars of the 20th century, there are still so many events that have just disappeared under the radar. And every single one of these events carry the hopes and dreams of the individuals that disappeared with them.
I'm grateful that the
I'm grateful that the
Show More
author has written on one of these events — although I honestly didn't connect with the characters all that much. In the end, I didn't really understand the purpose that Alfred served to the story at all. This didn't hit me the way many other children's WW2 books did. But then again, maybe it's because I'm old and jaded now. Still, this is an important novel to have in the realm of young adult lit. Show Less
LibraryThing member Lisa2013
I’ve read a lot of WWII and Holocaust literature, fiction and non-fiction, but until I first learned about this book, I’d never heard of this tragedy. I’m so grateful to know about it now. It’s an important story because the real event needs to be remembered. I added ½ star to my rating
For a long time into the book if someone went in blind about the book’s subject (I did know which is why I wanted to read the book) and not knowing the specific history (I actually hadn’t known) they wouldn’t know exactly what was coming.
I love maps in books and I really appreciated the two maps in this book. The one at the front of the book shows what the area looked like in 1945 and the one at the end of the book shows today’s boundaries. It’s helpful to see how the countries’ boundaries have changed over time.
The story is told by 4 narrators, all teenagers. It works. Each chapter title is the name of the person narrating. For a while I had to look at the top of the chapter I was in to make sure who was talking, but after about 1/6 the book, I knew and could recognize who they were by what they were saying, though I’m not sure they had quite as distinctive voices as what I’d have liked. The chapters are extremely short, averaging 1 to 3 pages. The story flowed well though, with good pacing, and did not seem choppy to me. When I wanted to get back to a character I never had long to wait.
One thing I appreciated about the short chapters was that even when I had only a few minutes to read, I could almost always fit in another chapter or two.
I was so impressed with how the war and refugee experiences were captured, all along the way. It always amazes me what some people will go through to survive.
The book is obviously well researched. I admired the amount of work that the author put into it, made apparent by the author’s note and the research and sources section included in the back of the book. The story inspired me to do some research of my own because I got so curious, but I forced myself to avoid finding out information that might be spoilers regarding what happened to the main characters. I did a bit more research after I finished the book.
I did cry a few times toward the end of the story, though I loved the way the story ended. It’s both a sad and uplifting story, and it has some worthy heroes/heroines and some genuine villains, including one particularly creepy one. I’ll remember many of these people, those who survived and those who didn’t.
I love this author. I can tell I’d like her as a person. I’ve had another of her her books on my to read shelf, long before I knew of this book, and I’m excited that I have plans to read it with a buddy later this year.
Beautifully written. One quote I particularly loved: “Mother was anchor. Mother was comfort. Mother was home. A girl who lost her mother was suddenly a tiny boat on an angry ocean. Some boats eventually floated ashore. And some boats, like me, seemed to float farther and farther from land.”
Show More
because this is the story that brought the event to light for me, as I suspect it will do for many others. It also deserves the half star because it’s a well written and interesting story with memorable characters. For a long time into the book if someone went in blind about the book’s subject (I did know which is why I wanted to read the book) and not knowing the specific history (I actually hadn’t known) they wouldn’t know exactly what was coming.
I love maps in books and I really appreciated the two maps in this book. The one at the front of the book shows what the area looked like in 1945 and the one at the end of the book shows today’s boundaries. It’s helpful to see how the countries’ boundaries have changed over time.
The story is told by 4 narrators, all teenagers. It works. Each chapter title is the name of the person narrating. For a while I had to look at the top of the chapter I was in to make sure who was talking, but after about 1/6 the book, I knew and could recognize who they were by what they were saying, though I’m not sure they had quite as distinctive voices as what I’d have liked. The chapters are extremely short, averaging 1 to 3 pages. The story flowed well though, with good pacing, and did not seem choppy to me. When I wanted to get back to a character I never had long to wait.
One thing I appreciated about the short chapters was that even when I had only a few minutes to read, I could almost always fit in another chapter or two.
I was so impressed with how the war and refugee experiences were captured, all along the way. It always amazes me what some people will go through to survive.
The book is obviously well researched. I admired the amount of work that the author put into it, made apparent by the author’s note and the research and sources section included in the back of the book. The story inspired me to do some research of my own because I got so curious, but I forced myself to avoid finding out information that might be spoilers regarding what happened to the main characters. I did a bit more research after I finished the book.
I did cry a few times toward the end of the story, though I loved the way the story ended. It’s both a sad and uplifting story, and it has some worthy heroes/heroines and some genuine villains, including one particularly creepy one. I’ll remember many of these people, those who survived and those who didn’t.
I love this author. I can tell I’d like her as a person. I’ve had another of her her books on my to read shelf, long before I knew of this book, and I’m excited that I have plans to read it with a buddy later this year.
Beautifully written. One quote I particularly loved: “Mother was anchor. Mother was comfort. Mother was home. A girl who lost her mother was suddenly a tiny boat on an angry ocean. Some boats eventually floated ashore. And some boats, like me, seemed to float farther and farther from land.”
Show Less
LibraryThing member ChristianR
Harrowing WWII story, told in four different voices, of people in Germany fleeing as the Russians were advancing at the end of the war. The four narrators all board the Wilhelm Gustloff ship to be transported, but were torpedoed by the Russians in a maritime disaster that has been largely forgotten
Show More
by history. Over 7,000 people died. The narrators are German, Polish, Lithuanian and Prussian, each with his or her own secrets and tragic backgrounds. Show Less
LibraryThing member ReadersCandyb
Salt to the Sea brought focus to an historic event that deserves the attention of every person in the world. On January 30, 1945, 9,400 lives were taken when their ship to "freedom" was struck by torpedoes and sunk. That is the most human loss in a single ship sinking in history; So why haven't we
Their were four main characters...
Joana, the nurse.
Emilia, the pregnant polish girl.
Florian, the mysterious boy with an important mission.
& Alfred, the psychopath sailor that I honestly didn't care for.
Their lives overlap when they seek out on their personal missions... Emilia encounters Florian and looks to him as a hero. She feels he is vital to her survival so she follows him and forces her presence in his life. When they come across a group of refugees they aren't sure who to trust, but quickly take an interest in the leader Joana. For she is the glue to the group... She mends their wounds. gives encouragement, and shows care when it is needed most. The group consists of a wandering boy, a knowledgeable shoe maker, a whiny giantess, and a blind woman. They each have a brutal story, but have chosen to come together in hopes of finding the happy ending they all crave. Through heart ache and sickness they make their way to the boat that suggests freedom. No one could guess that their fates lie within a steel prison, but it does and quickly, that prison turns into their death sentence.
This book was epic. I couldn't turn the pages quick enough. I became emotionally invested in the characters and took each word to heart. The writing was exquisite and I was a huge fan of the short chapters that punched a lot of impact. After each character's part I was anxious for another chapter. It really pulled me into the story and left me begging for more. The desperation in the story was one for the books. The emotion seeped from the pages and romance hid deep within the paragraphs. The lies flowed freely and the brutal reality slowly crept in. I don't think I've ever encountered a more well rounded book... It's definitely a top read for 2016. Everyone MUST read it!
*Even if you don't like history I think you will still enjoy this book. There was a romance that was quite contagious. I loved rooting for their happily ever after.*
Show More
heard of it before? Why has this important piece of history been wrapped in darkness for so long? I'm not sure, but Ruta Sepeteys brought light to the event with her intricate poetic words and did it the justice it deserved. When I think of this Author I think of what a mastermind she is at bringing history into our lives and making it the present. She weaves epic moments of tragedy and uses words to teach us things we ought to know. Her stories are so potent that sometimes I feel they will swallow me up whole. This book was no different... It was a gut wrenching story of war struggles, history, hope, death, desperation, and love. Their were four main characters...
Joana, the nurse.
Emilia, the pregnant polish girl.
Florian, the mysterious boy with an important mission.
& Alfred, the psychopath sailor that I honestly didn't care for.
Their lives overlap when they seek out on their personal missions... Emilia encounters Florian and looks to him as a hero. She feels he is vital to her survival so she follows him and forces her presence in his life. When they come across a group of refugees they aren't sure who to trust, but quickly take an interest in the leader Joana. For she is the glue to the group... She mends their wounds. gives encouragement, and shows care when it is needed most. The group consists of a wandering boy, a knowledgeable shoe maker, a whiny giantess, and a blind woman. They each have a brutal story, but have chosen to come together in hopes of finding the happy ending they all crave. Through heart ache and sickness they make their way to the boat that suggests freedom. No one could guess that their fates lie within a steel prison, but it does and quickly, that prison turns into their death sentence.
This book was epic. I couldn't turn the pages quick enough. I became emotionally invested in the characters and took each word to heart. The writing was exquisite and I was a huge fan of the short chapters that punched a lot of impact. After each character's part I was anxious for another chapter. It really pulled me into the story and left me begging for more. The desperation in the story was one for the books. The emotion seeped from the pages and romance hid deep within the paragraphs. The lies flowed freely and the brutal reality slowly crept in. I don't think I've ever encountered a more well rounded book... It's definitely a top read for 2016. Everyone MUST read it!
*Even if you don't like history I think you will still enjoy this book. There was a romance that was quite contagious. I loved rooting for their happily ever after.*
Show Less
LibraryThing member almin
Writing style was unusual, very short chapters told from four different characters point of view. I thought the stories were contrived and the characters's hidden secrets, when revealed, were weak, except for Emelia's story, which had some depth. The subject was interesting, but not enough
Show More
historical background and information were included to know what actually happened when the ship was sunk or why it was torpedoed and why it was never a well known tragedy of the war. Three stars because it does make me want to research this unknown part of the war further. Show Less
LibraryThing member ohsillytwigg
At this point Ruta could publish her grocery list and I'd fight for an ARC.
She excels at exploring points of history that are not commonly taught or explored in YA fiction. I learned about the Holocaust and WWII at multiple times in my education (like most American students), but I can't remember
Ruta has a gift of remembering, celebrating, and memorializing stories that have been lost or forgotten.
She excels at exploring points of history that are not commonly taught or explored in YA fiction. I learned about the Holocaust and WWII at multiple times in my education (like most American students), but I can't remember
Show More
the Wilhelm Gustloff ever being discussed. Ruta has a gift of remembering, celebrating, and memorializing stories that have been lost or forgotten.
Show Less
LibraryThing member foggidawn
Salt to the Sea is a companion to the author's earlier work, Between Shades of Gray. It follows Lina's cousin Joana, who faces her own harrowing journey through the turmoil of war. Joana is traveling with a group of refugees, desperately fleeing East Prussia as Soviet soldiers close in. Each member
This story is just as harrowing and gripping as its companion work, and through it I learned about a massive tragedy with which I was unfamiliar. Just when you think you've heard about all of the horrors of World War II... Despite the occasionally grim details, I highly recommend this book, especially to fans of historical fiction.
Show More
of the group carries his or her own secrets, some of which could be deadly in the wrong hands. And not all of them will survive the journey...This story is just as harrowing and gripping as its companion work, and through it I learned about a massive tragedy with which I was unfamiliar. Just when you think you've heard about all of the horrors of World War II... Despite the occasionally grim details, I highly recommend this book, especially to fans of historical fiction.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Beammey
This book is freaking amazing. I love Ms. Sepetys style of writing and how she draws you in from the very first chapter, I love how this book tied in with Between Shades of Grey, I loved all the all the characters. I literally laughed and cried reading this book and it's so heart wrenching because
Show More
this actually happened, even if the characters were fictional. Such a great, great book. I would recommend it. Easily 5 out of 5 stars. Show Less
LibraryThing member Itzey
One of my father’s cousins said, "Ruta, you love hidden history. You love historical secrets. I have a story for you." And she said those two words: "Wilhelm Gustloff… I had passage on that ship."
The day of the voyage, fate intervened and my father’s cousin did not get on that Wilhelm
Salt to the Sea brings to life a virtually unknown true maritime tragedy in Eastern Prussia in 1945 during the waning years of World War II. The sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff still is the world's deadliest maritime disaster exceeding the loss of life on the better known Titanic and Lusitania combined.
The deaths of these 10,000 passengers is made even more gut-wrenching as we learn through Sepetys' fictionalized account that the majority of those on board were political refugees seeking refuge and hope for a better life. Over 5000 were children.
Sepetys, a daughter of a Lithuanian refugee, compelled by her own heritage, has crafted this poignant story of four teenagers caught up in the horrors of this war. Joana, one of hordes of fleeing Lithuanians, lives in fear of discovery by the Germans and shot as a deserter. Florian, enigmatic and discreet, hides from both the Soviets and Germans. Emilia, harboring a deep secret, is a young Polish girl squeezed between the invading Soviets and the unraveling Germans. Alfred, a Nazi seaman, is a social misfit with delusions of grandeur serving aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff.
Through these four disparate voices we experience what life must have been like as the war headed toward its inevitable conclusion. Through these young voices your own senses are assaulted by the inhumanity and the overwhelming helplessness. Yet in the depths of the deepest despair we are shown that the embers of hope, love and family cannot be extinguished.
This is not an easy read but a necessary read. With the notoriety of the horrific gas chambers and the beaches and towns of Western Europe, this book puts the lens on Eastern Europe. Written for a young adult audience, this book will appeal to adults as well.
The day of the voyage, fate intervened and my father’s cousin did not get on that Wilhelm
Show More
Gustloff. And as a result, she survived. Ruta Sepetys, author. Interview with mashable.com on January 24, 2016.Salt to the Sea brings to life a virtually unknown true maritime tragedy in Eastern Prussia in 1945 during the waning years of World War II. The sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff still is the world's deadliest maritime disaster exceeding the loss of life on the better known Titanic and Lusitania combined.
The deaths of these 10,000 passengers is made even more gut-wrenching as we learn through Sepetys' fictionalized account that the majority of those on board were political refugees seeking refuge and hope for a better life. Over 5000 were children.
Sepetys, a daughter of a Lithuanian refugee, compelled by her own heritage, has crafted this poignant story of four teenagers caught up in the horrors of this war. Joana, one of hordes of fleeing Lithuanians, lives in fear of discovery by the Germans and shot as a deserter. Florian, enigmatic and discreet, hides from both the Soviets and Germans. Emilia, harboring a deep secret, is a young Polish girl squeezed between the invading Soviets and the unraveling Germans. Alfred, a Nazi seaman, is a social misfit with delusions of grandeur serving aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff.
Through these four disparate voices we experience what life must have been like as the war headed toward its inevitable conclusion. Through these young voices your own senses are assaulted by the inhumanity and the overwhelming helplessness. Yet in the depths of the deepest despair we are shown that the embers of hope, love and family cannot be extinguished.
This is not an easy read but a necessary read. With the notoriety of the horrific gas chambers and the beaches and towns of Western Europe, this book puts the lens on Eastern Europe. Written for a young adult audience, this book will appeal to adults as well.
Show Less
LibraryThing member acargile
I have read most if not all of Ruta’s books. I think she does a magnificent job of mixing history and fiction. Once again, you will learn a great deal about an unknown event in history.
This story takes place as the Russians are closing in on the Nazis in 1945. Several refugees in East Prussia are
As these characters eventually meet up, there’s danger around every corner. Can they outpace the Russians? Can they get on the few ships that are taking refugees to safety? Can they survive other desperate people? Their stories are based on true events and will find you fascinated to learn about a time in history at the end of World War II where one of the greatest tragedies in history occurred. This will be published in February of 2016. Even though I’m not terribly fond of historical fiction, I have found several novels that I love. If you liked Book Thief, Between Shades of Gray, or All the Light We Cannot See, you’ll like this one as well. I recommend you read this novel.
This story takes place as the Russians are closing in on the Nazis in 1945. Several refugees in East Prussia are
Show More
desperately trying to escape. Joana is really the main character although the chapters alternate between several characters. Joana is plagued by guilt and is from Lithuania. She’s a nurse who helps everyone she encounters and has a strength to be courageous in order to provide care to those injured. She collects a little boy whose grandmother didn’t wake up after a cold night as they were walking away from the Russians in their escape. Florian is a Prussian who is escaping from working for some of the highest commanders of the German command after discovering a truth. He’s on a tight time limit hoping they haven’t discovered that he has left. Emilia feels shame for her past but seems to see the truth in people. Her kindness and gentleness must be protected by the others. Alfred is ruled by fear and has an elevated opinion of himself as he works for the Germans to get ships ready to take on refugees. Other characters including a blind girl and a shoemaker join these four characters to make a captivating and page-turning story.As these characters eventually meet up, there’s danger around every corner. Can they outpace the Russians? Can they get on the few ships that are taking refugees to safety? Can they survive other desperate people? Their stories are based on true events and will find you fascinated to learn about a time in history at the end of World War II where one of the greatest tragedies in history occurred. This will be published in February of 2016. Even though I’m not terribly fond of historical fiction, I have found several novels that I love. If you liked Book Thief, Between Shades of Gray, or All the Light We Cannot See, you’ll like this one as well. I recommend you read this novel.
Show Less
LibraryThing member beckyhaase
SALT TO THE SEA by Ruta Sepetys
Although a young adult novel, this tale of the end of World War II and the refugee ship Wilhelm Gustloff will also appeal to all who like historical fiction. Sepetys knows her subject well and is able to clearly voice each of the teens fleeing the fall of Germany.
A nurse, a possible spy, a pregnant girl, a sailor aboard the doomed ship -- each adds their part as the story races to its conclusion. Sepetys is an excellent writer of atmosphere and character who is able to maintain tension throughout the novel.
Teens will love this book as will their elders. This would be a good book for a mother-daughter book group or any group interested in World War II and historical fiction.
5 of 5 stars
Although a young adult novel, this tale of the end of World War II and the refugee ship Wilhelm Gustloff will also appeal to all who like historical fiction. Sepetys knows her subject well and is able to clearly voice each of the teens fleeing the fall of Germany.
Show More
Each of the four teens tells their own story in alternating chapters, but the result is a devastatingly clear tale of desperation.A nurse, a possible spy, a pregnant girl, a sailor aboard the doomed ship -- each adds their part as the story races to its conclusion. Sepetys is an excellent writer of atmosphere and character who is able to maintain tension throughout the novel.
Teens will love this book as will their elders. This would be a good book for a mother-daughter book group or any group interested in World War II and historical fiction.
5 of 5 stars
Show Less
LibraryThing member Olivermagnus
A friend recently recommended this young adult historical fiction dealing with a true event that happened at the end of World War II, while incorporating historical fiction characters as well as the famous mystery of the still missing Amber Room. Just as the war is drawing to a close thousands of
Each of the narrators carries with him or her a secret that drives them on and told through alternating short chapters. Joana is a young Lithuanian nurse. Emilia is fifteen years old and pregnant. Florian has a secret that was a bit confusing at first, but once you figure it out, is quite fascinating. Eventually they will get to the port and be assigned to a ship by a sailor named Alfred. He is the fourth main character of the story, and you know he's not right. His story is told through bizarre letters sent to a girl back home.
I was amazed that I had never read or even heard about the Wilhelm Gustloff. The author did a huge amount of research, including talking to many survivors of the evacuation, and tells you, in an Author's Note, more about the facts and fiction of her story. Based on real life events, this heartbreaking story of refugees brings to light an enormous, but largely unheard of, tragedy. This is a story about the collateral damage of war and its effects on the women, children and elderly, who suffered hardships imposed by forces beyond their control.
Show More
refugees are on a desperate hike toward freedom, almost all of them with something to hide. Three of them, Joana, Emilia, and Florian, are on their way to the ship that promises salvation. They band together and use their courage and trust in each other to find their way to help. Each of the narrators carries with him or her a secret that drives them on and told through alternating short chapters. Joana is a young Lithuanian nurse. Emilia is fifteen years old and pregnant. Florian has a secret that was a bit confusing at first, but once you figure it out, is quite fascinating. Eventually they will get to the port and be assigned to a ship by a sailor named Alfred. He is the fourth main character of the story, and you know he's not right. His story is told through bizarre letters sent to a girl back home.
I was amazed that I had never read or even heard about the Wilhelm Gustloff. The author did a huge amount of research, including talking to many survivors of the evacuation, and tells you, in an Author's Note, more about the facts and fiction of her story. Based on real life events, this heartbreaking story of refugees brings to light an enormous, but largely unheard of, tragedy. This is a story about the collateral damage of war and its effects on the women, children and elderly, who suffered hardships imposed by forces beyond their control.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Dianekeenoy
This is a YA book of historical fiction about the worst maritime disaster in history. Worse than the Titanic or the Lusitania and I had never heard about it in any of my history classes. It's the winter of 1945 and the Russians are pushing through to the coast of Poland with thousands of refugees
Show More
fleeing in front of them trying to get on a ship to escape the danger. Told from the point of view of four young people from different countries, we can feel their fear and panic as they travel to their future on the Wilheim Gustloff. This ship was designed to hold about 1500 people. There were more than 10,000 people on this ship, at least 5,000 of them children, when it left the port of Gotenhafen, Poland now known as Gdyia. The author, Ruta Sepetys, does an incredible job of taking you through a heart breaking time in history while still infusing the story with hope and the knowledge that there are still good people who put others first. I definitely want to read her earlier books and will be looking for other non-fiction books about the Wilheim Gustloff. Definitely recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member swingdancefan
Oh…where to start? First, all the praise for this book is deserved. It should go on your shelf, next to All the Light We Cannot See, The Nightingales, and Those Who Save Us. I have read all three of those in the past year or so and, like them, this book presents human stories of perseverance
Raise your hand if you’ve heard of the Wilhelm Gustloff tragedy.
Yeah, neither had I.
Sepetys brings her four point-of-view characters together around this incident and uses them to tell of various aspects of the horrors of World War II. For some readers, four POVs might be a bit much, but I appreciated the interweaving of their lives and their narratives. Each is unique, each is special, each adds to the overarching story.
Minor players, too, are well-rounded characters—Ingrid, Eva, the Shoe Poet, all contribute to the story.
Although one of our POV characters could be an antagonist to the others, I would say that the real antagonist is actually war and its inhuman effects. The negative character is, in his way, no less tragic than the others, perhaps even more so.
The writing is beautiful, the story is moving. Stop reading this and go get on the wait list at your library.
Possible Objectionable Material:
It’s war, people. There is death and suffering all around. That includes rape, though it is not describe, we know well that it happened. One character is a bit of a voyeur. Injuries are vividly described.
Who Might Like This Book:
If you enjoyed any of the above mentioned books, definitely read this one. If you like stories of triumph over suffering, give this a try. I’d say the publisher’s recommended age range is appropriate. The narrative style is very accessible, even for a struggling reader. POV characters are both male and female, and I’d say either gender would enjoy this book. Approximate Lexile: 650
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.
Show More
among some of the very worst things humans can do to one another. None of these is an easy book to read; everyone should read them for a stark reminder of what war does to people and why we should avoid it.Raise your hand if you’ve heard of the Wilhelm Gustloff tragedy.
Yeah, neither had I.
Sepetys brings her four point-of-view characters together around this incident and uses them to tell of various aspects of the horrors of World War II. For some readers, four POVs might be a bit much, but I appreciated the interweaving of their lives and their narratives. Each is unique, each is special, each adds to the overarching story.
Minor players, too, are well-rounded characters—Ingrid, Eva, the Shoe Poet, all contribute to the story.
Although one of our POV characters could be an antagonist to the others, I would say that the real antagonist is actually war and its inhuman effects. The negative character is, in his way, no less tragic than the others, perhaps even more so.
The writing is beautiful, the story is moving. Stop reading this and go get on the wait list at your library.
Possible Objectionable Material:
It’s war, people. There is death and suffering all around. That includes rape, though it is not describe, we know well that it happened. One character is a bit of a voyeur. Injuries are vividly described.
Who Might Like This Book:
If you enjoyed any of the above mentioned books, definitely read this one. If you like stories of triumph over suffering, give this a try. I’d say the publisher’s recommended age range is appropriate. The narrative style is very accessible, even for a struggling reader. POV characters are both male and female, and I’d say either gender would enjoy this book. Approximate Lexile: 650
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.
Show Less
LibraryThing member thewanderingjew
Salt to the Sea, Ruta Sepetys, author; Jorjeana Marie (Reader), Will Damron (Reader), Cassandra Morris (Reader), Michael Crouch (Reader)
The author gears her books to young adults between the ages of 12-17, but they are so well written about such interesting, often little known subjects that they
The book takes place in 1945, very near the end of World War II. Hitler is retreating in the face of several defeats and a crushing Russian advance across the territories he controls. The book only covers a few months of that year, but it takes the reader far into the future, into 1969, when it ends, so the loose ends of the story can be resolved. This is historic fiction. The events surrounding the tale are real. The characters are not, but they are used to expertly illustrate the tragedies of that time period. Each character had a major turning point to awaken them from their stupor, from their mindless obedience to the madman and in some cases to their own insanity and obedience which was reinforced by their fear. The book tells the story of the war, but not from the more common side that is usually told, about the Jewish genocide. Rather it illustrates the plight of those under Hitler’s oppressive rule who were simply citizens of the countries that aligned themselves with him or were invaded by his forces successfully. Some welcomed and supported him. Some did not. The book lends insight into what made a supporter and what made a resister and what made a bystander who merely accepted the situation without supporting or rejecting it.
As the story develops, the reader is introduced to a ragtag group of travelers, of assorted ages, backgrounds and personalities. They are all trying to escape, all trying to reach a ship that will take them out of the path of the marauding Russians and Germans who have been laying waste to the lands they conquered and the people they encountered. Their trek and their voyage would be fraught with danger. At first, all of the characters had nicknames, but as the time passed, their identities became clearer. The nurse girl became Joana. The knight or thief as he was called, became Florian. The blind girl became Ingrid and the shoe poet, became Heinz. The wandering boy was Klaus. The Polish girl was Emilia. These characters were basically good. Then there was Alfred, the German sailor and Sorry Eva, the Viking. The author did a very good job developing these characters and illustrating just what made each of them tick.
Florian, a Prussian, had been an art restorer apprenticed to a German officer, Dr. Lange. He discovered that Dr. Lange was actually a monster who was stealing art and intending to betray him. Joana was a very compassionate nurse from Lithuania who had assisted a surgeon and made good use of her medical training. Ingrid had been separated from her aunt on a train platform. Then, helpless, when her aunt did not return, she was robbed of her luggage and ignored. She was now being cared for by the kind and thoughtful Joana. Klaus was a 6 year old little orphan boy who wandered out of the woods after his grandmother died, and he joined their troupe. Emilia was a 15 year old Polish girl traveling alone. She had escaped from the farm where she had been left by her father who believed that she would be safer there. However, that proved to be untrue. Alfred was a weak-minded German boy-soldier who followed Hitler to the letter. He had always been bullied and now found sanctuary in his delusions of grandeur. He pretended to write letters about his heroism, fighting for his Fuhrer, to a neighbor girl he had been very fond of who had spurned him. Her name was HanneLore, and she had good reason. Eva was rude and selfish. She thought of herself as superior and more important than the others. She was a big woman who did not want to allow anyone but Germans into their group. She worried only about her own safety and did not concern herself with the hardship of others. Heinz was my favorite character. He was a simple, kind-hearted shoemaker who kept the little group together with his good and calm counsel. He had found new meaning in his life as his love for little Klaus grew. Each of these characters harbored a secret.
This is an important book because it showed that those not directly persecuted by Hitler also had something to fear. It showed the sensitive, human side of these people. They too, suffered. All of the characters were haunted by their own personal fear, guilt, shame, hate and often their memories. Did they deserve to endure the hardships their apathy helped to create? Were Germany’s and Russia’s soldiers only doing their duty when they behaved with brutal cruelty? Could any of them really have been ignorant about what was happening to the victims of the war? Where did they think the millions of people simply disappeared to without their belongings and their treasured possessions? Why did they plunder the victims homes? Were these people, who were perhaps merely followers, actually guilty also of crimes against humanity? Did they have any other choice but to follow their occupiers or their leaders?
In the name of the Motherland, the Soviets were barbaric and in the name of the Fatherland, the Germans were blind brutes committing even more savage and horrific acts. War is ugly and so are the spoils of war. Young girls and women were raped and tortured, villages were plundered, homes were burnt to the ground, supplies were stolen, and the people were left to freeze, starve, suffer and die. They were forced to make impossible choices, to save one child and sacrifice another. Yet, the man they followed, Hitler, had done the same and more to his innocent conquests, victims who had done nothing. Fate had simply been unkind to some who were born with a disability or who were homosexual or emotionally disturbed. Others were simply members of a religion he rejected and a genetic structure he found inferior to his own.
There are so many untold stories about the war years and this is an important one. Thousands of innocent civilians were killed trying to escape the terror of war on land and on the high seas. It is easy to think of them as innocents, but, sometimes, I still wonder about them. If they were complicit by not fighting back against the forces of evil, by turning a blind eye to what was occurring around them, were they truly innocent?
The author gears her books to young adults between the ages of 12-17, but they are so well written about such interesting, often little known subjects that they
Show More
are crossovers into the world of adult books as well. This is a book that is ageless. Although most everyone knows that Hitler was evil and murdered millions, few know about the lives of those that were forced to live under his rule, or the lives of the type of human being that could be persuaded to help and support him. Few view Nazis with kindness or sympathy, but this book puts a human face on those that tried to defy him, those that followed him blindly, those that were kind and tried to help others in spite of the risk to themselves, those that were simply selfish and thought only of themselves, and those that were simply caught in the maelstrom of events of that time. The book takes place in 1945, very near the end of World War II. Hitler is retreating in the face of several defeats and a crushing Russian advance across the territories he controls. The book only covers a few months of that year, but it takes the reader far into the future, into 1969, when it ends, so the loose ends of the story can be resolved. This is historic fiction. The events surrounding the tale are real. The characters are not, but they are used to expertly illustrate the tragedies of that time period. Each character had a major turning point to awaken them from their stupor, from their mindless obedience to the madman and in some cases to their own insanity and obedience which was reinforced by their fear. The book tells the story of the war, but not from the more common side that is usually told, about the Jewish genocide. Rather it illustrates the plight of those under Hitler’s oppressive rule who were simply citizens of the countries that aligned themselves with him or were invaded by his forces successfully. Some welcomed and supported him. Some did not. The book lends insight into what made a supporter and what made a resister and what made a bystander who merely accepted the situation without supporting or rejecting it.
As the story develops, the reader is introduced to a ragtag group of travelers, of assorted ages, backgrounds and personalities. They are all trying to escape, all trying to reach a ship that will take them out of the path of the marauding Russians and Germans who have been laying waste to the lands they conquered and the people they encountered. Their trek and their voyage would be fraught with danger. At first, all of the characters had nicknames, but as the time passed, their identities became clearer. The nurse girl became Joana. The knight or thief as he was called, became Florian. The blind girl became Ingrid and the shoe poet, became Heinz. The wandering boy was Klaus. The Polish girl was Emilia. These characters were basically good. Then there was Alfred, the German sailor and Sorry Eva, the Viking. The author did a very good job developing these characters and illustrating just what made each of them tick.
Florian, a Prussian, had been an art restorer apprenticed to a German officer, Dr. Lange. He discovered that Dr. Lange was actually a monster who was stealing art and intending to betray him. Joana was a very compassionate nurse from Lithuania who had assisted a surgeon and made good use of her medical training. Ingrid had been separated from her aunt on a train platform. Then, helpless, when her aunt did not return, she was robbed of her luggage and ignored. She was now being cared for by the kind and thoughtful Joana. Klaus was a 6 year old little orphan boy who wandered out of the woods after his grandmother died, and he joined their troupe. Emilia was a 15 year old Polish girl traveling alone. She had escaped from the farm where she had been left by her father who believed that she would be safer there. However, that proved to be untrue. Alfred was a weak-minded German boy-soldier who followed Hitler to the letter. He had always been bullied and now found sanctuary in his delusions of grandeur. He pretended to write letters about his heroism, fighting for his Fuhrer, to a neighbor girl he had been very fond of who had spurned him. Her name was HanneLore, and she had good reason. Eva was rude and selfish. She thought of herself as superior and more important than the others. She was a big woman who did not want to allow anyone but Germans into their group. She worried only about her own safety and did not concern herself with the hardship of others. Heinz was my favorite character. He was a simple, kind-hearted shoemaker who kept the little group together with his good and calm counsel. He had found new meaning in his life as his love for little Klaus grew. Each of these characters harbored a secret.
This is an important book because it showed that those not directly persecuted by Hitler also had something to fear. It showed the sensitive, human side of these people. They too, suffered. All of the characters were haunted by their own personal fear, guilt, shame, hate and often their memories. Did they deserve to endure the hardships their apathy helped to create? Were Germany’s and Russia’s soldiers only doing their duty when they behaved with brutal cruelty? Could any of them really have been ignorant about what was happening to the victims of the war? Where did they think the millions of people simply disappeared to without their belongings and their treasured possessions? Why did they plunder the victims homes? Were these people, who were perhaps merely followers, actually guilty also of crimes against humanity? Did they have any other choice but to follow their occupiers or their leaders?
In the name of the Motherland, the Soviets were barbaric and in the name of the Fatherland, the Germans were blind brutes committing even more savage and horrific acts. War is ugly and so are the spoils of war. Young girls and women were raped and tortured, villages were plundered, homes were burnt to the ground, supplies were stolen, and the people were left to freeze, starve, suffer and die. They were forced to make impossible choices, to save one child and sacrifice another. Yet, the man they followed, Hitler, had done the same and more to his innocent conquests, victims who had done nothing. Fate had simply been unkind to some who were born with a disability or who were homosexual or emotionally disturbed. Others were simply members of a religion he rejected and a genetic structure he found inferior to his own.
There are so many untold stories about the war years and this is an important one. Thousands of innocent civilians were killed trying to escape the terror of war on land and on the high seas. It is easy to think of them as innocents, but, sometimes, I still wonder about them. If they were complicit by not fighting back against the forces of evil, by turning a blind eye to what was occurring around them, were they truly innocent?
Show Less
LibraryThing member AlaynaFisher
I did enjoy Salt to the Sea, but I was expecting a lot more.
The subject matter was great, and it was fun to get to learn (a little bit) more about the Wilhelm Gustloff and the evacuations taking place in 1945.
A lot of reviewers seem bothered by the frequent changes in point of view, but that
My main issues were with the story and with the choices Sepetys made within the framework of the historical facts. They seemed cliched, predictable, and a little weak. Of course, readers know what will happen to the Wilhelm Gustloff, but not what will happen to the individual characters. However, Sepetys's attempts to build suspense, to get us to emotionally invest in her characters, and to feel devastated or elated by their different fates were ultimately pointless--she made all the choices that any reader might expect. So, in the end, I wasn't heartbroken like I wanted and expected to be, just mildly sad for some and mildly happy for others.
SPOILER-ISH
My main issue with her choices was this: it seems ironic and little troubling to me that Sepetys saved the same characters that the Nazis would have spared for evacuation or conscription and killed the same characters that the Nazis would have killed. I'm sure it's purely coincidental and that it doesn't track 100% of the time (although I can only think of one exception), but it seems like the sort of thing that an author should consider and avoid.
The subject matter was great, and it was fun to get to learn (a little bit) more about the Wilhelm Gustloff and the evacuations taking place in 1945.
A lot of reviewers seem bothered by the frequent changes in point of view, but that
Show More
aspect of the book didn't bother me that much. I actually really liked the way Sepetys used to the changes in narrator to gradually reveal Alfred's...issues. However, Sepetys's writing occasionally seemed kind of clunky to me. Her prose was fine and functional most of the time, but there were a few conspicuous attempts at poetic description and some awkwardness. My main issues were with the story and with the choices Sepetys made within the framework of the historical facts. They seemed cliched, predictable, and a little weak. Of course, readers know what will happen to the Wilhelm Gustloff, but not what will happen to the individual characters. However, Sepetys's attempts to build suspense, to get us to emotionally invest in her characters, and to feel devastated or elated by their different fates were ultimately pointless--she made all the choices that any reader might expect. So, in the end, I wasn't heartbroken like I wanted and expected to be, just mildly sad for some and mildly happy for others.
SPOILER-ISH
My main issue with her choices was this: it seems ironic and little troubling to me that Sepetys saved the same characters that the Nazis would have spared for evacuation or conscription and killed the same characters that the Nazis would have killed. I'm sure it's purely coincidental and that it doesn't track 100% of the time (although I can only think of one exception), but it seems like the sort of thing that an author should consider and avoid.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bamckay
Not as good as between shades of grey but still a good read. Fast pace and engaging.
LibraryThing member sgrame
This story is told through the eyes of four young people, each with a unique background and each with a different perspective of World War II. Yet they are all brought together on the deck of the Wilhelm Gustloff, a vessel laden with 10,000 refugees and German citizens fleeing the Soviet advance in
Show More
January 1945. The loss of 9,400 people, the largest in maritime history is not treated as a fact, but in a deeply moving way as readers are quite drawn in to each life story. Joana, a young nurse, Florian, an artist filled with secrets, Amelia, a pregnant Polish teen and an egotistical German naval soldier. This is not a story soon to be forgotten and because of its emotional power, I suggest it for grades 8 & up. Show Less
LibraryThing member bell7
Four young people, refugees in World War 2 for various reasons, tell their stories. There's Joana, a young Lithuanian nurse of German heritage who had special permission to be here; Florian, a talented artist on the run and carrying secrets; Emilia, a pregnant Polish girl who looks upon Florian as
Sepetys powerfully tells a little-known story of the refugees from all over who were fleeing on German boats due to Russian attack. I don't want to say more than that for fear of spoilers, but I will say any who are more familiar with that aspect of World War 2 than I was may realize where the story is going much earlier than I did. The title has been marketed as young adult but I think it is in the same sense as The Book Thief or Code Name Verity - the characters may be teens and young adults and it's possible that teens will read it, but it's just as much for adults. The pages turn quickly as the four narrators have only a few pages each, yet I never felt like I was unnecessarily jumping around. Each of their stories highlight the horrors of war even before the climactic turn the story takes. Highly recommended.
Show More
a knight for saving her from a Russian soldier; and Alfred, a twisted German soldier who swallows the Nazi line whole.Sepetys powerfully tells a little-known story of the refugees from all over who were fleeing on German boats due to Russian attack. I don't want to say more than that for fear of spoilers, but I will say any who are more familiar with that aspect of World War 2 than I was may realize where the story is going much earlier than I did. The title has been marketed as young adult but I think it is in the same sense as The Book Thief or Code Name Verity - the characters may be teens and young adults and it's possible that teens will read it, but it's just as much for adults. The pages turn quickly as the four narrators have only a few pages each, yet I never felt like I was unnecessarily jumping around. Each of their stories highlight the horrors of war even before the climactic turn the story takes. Highly recommended.
Show Less
LibraryThing member WhitneyYPL
In the winter of 1945, four teenager’s lives become intertwined on the ill-fated ship named Wilhelm Gustloff. A story of love, loss, friendship, and the struggle to survive during times of war. A great piece of historical fiction that highlights a forgotten tragedy at sea during World War II. - SB
LibraryThing member rgruberhighschool
RGG: Character driven, but fast-paced due to short chapters told in four clear, distinct voices. An adventure story with an important historical perspective about the end of WWII as Germany withdraws and Russia moves Westward. The complexity of the story as well as some of the graphic, but not
Show More
gratituous parts, make this more suitable for YA readers. Show Less
ISBN
0142423629 / 9780142423622