Salt to the Sea

by Ruta Sepetys

WINNER OF THE CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL 2017

It's early 1945 and a group of people trek across Germany, bound together by their desperation to reach the ship that can take them away from the war-ravaged land. Four young people, each haunted by their own dark secret, narrate their unforgettable stories. Fans of The Book Thief or Helen Dunmore's The Siege will be totally absorbed.

This inspirational novel is based on a true story from the Second World War. When the German ship the Wilhelm Gustloff was sunk in port in early 1945 it had over 9000 civilian refugees, including children, on board. Nearly all were drowned. Ruta Sepetys, acclaimed author of Between Shades of Grey, brilliantly imagines their story.

'Ruta Sepetys is a master of historical fiction' Elizabeth Wein, author of CODE NAME VERITY

• ISBN10: 0141347406
• ISBN13: 9780141347400
• Publish Date: 4 February 2016 (first published 2 February 2016)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 400
• Language: English

Reviews

[Amber]

This review was originally posted on Books of Amber

Salt to the Sea was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and it certainly didn't disappoint. Ruta Sepetys has completely delivered three times in a row now, meaning that her spot on my auto-buy authors list is well deserved. Her writing style is captivating and contains the perfect blend of description and emotion, which then toys with my emotions and causes me to become so attached to her stories that I want to hit people in the face with her books. In a loving way, of course.

Salt to the Sea is marketed as being set on an overcrowded ship during World War II, and I have to say that that's a little bit of a white lie. Very little of the book is set on the ship itself, as the first couple of hundred pages follow the various characters as they try to get to the ship to escape war-torn East Prussia. This isn't necessarily a negative, but since I hadn't actually heard of the Wilhelm Gustloff before reading this book (more on that in a minute), I wasn't expecting the characters to be wandering around in the woods so much.

One thing I'm not used to with Sepetys' books is having more than one point of view. There are a lot of POV characters in this book, and I am pleased to say that it all worked really, really well. The book wouldn't have been the same with just one viewpoint, as each of the characters provided their own unique view and experience in regards to the war and their countries.

I loved all of the point of view characters, apart from Alfred. He certainly added to the story, but as a character he... well, he wasn't one of the good guys. I really struggled with his chapters at times, and I think a lot of readers will as well. That said, he was intriguing, and I enjoyed getting into his head, even if I didn't understand him and his actions at all.

So, Salt to the Sea features the Wilhelm Gustloff, the sinking of which marks the greatest and most fatal sea 13disaster in history. And yet, I had never heard of such a ship. Why? Because people covered it up. Nearly ten thousand people died on the Wilhelm Gustloff alone, and that's not taking the other sunken ships of the Baltic into account, and no one knew about them. So I have to thank Ruta Sepetys for bringing this sea disaster to my attention.

Also, can I just say that that Sepetys' author's notes are always awesome? I love how much she cares about the victims of history, and about telling stories that people need to hear.

Obviously, I loved Salt to the Sea. I loved the characters. I loved the subject matter. And I loved that there was a mention of Lina from Between Shades of Gray! It was unexpected and wonderful. I encourage everyone to give Sepetys' books a go because, like I said above, she's an auto-buy author for me and she might make it onto your list as well.

[elvinagb]

An extraordinary read. I had not known of the sinking of refugee ships in the Baltic Sea at the end of WWII. The author has a wonderful way of drawing you into the stories of her characters and revealing the histories of various nationalities without bogging you down with too many historical details. She has definitely done her research and understands her subject very well. This book is a wonderful read for teens and adults.

[Beth C.]

Joana. Florian. Emilia. Alfred. Four young adults who could have been aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, the ship whose sinking became the deadliest maritime tragedy ever - but one whose name has been covered by the ocean and by time. Four young adults, all from different nations, all affected by war. Joana - the nurse. Feels responsible to help everyone - but tells Florian she's a murderer. Florian - the artist. Feels used and betrayed, so he gets back at his employer - and ultimately Hitler - the only way he knows how. Emilia - Sweet and sensitive. Feels abandoned by everyone she's loved, and hiding a horrible secret. Alfred - A sickly boy who composes imaginary letters in his head to his sweetheart back home, while singing a song he composed about everyone Hitler says is verboten as he helps prepare the Wilhelm Gustloff. These four people, all with secrets and heartache, fear and fury, will come together on the Wilhelm Gustloff.

This is the first book I have read by Ruta Sepetys, and it was a revelation. Moving, honest, and gut-wrenching, it explores humanity in crisis through the eyes of these four young people. Hitler was losing power, the Russians were on the move, and the rumor mill about the Allies was in full force. No one knew who to trust, and death could - quite literally - be just around the next bend in the road. Yet, Sepetys portrays these four varied individuals with respect and honesty, even when such may show a cruelty born and bred of Hitler and his ideas.

The writing was spare - no overdone, flowery prose here. However, it suited the story and the characters within. Each character felt honest and true, like they were taken from someone real and brought to life on the pages. Even those not part of the four, but who travelled with them on their journey - they weren't just a fill-in-the-blank space characters, but felt like I could come across them anywhere.

An excellent book for anyone studying WWII, and frankly, as I finished, it seemed written with today's headlines in mind as well. The war, the refugees, those who brand others as less worthy...it's a sad state when a book written about events many years ago seems ripped from the headlines today. However, it's value lies in that reality as well - for those who may be struggling to make sense of current events, or who want to see - from the perspective of four who could have lived it - what could be their future...it's here. And it's real. And it's raw. And with all books - they have the power to transform us and to show us truth if we but look. Sepetys looked, and she shows us her vision if we are brave enough - and honest enough - to see that truth.