Salt to the Sea

by Ruta Sepetys

While the Titanic and Lusitania are both well-documented disasters, the single greatest tragedy in maritime history is the little-known January 30, 1945 sinking in the Baltic Sea by a Soviet submarine of the Wilhelm Gustloff, a German cruise liner that was supposed to ferry wartime personnel and refugees to safety from the advancing Red Army. The ship was overcrowded with more than 10,500 passengers — the intended capacity was approximately 1,800 — and more than 9,000 people, including 5,000 children, lost their lives.

Sepetys (writer of 'Between Shades of Gray') crafts four fictionalized but historically accurate voices to convey the real-life tragedy. Joana, a Lithuanian with nursing experience; Florian, a Prussian soldier fleeing the Nazis with stolen treasure; and Emilia, a Polish girl close to the end of her pregnancy, converge on their escape journeys as Russian troops advance; each will eventually meet Albert, a Nazi peon with delusions of grandeur, assigned to the Gustloff decks.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Historical, World War II, War, Audiobook

Audio CD

First published February 2, 2016

About the author

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author and Winner of the Carnegie Medal.
Ruta Sepetys was born and raised in Michigan in a family of artists, readers, and music lovers. The daughter of a refugee, Ruta is drawn to underrepresented stories of strength through struggle and hopes to give voice to those who weren't able to tell their story. Her award-winning historical novels are published in over sixty countries and have received over forty literary prizes.

For more information:
https://www.rutasepetys.com
https://www.facebook.com/rutasepetys
https://www.instagram.com/rutasepetys...
https://www.twitter.com/rutasepetys

Reviews

[Emily May · Rating 2 out of 5]

I try, I really do, but Sepetys's war stories do nothing for me. Yes, I know I'm in the minority. I was one of few who didn't love her debut - Between Shades of Gray - and much preferred her second book - Out of the Easy. Now she returns to World War II and, once again, I don't get it.

As with her first novel, I feel a little uncomfortable being negative about these kinds of books. This was a horrific time when some terrible atrocities were committed and I applaud the author for always focusing on the unknown, but no less true, parts of history.

Many of us know the tales of German and Polish Jews during the Nazi reign, far less know what Lithuanian refugees faced. Even fewer will know of the tragedy this book is about. I like that. Historical fiction that teaches me something is always appreciated. However, a few history lessons is truly all I took from this book.

The story is told in very short chapters of 2-3 pages (sometimes just a few sentences) and the perspective jumps between four different people - Joana, Florian, Emilia and Alfred. Personally, this didn't work for me. We spent so little time with each character before moving on that I constantly felt distanced from them, never making an emotional connection. In the beginning, the rapid movement between perspectives even made it difficult to follow the story.

Sepetys, for me, writes some of the most detached accounts of WW2 atrocities. It honestly shouldn't be that hard to evoke sympathy or some feeling for these poor people, but I genuinely felt nothing. You know those expendable people that get gunned down in movies while the hero runs from the bad guys? The ones who the camera brushes over and we never think about again? That is how I felt when learning of all the casualties and brutality in this book.

The book is told in one long, tedious journey and features many flashbacks that failed to pique my interest. The present is literally about them trekking across the icy landscape and having to show their papers to one soldier after another, before finally getting to the boat they want to board. I'm sorry, but it was so boring.

Maybe I could put it down to recently reading a fast-paced, exciting (and horrifying) book set during the Second World War - Front Lines - but, to be honest, I just think the author's war stories are not for me. I'm an emotional reader, and this kind of narrative leaves me cold.

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[Maggie Stiefvater · Rating 5 out of 5]

This swift-footed, kind-hearted historical is intensely satisfying in just about all the ways a novel can be satisfying. Without further ado, here are five things you should know about it before picking it up:

1. A lot of times, historical fiction shows its work. As a history major, I don't mind a research-filled brick of a book, but I'd think carefully about who I recommended it to. Historical can be dense. Salt to the Sea is not that book: Sepetys chooses her word battles carefully for an incredibly fast read. Short chapters elbow you and say "read just one more, right?" until the book is all gone.

2. I wanted to call this a thriller when I first started typing up this recommendation, but the term's not quite right. It's quite fast-paced, but THRILLER feels wrong: it's not quite got that frantic electricity. ADVENTURE is closer, but still wrong. Shouldn't there be jeeps and a comic relief side kick in an adventure? There's mostly just soldiers and frostbite and abandoned soup in this one, which is not the same. Nevertheless, you should know: it's not a depressing book, although sad things happen in it.

3. The characters are lovely. There are many of them, all deftly and lightly-drawn, and because they come from all ages and backgrounds, the dynamics between them are ever-changing. It's told from four points of view to allow the reader to spin around the story from all angles, and because each of the POV characters brings something very different to the table, this swapping of eyes is satisfying rather than frustrating.

4. Sepetys has two other historicals out that I enjoyed a lot, but this one has headed briskly to the top of the list. it's confident and stylish in a way that is really satisfying to see.

5. This novel is the natural successor to Code Name Verity: a character-driven, accessible, YA historical with all the feels you could desire and enough research to bring down an elephant. If elephants were brought down by research.

[Hannah Azerang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never been so simultaneously sad and angry while reading a book in my whole life

[Zoë · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

[Jesse (JesseTheReader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5)
This book was beautiful. It's gonna take a minute for all my thoughts to set in. Video review to come!

[Lisa of Troy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book covers the largest loss of life in maritime history- the sinking of the German Wilhelm Gustloff in January 1945. It was torpedoed by Soviet forces during WWII. Over 9,000 people lost their lives including many civilians (including children).

The book is told in very short chapters from 4 different characters: Florian, a Prussian man fleeing his post, Emilia, a pregnant 15 year old Polish girl, Joana, a Lithuanian medical assistant, and Alfred, a young Nazi. Most of the book (about 75% of it) is about the journey that each of these characters undergoes to get to the ship.

At first, it was very difficult acclimating to 4 different characters and their points of view. However, eventually you would get used to it. The character of Alfred, the Nazi, was a wasted character in my opinion. The author wrote him in a horrible light. Everything he did was terrible. I am viewing this book through the lens of 2020 as an American where we live in deeply divided political times. So for me, the author really painted Alfred as 100% horrible, but life is not that simple. In the past, when I was watching World War II movies, I would feel pride when the Americans were off bombing people. However, now when I watch World War II movies, I feel really sad because I have friends who are Italian. I imagine their faces: every time I see them, they say, "Leeza!" with big smiles, giving me hugs, and the kisses on the cheek. It is sheer joy. Although they obviously lived, their grandparents/parents probably suffered through the war. There is no us versus them. There is only us. Unfortunately, this book furthered perpetuated the lie that there is us versus them. I try very carefully not to hate other people because of their beliefs. I try to see the good in people. However, this author made that very difficult so I was very disappointed that other people could not also share the same experience that I did.

Although the book was entertaining, I wish that it was focused more on the experience on the ship. Especially as that was how it was advertised. When 75% of the book was just getting to the ship it was a bit of a letdown.

2025 Reading Schedule
Jan A Town Like Alice
Feb Birdsong
Mar Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Berniere
Apr War and Peace
May The Woman in White
Jun Atonement
Jul The Shadow of the Wind
Aug Jude the Obscure
Sep Ulysses
Oct Vanity Fair
Nov A Fine Balance
Dec Germinal

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[Hailey (Hailey in Bookland) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful yet tragic story. Ruta Sepetys has such a way with words. Video review to come

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update: Here is my video review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oubBC...

This book is a masterpiece. It takes place during WW2 and follows 4 characters as they are seeking freedom on the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety to all. Going into it I was very apprehensive about reading it. Historical fiction is not a genre I typically reach for. But this book blew me away. It's safe to say that this book was the best book I have read this year.

The writing in the book was so phenomenal. The way that Ruta laid out the story through her writing was so just beautiful. I felt like every single word in this novel had a purpose. There were these sentences that she would lace throughout the different points-of-view to connect them that I just thought was so brilliant.

Out of the four main characters I loved 3 of them. I felt so much for them and their struggles. Towards the end of the book I felt like they were people I knew and I desperately wished I could change their fate. I also LOVED the side characters just as much as the main. The one main character I didn't like was a character that you aren't suppose to like so that wasn't necessarily a problem. I just didn't find myself enjoying his chapters as much as the others.

This is a book that I know will stick with me and I am going to be thinking about these characters forever. You definitely won't want to miss this book!

[Crumb · Rating 5 out of 5]

“How foolish to believe we are more powerful than the sea or the sky.”


ALL THE FEELS!


Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys nurtured my body, it fed my soul, it made my heart soar. I also had a wave of despair and a feeling of intense longing when the book ended, coming to the unfortunate and fortunate realization that I would be experiencing a book hangover. (A phenomenon that occurs when you read something so good, you think you will never find something quite as good again)



This book was by no means a walk in the park or a box of Godiva chocolates. It is like you are on an emotional roller coaster, with upside down turns, twists, and drops. It will tear at your insides, it makes you want to cry and shriek.. "why is this happening" ?



This novel follows Joana, Emilia, Florian, and Alfred. They are young adults vying for a passage on the Wilhelm Gustloff. It takes place in the Winter of 1945 during World War II. These young adults and the passengers on board the Gustloff are hoping for freedom and safety from the war.
This book was inspired by the biggest maritime tragedy of all-time. When I had read the plot summary, I had initially thought.. "Hold up.. The Titanic or The Lusitania was the biggest tragedy in maritime history, wasn't it?" NO! It actually was the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff.
For more information on this event, please Ruta Sepetys hit a home run with this one. I'd like to add a caveat about this book: If you are a reader (like me) who might generally shy away from young adult fiction, don't! I loved this!

In addition, I loved how the book was constructed. The chapters were very short. In fact, while I was reading, I kept thinking "Just one more chapter, Just one more chapter.." and then I noticed it was dark outside and I had finished the whole book! Gotta love those! #stayuptoolatecan'tfunctionbooks






This book was unexpected. It was executed skillfully and I loved how the author recreated the time period so effortlessly. It was clear that Ruta Sepetys had done extensive research on the subject matter and time period, leaving meticulous details throughout the book indicating her extensive knowledge. Ruta Sepetys has a way with words that cannot be matched or duplicated. This book will leave a footprint on my heart forever, for that, I'm sure.

Highly, Highly Recommended!
5/5
Popsugar Challenge: Prompt #25 A book that takes place by the sea
Buddy Read

[Victoria Schwab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruta's work is a gift.

[Sabaa Tahir · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book leveled me. I was unprepared. Beautiful.

[zuza_zaksiazkowane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Jednak za mocno w obyczaj, a za mało w powieść historyczną :( No i za mało tego statku. Ale ogólnie książka dobra

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Joana Vilkas, your daughter, your sister. She is salt to the sea.”

I’ve been waiting for this book ever since I finished reading Between Shades of Grey back in August.
I’ll admit that I had very high expections for this book and I’m glad that every single one of them was met. I could not stop reading Salt to the sea, I kept telling myself just one more chapter, just one more (we all know how well that works).

I enjoyed reading from every main character and wished we got to read at least one chapter from Ingrid’s point of view before she died.

I really cared for Joana and Florian, Ruta Sepetys has a special talent for powerful romances. I can’t stop thinking about them.
There were so many compelling moments in this book with Joana and Florian and Emilia, I had tears streaming down my face for the last 100 pages.

"Joana still had her mother. Reuniting with her mother was her motivation. She would slay dragons to get to her. Mother was anchor. Mother was comfort. Mother was home. ”

Simply put, Salt to the Sea will be added to my favorites! I loved it.
THANK YOU RUTA FOR SAVING FLORIAN, BUT EMILIA- I was so sure that Emilia would reunite with her baby.
Also, listened to this song while reading, which made my reading experience a lot more emotional.

ARC from Netgalley (Thank You).

*Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate. If you're interested in buying Salt to the Sea, just click on the image below to go through my link. I'll make a small commission!*


This review and more can be found on my blog.

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before starting 'Salt to the Sea', I had heard quite a lot of praise for the book. In fact, I was a little nervous to start it because I was afraid that it wouldn't live up to it's reputation. Thankfully, that didn't prove to be the case. This book was beautiful, devastatingly so.

Ms. Sepetys does a wonderful job of shedding light on the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff, a maritime disaster that claimed more than 9,000 lives and remains an overlooked part of history. Admittedly, I had never heard of this disaster until reading this book. Perhaps this is the result of a world that was less than sympathetic to German pain and loss following the end of WWII and the unveiling of the Nazi atrocities. Whatever the reason, I am glad that Ms. Sepetys brought this piece of history into the light. This story needed to be told.

Weaving fact and fiction together seamlessly, the author tells the story of a group of WWII refugees trying to flee as the Russian troops gain ground toward the end of WWII. Told in alternating POVs, this book reveals a human side of war. Everybody seems to have something to hide and a different motivation for their actions. Above all else, this story highlights the fight to survive.

Most noticeable in this cast of characters are: Joana, the Lithuanian nurse; Emilia, a young Polish girl; Florian, Emilia's mysterious rescuer; and Alfred, a young German soldier. There is a full cast of supporting characters as well, such as the shoemaker, that contribute to the richness of this story. Each play a significant role in making this a robust reading experience.

I don't want to spoil this story for anyone. Obviously, the ship sinks. However, I won't say much else about the storyline because I think this is a story worth experiencing.

This isn't a rainbows and unicorns type of story. It is real and moving. At times painful, this book highlights the depths of human depravity, as well as the incredible kindness that people are capable of. This is a story of tragedy and survival. It was raw, gritty and inspiring. I enjoyed this story quite a bit and would recommend it without reservations to anyone that is looking for a good, historical fiction that addresses a lesser-known part of WWII history.

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was sad but there was some happiness too. But some of the things put some horrific images in your head =(



Mel 🖤

[Kai Spellmeier]

“War is catastrophe. It breaks families in irretrievable pieces. But those who are gone are not necessarily lost.”

A Pole with a past. A Prussian with a mission. A Lithuanian with a secret. A German with issues. One ship. Three torpedoes.

Nearly one year ago I read the highly acclaimed novel Between Shades of Grey. Now Ruta Sepetys is back, with another historical telling set against the backdrop of World War II.
Sepety's novels often talk of dark and dangerous times, with a light and comforting tone to it. Her writing style makes it easy to slip between the pages and take everything in. Her characters are heartwarming and relatable.

I enjoyed Salt to the Sea in the same way that I did Between Shades of Grey: I liked writing, plot and characters, but something is always missing for me. Her stories are dramatic, cruel and most of all real, but I can never fully commit myself to the book or its characters.

Side note with minor spoilers:
One thing that really bugged me was the portrayal of the Germans. Yes Hitler, the Nazis and many more people sucked and will forever and always continue to do so.
We had lots of "mean" Germans in the novel, but did the only German main character necessarily have to be a sociopathic, Hitler-loving ass without a single trace of character development? I would have loved to see him develop a conscience or compassion.

Oh and it was great to find out about Lina's and Joana's connection! Two different books, two different stories but one family. I'm so happy for them!

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[Dannii Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Read: August 2016, Rating: 5/5 stars
Second Read: March 2020, Rating: 5/5 stars

I am an emotional wreck! This is such a wonderfully evocative and poignant recount of such a dark period in human history. Sepetys has brought history to life in amongst these pages filled with pain, grief and heartbreak of the worst possible kind - that caused by other human beings.

This split narration follows the lives of four young individuals and their alternate opinions and stances in the war. The year is 1945 and the civilians of Germany are fleeing for safety as Russia attacks and it appears that Hitler's reign will soon be overthrown. All evacuees are making for port, to board one of the ships they hope will bring them to comparative safety.

This is such a heart-rending account of such a bleak period of human history and Sepetys spares her readers none of the agony and chaos of the time. Through the split perspectives we get not only a complete story, but differing perspectives on the war-torn land they are communally fleeing. The reader pieces the story line together as the protagonists reveal more about themselves, as their fear over their situation grows. With the tentative reveal of their individual humanity comes an empathetic insight into the harrowing tales that emerge. We get an insight into the past horror witnessed that fills the war-ravaged survivors as they attempt to hope for a brighter future. The grace these sensitive subject matters are handled with, however, belies the bleak nature of the text and beauty can be found in the alluring and exquisite writing.

This is a brutal, yet honest and necessary, historical account that manages to remain historically accurate whilst using fictional personal histories to portray it. Stunning writing, harrowing stories and venerated characters - this is a story that will stay with me for a long time to come.

[Debbie W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why I chose to listen to this audiobook:
1. after reading Ruta Sepetys's book Between Shades of Gray, several GR friends highly recommended that I also read this Sepetys book as well. Luckily, the audiobook became quickly available on Libby; and,
2. September 2022 is my "Historical Fiction Month".

Praises:
1. Sepetys took a little-known but the most tragic maritime disaster and brought it to light in this novel. Granted, most of the plot happens prior to the boarding of the Wilhelm Gustloff, but thanks to a well-developed writing style and for movies like Titanic, I could easily visualize the horrors experienced by its victims as this ship sunk within an hour after being struck by three Soviet torpedoes;
2. characterization - I know some reviewers couldn't connect with the characters, but I most certainly could! I really liked how Sepetys used four alternating POV (with four separate narrators on the audiobook), each with their own secrets that had "Aha!" moments for me as they were revealed.
Although this ship was intended to evacuate Nazi military personnel and the like, thousands of passengers were civilian refugees from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, East Prussia and Poland, fleeing from the advancing Soviet army. In order for the reader to sympathize with her characters, I think it was shrewd that Sepetys chose three of them to be a Lithuanian nurse (Joana), an East Prussian soldier (Florian), and a 15-year-old Polish girl (Emilia). Alfred, a Nazi sailor, was portrayed as weak but desperate to feel important. All were believable - an important characterization aspect for me!
3. I loved the connection to Between Shades of Gray! and,
4. truly atmospheric! Thank goodness it's been quite hot here, because I could feel the cold throughout the story.

Tiny Niggle:
One of the narrators sounded stuffed up! Sometimes I wished that she would just blow her nose!

Overall Thoughts:
A heart-wrenching yet informative read!

Recommendation?
If you enjoy historical fiction, please check out this novel about a little-revealed tragic event during WWII. I know I learned something new!

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (New House-Hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⨾༊󠀺 "𝓜𝔂 𝔀𝓪𝓻 𝓱𝓪𝓭 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓼𝓸 𝓵𝓸𝓷𝓰, 𝓶𝔂 𝔀𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝓼𝓸 𝓬𝓸𝓵𝓭. 𝓑𝓾𝓽 𝓘 𝓱𝓪𝓭 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓶𝓪𝓭𝓮 𝓲𝓽 𝓱𝓸𝓶𝓮." 𓇼 ⋆｡˚

⨾༊󠀺 “𝓘 𝔀𝓮𝓹𝓽 𝓫𝓮𝓬𝓪𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓘 𝓱𝓪𝓭 𝓷𝓸 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓮𝓼, 𝓾𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓵 𝓘 𝓶𝓮𝓽 𝓪 𝓶𝓪𝓷 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝓱𝓪𝓭 𝓷𝓸 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓽.” 𓇼 ⋆｡˚

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ 5 𝕌𝕟𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕘𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕖 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤! ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

Ruta Sepetys is just emotionally DESTROYING me one book at a time!

Another absolutely gripping and heart-breaking novel!

I always appreciate historical fiction that covers an event that I should be aware of. Salt to the Sea is about the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff, a German transport ship carrying 10,000 German military and refugees from Germany and surrounding countries. Over 9,000 people died after the ship was hit by missiles from a Russian submarine in the Baltic Sea in January, 1945.

The story is told from four perspectives -

╰┈➤ˎˊ˗ 𓇼 ⋆｡˚ Emilia ⨾༊󠀺 a Polish refugee, fleeing from the devastation of her town by the Russians.

╰┈➤ˎˊ˗ 𓇼 ⋆｡˚ Joana ⨾༊󠀺 a nurse/medical student who is trying to get as many refugees on the ship as possible.

╰┈➤ˎˊ˗ 𓇼 ⋆｡˚ Florian ⨾༊󠀺 a Prussian who’s on the run from Nazi service after becoming drafted to help steal fine art.

╰┈➤ˎˊ˗ 𓇼 ⋆｡˚ Alfred ⨾༊󠀺 a devout Nazi follower and a sailor on the ship.

This was an interesting look at World War II because few people write historical fiction from the perspective of Germans who are not Jews or prisoners or spies.

It was also interesting to me to see the perspective of Germans as refugees rather than as invaders. Which is not to say that the Nazis are sympathetic in this novel – far from it – but they are terrified (and rightly so) of the approaching Russians.

Ruta Sepetys is quickly becoming a favorite author to read for me...with her beautiful and poignant prose, short chapters and multiple points of view. It really makes flipping through the pages at lighting speed a breeze.

I loved this book. It's so tragic and so damn sad - my emotions were twisted up for the entirety of the story.

At 90% this book had me in shambles! Shambles! Omg. 😭😭 Sobbing. Highly recommend!

🌊WWII
🌩️Multiple POVs
🌊Historical
🌩️Shipwrecks

⨾༊󠀺 “𝓘 𝓫𝓮𝓬𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓰𝓸𝓸𝓭 𝓪𝓽 𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰. 𝓘 𝓫𝓮𝓬𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓼𝓸 𝓰𝓸𝓸𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓪𝓯𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓪 𝔀𝓱𝓲𝓵𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓼 𝓫𝓵𝓾𝓻𝓻𝓮𝓭 𝓫𝓮𝓽𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓶𝔂 𝓽𝓻𝓾𝓽𝓱 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓯𝓲𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷. 𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮𝓼, 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓘 𝓭𝓲𝓭 𝓪 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓰𝓸𝓸𝓭 𝓳𝓸𝓫 𝓸𝓯 𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰, 𝓘 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓯𝓸𝓸𝓵𝓮𝓭 𝓶𝔂𝓼𝓮𝓵𝓯.”

⨾༊󠀺 “𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓱𝓪𝓭 𝓱𝓾𝓶𝓪𝓷 𝓫𝓮𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮? 𝓓𝓲𝓭 𝔀𝓪𝓻 𝓶𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓾𝓼 𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓵 𝓸𝓻 𝓳𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓿𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓪𝓷 𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓵 𝓪𝓵𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝔂 𝓵𝓾𝓻𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷 𝓾𝓼?”

⨾༊󠀺 “𝓗𝓸𝔀 𝓯𝓸𝓸𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓱 𝓽𝓸 𝓫𝓮𝓵𝓲𝓮𝓿𝓮 𝔀𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓹𝓸𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓯𝓾𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓪 𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓴𝔂.”

⨾༊󠀺 “𝓟𝓮𝓻 𝓪𝓼𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓪 𝓪𝓭 𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓻𝓪, 𝓟𝓪𝓹𝓪,' 𝓘 𝔀𝓱𝓲𝓼𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓭. 𝓣𝓱𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓭𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓹 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼.”

⨾༊󠀺 “𝓙𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝔀𝓪𝓻 𝓱𝓪𝓼 𝓽𝓪𝓴𝓮𝓷 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓭, 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓶𝓮𝓮𝓽 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓲𝔃𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓰𝓲𝓿𝓮.”

⨾༊󠀺 “𝓚𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓷'𝓽 𝓪𝓵𝔀𝓪𝔂𝓼 𝓪𝓼𝓼𝓪𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓼. 𝓢𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮𝓼, 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓭𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓫𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓭 𝓸𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓲𝓻 𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓭𝓼.”

⨾༊󠀺 “𝓖𝓾𝓲𝓵𝓽 𝓲𝓼 𝓪 𝓱𝓾𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓻.
𝓕𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓲𝓼 𝓪 𝓱𝓾𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓻.
𝓢𝓱𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓲𝓼 𝓪 𝓱𝓾𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓻.
𝓕𝓮𝓪𝓻 𝓲𝓼 𝓪 𝓱𝓾𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓻.”

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

[Kassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a beautiful, breath taking, eye opening story.

[jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

the sinking of the wilhelm gustloff is the deadliest disaster in maritime history, with losses dwarfing the death tolls of both the titanic and lusitania combined. and yet, most people have never heard of it. myself included.

if one of the greatest catastrophes ever recorded has become so forgotten, just think of all the small horrors people suffered during WWII that we will never even know about. my heart just aches them and the nightmares they lived through. which is why i will always appreciate stories like this, no matter how emotionally challenging they are to read. because sometimes you need that shock to really open your eyes.

once again, ruta sepetys has created a story that so easily allows you to slip into the shoes of the main characters. even though these characters and i are separated by generations and lifetimes, i still felt so connected to them, joana especially. the writing in this is relatively easy and plain, but i think that simplicity ensures the story is unobstructed by anything that might take attention away from the importance of it, which is nice.

and after reading both ruta sepetys novels back to back, ive come to the conclusion that she doesnt really like to end her stories. she kind of just randomly stops and then throws an epilogue in. and im not sure if that is to allow the reader to fill in the gaps about how they imagine the characters spent their lives after the war, but it makes me really sad. i think with stories as sensitive as this, a conclusion and closure is necessary. especially when you become so emotionally invested.

regardless, this is a must read for anyone looking for a WWII novel that focuses on an a lesser known, but just as important, event that impacted the lives of many. including the reader.

↠ 3.5 stars

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

⸨ Your daughter, your sister.
She is salt to the sea, ⸩

This was my first book by Ruta Sepetys, and it won't be last.
I have already bought "Between Shades of Gray",
and "Out of the Easy" is on it's way. :D

I am obsessed with this remarkable author.
She is so inspiring, and down to earth.
Most importantly, she is a powerful storyteller.
I loved the way this book is written.
There are 4 POVs and each chapter is about 2-4 pages long.
There are no unnecessary details, which i highly appreciate.
Every single word drove the story forward.
It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Since the chapters are so short sometimes we get to witness same events form different POVs, i found that very satisfying. I didn't lose interest for a second. It might seem like i cry over every book, that's because the ones that don't make me feel anything aren't even worth mentioning.



Author's note :

The sinking of the Gustloff is the largest maritime disaster, yet the world still knows nothing of it. I often wonder, will that ever change or will it remain just another secret swallowed by war?

synopsys :

As thousands of desperate refugees flock to the coast in the midst of a Soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom.

Yet not all promises can be kept.



Characters :

⸨Winter, 1945. Four teenagers. Four secrets.
Each one born of a different homeland;
each one hunted, and haunted,
by tragedy, lies…and war. ⸩

I am just going to give a brief introduction
but i will not go into details.
That could be pretty spoilery.



⸨ I wanted to stay locked away from the pain and destruction.
I didn't want to be strong. I didn't want to be the 'smart girl'.
I was so very tired. I just wanted it all to be over. ⸩

Joana: Ohmygod! I freaking love this girl! She is young Lithuanian nurse. She repatriated to Nazi Germany with her family to escape capture from the Soviet Russian forces.

⸨ Not a traitor to your country.
Much worse. A traitor to your soul.⸩

Florian: He is a Prussian apprentice, who stole something very valuable from Amber Room after he found out they were just using him for something he didn't sign up for. He had me right from his first chapter. I loved the way he was introduced. I adore his relationship with Emilia (it's not romantic), it's so cute how she calls him "the Knight" in her head. It was fun seeing Joana through his eyes. I didn't even want him anywhere near Alfred. I have much love for Florian.

⸨ I became good at pretending.
I became so good that after a while
the lines blurred between my truth and fiction.
And sometimes, when I did a really good job of pretending,
I even fooled myself. ⸩

Emilia: A fifteen year old Polish girl, who got caught in the middle on this brutal war. I think she is my favorite of all four. Please keep in mind they are all carrying secrets, some more horrifying than others. Hers shocked me the most.

⸨ Small hairs on the back of my neck lifted in warning.
This guy wasn’t a sailor. He was a sociopath in training. ⸩

Alfred: THIS MOTHERFUCKER! I hate him! Hate him so much. If it were any other book i might have put some effort into knowing him a little better, but not here! I was so afraid anytime he was around , or when anyone was left alone with him. He creeped the shit out of me. He is a sailor who adheres to Hitler's propaganda and thinks very highly of himself. He is delusional AF. He writes these creepy ass laters to this girl named "Hannelore", and everything he writes in them are lies. I knew there was something very wrong with him, and i was right.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

“On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland from the west. On September 17, 1939, Russia invaded Poland from the east. I remembered these dates. Two warning nations gripped Poland like girls fighting over a doll. One held the leg, the other the arm. They pulled so hard that one day, the head popped off. The Nazis sent our people to ghettos and concentration camps. The Soviets sent our people to gulags and Siberia. I was nine years old when it started. People changed. Faces shrived and sunk, like baked apples. Neighbors spoke in whispers. I watched them play their games. I observed them when they weren’t looking. I learned. But how long could I play this game? A ploy of war both outside and inside. What would happen if I actually made it to the West? Would I be able to reveal myself as Emilia Stożek, a girl from Lwów? Would Germany be safe for me? Once the war ended, which side would be the right side for a Pole?”

I’ve been looking forward to reading “Salt to the Sea” since I closed the pages on “Between Shades of Gray.” Sepetys gift for sharing the stories of these moments in history we rarely learned about, told through eyes that prefer to see only seen the good in this world. Until, until life forces them to see otherwise, but their hearts still look for that goodness in the eyes of others.

The winter of 1945 was a long and treacherous winter for these souls who had left their homes and were on a long and arduous journey, on foot, ultimately to board the Wilhelm Gustloff. To evacuate their home.

“Germany was finally telling people what they should have said months ago. Run for your lives.”

They did not begin their journey together, but found each other along the way, the days and nights of walking through snow and mud and freezing conditions.

“What a group we were. A pregnant girl in love, a kindly shoemaker, an orphan boy, a blind girl, and a giantess who complained that everyone was in her way when she herself took up the most room. And me, a lonely girl who missed her family and begged for a second chance.”

Written in short, alternating chapters, sharing the four points of view of Joana, Florian, Emilia and Alfred. Joana is a caring woman, a nurse, and older than Emilia who seems to be still in her teens. Emilia is scared; needing a mother figure to replace the mother she lost as a child, and is rescued by Florian early on. Emilia needs both her knight and her nurse. Joana dreams of a reunion with her mother.

“No one wanted to fall into the hands of the enemy. But it was growing harder to distinguish who the enemy was.”

Alfred is a socially awkward and disturbed German officer. “This was the type of man who looked at a picture on the wall and instead of admiring the photo, looked at his own reflection in the glass.”
Among the other characters you will come to know and care for are the young wandering boy and the Shoemaker, or the “shoe poet”.

“’The shoes always tell the story,’ said the shoe poet. ‘Not always,’ I countered. ‘Yes, always. Your boots, they are expensive, well made. That tells me that you come from a wealthy family. But the style is one made for an older woman. That tells me they probably belonged to your mother. A mother sacrificed her boots for her daughter. That tells me you are loved, my dear. And your mother is not here, so that tells me that you are sad, my dear. The shoes tell the story.”

As they come together and journey together, you begin to learn their secrets, their stories. Their journey leads them to the ship, the Wilhelm Gustloff, which will ultimately become the largest maritime disaster in history. On 30 January 1945, four torpedoes were pointed at the Wilhelm Gustloff from a Soviet submarine S-13. “Each torpedo was painted with a scrawled dedication: For the Motherland. For the Soviet People. For Leningrad. For Stalin.” Three of those torpedoes struck the Gustloff, one torpedo, “For Stalin,” did not launch.

Approximately 10,000 people were aboard; most were civilians, including around 5,000 children. Approximately 1,000 survived.

The largest maritime disaster in history.

That winter, several other ships ended up in the Baltic Sea, with approximately 25,000 lives were lost in all.

What was not lost is hope. The belief that humanity can rise up again and begin once more to unite in acceptance that despite our differences, that love will win.

[Whitney Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

YOWZA SHE DOES IT AGAIN

In both of Ruta's books, somehow my tears get saved until the moment I close the book, then everything I just read collapses down on me and it gets me choked up. I really really liked Between Shades of Grey because of its ending, and I was so excited to hear about Ruta's second book following non-German (mostly) WWII. I've mentioned before that i'm not a fan of books that are told by a handful of characters. I think they're hard to get into, can be confusing, and none of them end up being fleshed out very well. This book is an example of one that takes 4 perspectives, but executes it very well-done. I loved all four of the characters for separate reasons. They all were four different pieces to a puzzle that had very distinct personalities and each fit a certain shape into the book's equation. Every character came from a different country and each had their own set of goals to accomplish, which made each perspective very compelling and I didn't like one voice over any of the others. Because each of their chapters was so short, this book zoomed by. That combined with the fact that every character had a secret that was one step away from being revealed, it kept me on my toes for the entire book. This book was equal parts heart-warming and tragic (though at times it lingered a bit on the horrific, but what else are you expecting in a book about genocide?). I adored every character and enjoyed how the book stayed true to the time-- not everyone got a happy ending. That conclusion, once again, was very memorable, and I would highly recommend this book if you like 20th century historical fiction.

[Malia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book crushed me! Despite having read and learned so much about this terrible time in our world history, I am amazed that there are constantly new aspects of it I didn't know before, which continue to stun and sadden. Salt to the Sea, in particular, touched me because it mirrored, to a degree, what my grandmother and her family experienced. My grandmother, her little brother, her widowed mother and aunt had to flee from Silesia to escape the Russians, which is similar to why the characters in this book are moving west. Where the figures in this novel are headed toward the sea and the large ships to transport them to Kiel in Northern Germany, my grandmother and her family took another route, so I was not very familiar with this method of navigating the Baltic Sea at the time and the tremendous losses of life that occurred as a result of violence, negligence and desperation. It also made me think of the refugees trying to get across the Mediterranean Sea in recent times, and the incredible losses and hardships they have suffered.
Sepetys' method of telling the story from four points of view was beautifully done and effective in showing different motivations and mentalities during this impossible time. I don't want to give away anything, but throughout the book, I really had to stop myself from googling what really happened, even though I knew it was building up to something tragic. I was so attached to some of the characters, I almost didn't want the book to end, fearing what might happen.
This story was heartbreaking, and if you're looking for an easy read, this is not for you. Still, I would recommend everyone read it at some point. It tells a story that is not as commonly known as it should be, and for the sake of remembering and honoring those who fell victim to the misery and cruelty of this war, we need to learn as much as we can so that nothing like this will happen again.
As I write this, I am particularly saddened by the recent slew of tragedies and acts of violence that have occurred all over the globe. A book like Salt to the Sea and countless others teach us that unity and compassion are the most important elements of being human, and when they are lost, the world is changed for the worse.

Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com

[K.T. ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPECTACULAR!!

5 giant and well-worthy stars!!




Oh dear, what a beautiful masterpiece this book is... I honestly don't know what to say about it, except for the fact that the book is so heart-wrenching and thoughtful. Throughout this one, the truth reveals to oneself about the destructive consequences of the war between the Russians and the Germans during World War II, which have caused the tragic deaths of thousands of innocent victims that is indeed too emotional yet truthful to bear.

What a phenomenal work you have put out there for the readers, Ruta Sepetys. You surely have my great admiration and support.

“Every nation has hidden history, countless stories preserved only by those who experienced them. Stories of war are often read and discussed worldwide by readers whose nations stood on opposite sides during battle. History divided us, but through reading we can be united in story, study, and remembrance. Books join us together as a global reading community, but more important, a global human community striving to learn from the past.
What determines how we remember history and which elements are preserved and penetrate the collective consciousness? If historical novels stir your interest, pursue the facts, history, memoirs, and personal testimonies available. These are the shoulders that historical fiction sits upon. When the survivors are gone we must not let the truth disappear with them.

Please, give them a voice.”

[Norma ~ The Sisters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well that was enlightening, emotional, and a page-turning read!

SALT TO THE SEA by RUTA SEPETYS is a Historical Fiction novel that is engaging, heart-wrenching, and a powerful read with an extremely interesting plot that grabbed my attention from the very first chapter. This was definitely another page-turner and extremely hard to put down.

The last few books that I have read lately have either had an embossed dustjacket or cover and this is no exception as this one has a partially embossed dustjacket as well as an embossed Stork on the actual cover. Must be some kind of theme for my reads lately! THE COVER definitely depicts an ominous read which I found extremely fitting for this novel.

The details of the ship, Wilhelm Gustloff is a shockingly little-known piece of history from World War II that I am sad to say that I never knew anything about until after reading this author's work of historical fiction.

Winter, 1945. Four teenagers. Four Secrets.

SALT TO THE SEA has us following along the tale of four captivating CHARACTERS; Joana (The Nurse), Florian (The Knight), Emilia (The Polish Girl), and Alfred (The Letter Writer). I really enjoyed the format of this novel which was written in very short chapters with alternating points of view of the four characters and made me want to read "just one more chapter". I really liked what each of these characters brought to this story as well as the secondary ones throughout this book. RUTA SEPETYS delivers an unforgettable story here that was easy to follow along with the storyline and all the characters involved.

To sum it all up it was a well researched, heartbreaking, enjoyable, quick and a fast-paced read with a satisfying ending. Would recommend!!

Review written and posted on our themed book blog Two Sisters Lost In A Coulee Reading.
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com

Coulee: a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley.

[Natilie Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡.•

"Kind of incredible. She is you, she is your mother, your father, your country."

Wow. This is my third solid 5 star read for the year. There's nothing I would change about this book. I loved every second of it. It was emotional and gripping. I was incredibly reflective on what I knew about WW2 and its tragedies, which as it turns out was not enough.

I was never bored, it never dragged, I was invested in all of the characters and cried. I will think about these characters and story long after finishing this.

╔═════ ❀•°❀°•❀ ═════╗

score card:

plot: 5/5
characters: 5/5
world/setting: 5/5
pacing: 5/5
enjoyment: 5/5

total: 5/5ੈ✩‧₊˚

╚═════ ❀•°❀°•❀ ═════╝

₊˚⊹♡ reading log

04/05 4:00pm ୨ৎ
this book has my whole heart at the moment - it really perfectly and elegantly captures the brutality of the second world war and i want to read more about it

04/05 11:15am ୨ৎ
i will finish this book today i am determined

03/05 7:16pm ୨ৎ
if anyone dies in this book i will burst into tears

03/05 4:51pm ୨ৎ
this has just captured my attention so well, and it's so fast paced and i'm already feeling for all the characters oh my goodness

₊˚⊹♡ pre-reading

good afternoon and welcome to my may tbr (we will get through it i promise, it's got 10 books on it so i'm probably a little too ambitious)

i'm super interested in this, when i was a kid i used to read war character driven books so let's hope this delivers - i'm predicting around 3 stars ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all] · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Just when you think this war has taken everything you loved, you meet someone and realize that somehow you still have more to give.’

On January 30th, 1945, the German transport ship Wilhelm Gustloff was sunk in the Baltic Sea by a Soviet Submarine. 9,343 people were lost and while German personnel were on board, half of the passengers were children and most of them war refugees, making it the deadliest maritime disaster in history. ‘War is catastrophe. It breaks families in irretrievable pieces,’ writes Ruta Sepetys in her second novel, Salt to the Sea ‘but those who are gone are not necessarily lost.’ The novel becomes a tribute of sorts to those who perished in the tragedy, showing not only the horrors of war but also the sparks of hope and humanity that keep people moving forward. Salt of the Sea follows four characters caught between German occupation and the advancing Red Army as they attempt to flee by boat, each a reminder that the tragedies of war knows no borders. The narrative moves between a Lithuanian nurse, a young and pregnant Polish girl, A Prussian thief, and a German soldier, each giving a unique perspective on the advancing events and keeps the story feeling endlessly fresh and surprising. A well-researched and heart wrenching story that is as complex as it is compelling, Salt to the Sea is a moving tribute to those trapped in war and a reminder of humanity in the most inhumane of times.

The Wilhelm Gustloff

Despite being the largest loss of life at sea, I had never heard of the Wilhelm Gustloff. Everyone knows the story of the Titanic and the sinking of the Lusitania is a commonly known sinking of a civilian vessel during wartime where 1,195 people were killed. In a conversation with Time Magazine, Sepetys offered several theories why so few have heard of it, namely that the Nazi ‘were amidst an evacuation and they didn’t want it to affect morale. They also were trying to hide the fact they were losing the war.’ In her research she learned that ‘survivors reported that when they spoke of it, there was a knock on their door, and they were told, ‘Why are you telling stories about some ship? That didn’t happen.”’ Whatever the reason, Sepetys has ensured the tragedy and those who suffered from it will be remembered and honored through this rather beautiful book. It is a perfect subject for Sepetys, as she aims to give voice to “hidden histories” and many of her books tell of events occurring in places and to people that aren’t usually centered in tellings about that era. Her words on this are quite powerful:

‘Every nation has hidden history, countless stories preserved only by those who experienced them. Stories of war are often read and discussed worldwide by readers whose nations stood on opposite sides during battle. History divided us, but through reading we can be united in story, study, and remembrance. Books join us together as a global reading community, but more important, a global human community striving to learn from the past.’

Here we find those caught in land no longer German, not yet Soviet, stuck in a war that has been lost but has yet to be won, and everyone exists in their own sort of inbetween where they aren’t yet dead but life feels dangerously thin.

‘I moved from body to body, treating blisters, wounds, frostbite. But I had no treatment for what plagued people most the most. Fear.’

Much of the novel occurs in a space where hardships have been endured and trust is hard to come by. The characters are fearful of anyone they do not know—especially due to their various nationalities and many have secrets to keep—and they forego names for descriptions like “the wandering boy,” “the knight,” or my favorite, “the shoe poet” for a cobbler who reads the life of the survivors based on their shoes. ‘The shoes always tell the story.’ The spirit to survive keeps them going and the small bits of humanity occasionally break through the mistrust. Though the idea of distrust and lies is a larger theme in the novel that is full of deceit and self-deception. Alfred, the rather repulsive character who has fully embraced Hitler and Nazism, writes heroic letters to a girl back at home speaking of his great deeds as a soldier, though when the perspective shifts we discover he is meek and only trusted with odd tasks like toilet cleaning. Moments like this keep your spirits up in such a bleak book, although Alfred’s nearly comic-book vilanny feels a bit off-beat with the rest of the novel.

‘What had human beings become? Did war make us evil or just activate an evil already lurking within us?’

I really enjoyed the shifting perspectives here, especially as it keeps the chapters short and staccato’d, making it easy to just keep reading one more page, one more page, just one more…until suddenly you’ve plowed through the book (the emotional intensity helps too). That said, we are left with only a shallow depiction of each character though through them all it comes together to be something greater than the sum of its parts. Still, for such a haunting novel the characters could have been fleshed out a bit more. Most of the novel is them attempting to escape and embark the ship, their one shred of hope to survive the war:

‘The Wilhelm Gustloff was pregnant with lost souls conceived of war. They would crowd into her belly and she would give birth to their freedom.’

This is a book of both hope but also tragedy, and always a reminder that military attacks tend to spill the blood of the innocent or those just hoping to get away.

I really enjoyed this and want to send a huge thank you to Maddie for recommending this one. I love the pace of this book and it reminds me of something you’d read for a class in high school and end up loving the rest of your life. I wish I had read this for a class actually. ‘When the survivors are gone, we must not let the truth disappear with them,’ Sepetys writes, ‘please, give them a voice.’ She achieves this marvelously in Salt of the Sea.

4.5/5

‘Those memories, they are the coals that shield my heart from frost.’

[April (Aprilius Maximus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

ow, my feelingsssssssss