Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Salt to the Sea is a historical fiction novel during World War II in East Prussia and based on the worst maritime tragedy in recorded history. It follows a group of people running from the Russian military who commit atrocities as it takes over their homeland. A harsh winter is in full force as the group tries to make it to a port where they can take a boat to a safe harbor. As the group journeys across the wintry landscape towards the seaport, it’s filled with fear, tragedy, and death. All harbor secrets like the Prussian soldier carrying stolen Nazi treasure and the Polish girl with a tragic past. Having arrived at the port, they board the Wilhelm Gustloff, which must carry over ten thousand passengers. The Gustloff far exceeds the carrying capacity of over 8,000 passengers, and the ship is short on life rafts. The vessel makes way for safety across a freezing sea, but it must evade Russian submarines and deadly torpedoes. School Library Journal says Salt to the Sea is “Artfully told and sensitively crafted,” while “Sepetys’s exploration of this little-known piece of history will leave readers weeping.” (Parrott, 2015)

Critical Analysis

Salt to the Sea is in first-person with viewpoints alternating between the perspective of four characters. While Florian, Emilia, and Joana are caring and relatable, Alfred, a low-level German soldier, is closer to a sociopath. The main themes include war, atrocity, friendship, love, and trust. Readers may enjoy Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein with a similar story of friendship and survival set during World War II.

The strength of Salt to the Sea is that it helps to bring to light the tragedy of the Wilhelm Gustloff. Yet, the weakness is that the story ends abruptly after the sinking of the Gustloff.

Audiobook Details

Reviewed using the unabridged audiobook version using the Axis 360 application with a length of eight hours and forty-seven minutes. The four narrators were articulate and versatile, and the sound quality was crystal clear. Appropriately, the author’s note explains that most people have never heard of Wilhelm Gustloff’s sinking and the many other vessels with lives onboard during this massive evacuation.

References

Parrott, K. (2015, December 29). Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys: SLJ Review. School Library Journal. Retrieved March 28, 2022, from https://www.slj.com/story/salt-to-the-sea-by-ruta-sepetys-slj-review

Sepetys, R. (2016). Salt to the Sea. (M. Crouch, Narr., C. Morris, Narr., J. Marie, Narr., W. Damron, Narr.,) [Audiobook] Listening Library. https://bpls.axis360.baker‑taylor.com/Title?itemId=0017958643&ISBN=9780147525468&isRecommendable=false&collectionType=null