Umm where’s my heart?? Can I have it back please, Salt to the Sea? I had to let a few days pass between when I finished the book and when I wrote a review to gather my bearings. I was speechless by the last page.
“Just when you think this war has taken everything you loved, you meet someone and realize that somehow you still have more to give.”
After finishing this book, I have read all three of Ruta Sepetys’ works and may I just say: flawless. She is my favorite historical fiction writer. In Salt to the Sea, Ruta tells the story of four European teenagers during WWII. The switching perspectives of each young adult was fascinating because each one views the war through their own cultural lens. It was definitely a unique experience in a historical fiction book.
“She has beaten this war… life has spit in the eye of death.”
Ruta Sepetys also shed light on a little-known casualty of WWII: the Wilhelm Gustloff was a luxury cruise ship that was used in the war to help refugees escape. Soviet U-Boats sunk the ship. The amount of people that died was more than the Titanic and Lusitania combined, yet not near enough people know about it. I felt largely enlightened to get to know about this lesser-known tragedy. I’m grateful that Ruta Sepetys chose this story in particular to tell. (Which, by the way, was inspired by her own Lithuanian family’s history – her aunt was meant to board the Wilhem Gustloff but was spared by getting on another ship!)
“A girl who lost her mother was suddenly a tiny boat on an angry ocean.”
Fans of Elizabeth Wein’s Code Name Verity would enjoy this. I cannot recommend Salt to the Sea enough. It’s certainly my favorite Ruta Sepetys book and I hope more people have the pleasure read it.
five stars. ★★★★★
Ahhh, this sounds so amazing. Must. Read. Soon. 😉
IT’S ON ITS WAY EEP. *all the flailing* XD
I need to read this. It looks amazing
*realizes i have to many tbr*
am i on a book ban?
*oh yeah i am*
*goes to buy anyways*
//hannah
furiouseverafters.blogspot.com
This sounds like a really good book.
I just finished reading Speak for school. It was okay. I can’t wait for summer
I actually just started reading this last night… but I’m only a little ways in and I’m kind of confused by the switching perspectives. Should I stick with it?
I think you should. It was like that for me as well in the beginning, but it starts to tie together towards the middle (it did for me) and it got much better. Hope it does for you!
I’ve been wanting to read this book for so long (ever since I read ‘Between Shades of Gray’). Everything I hear about it sounds so good! Nice review! 🙂
I just finished reading it yesterday! I was absolutely blown away and I have you to thank for picking it up. I saw your vacation reading post and I saw the cover and was like “yep picking it up.” I love historical fiction, and this was SO so good. I cried, honestly. I dropped my jaw at parts. And I had just watched Titanic like the week before so what a coincidence. It was a beautiful tragic read and I loved it.
Lovely review as always, Emily!
AHHH I JUST GOT THIS FROM THE LIBRARY AND AM IMMENSELY EXCITED. I’m kind of scared, though, seeing that people are crying over this. ^.- But bring on the feels. And… tissues. Heh. 😛
That looks really good! I’ll definitely be looking into getting that onto my TBR list. 🙂
By the way, just wanted to let you know that Writer’s Digest is having its 2nd birthday celebration today if you want to check it it out. 😉
This looks so good! I’m a sucker for anything historical fiction, and I think it’ll be my next pick to read. 🙂