New York Times Bestseller! "Masterly crafted"âThe Wall Street Journal
For readers of Between Shades of Gray and All the Light We Cannot See, bestselling author Ruta Sepetys returns to WWII in this epic novel that shines a light on one of the war's most devastatingâyet unknownâtragedies.
World War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, many with something to hide. Among them are Joana, Emilia, and Florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage, and trust in each other tested with each step closer to safety.
Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. Not country, nor culture, nor status matter as all ten thousand peopleâadults and children alikeâaboard must fight for the same thing: survival.
Told in alternating points of view and perfect for fans of Anthony Doerr's Pulitzer Prize-winning All the Light We Cannot See, Erik Larson's Dead Wake, and Elizabeth Wein's Printz Honor Book Code Name Verity, this masterful work of historical fiction is inspired by the real-life tragedy that was the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloffâthe greatest maritime disaster in history. As she did in Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys unearths a shockingly little-known casualty of a gruesome war, and proves that humanity and love can prevail, even in the darkest of hours.
Praise for Salt to the Sea:
âJorjeana Marie, Will Damron, Cassandra Morris, and Michael Crouch perform mesmerizing narration worthy of Sepetysâs spectacular novel. VERDICT Libraries with even the most limited audio budgets will want to invest.â âSchool Library Journal, starred review
âThe talented narrators excel in capturing the tone of their charactersâĻ. [They] work together to create a vivid and well-rounded reading experience, [and] bring forth the truth of the wartime experience.â âBooklist, starred review
âThe four narrators (Jorjeana Marie, Will Damron, Cassandra Morris and Michael Crouch) are superbly cast...The storyâs plot and pacing translate beautifully to the audio medium.â â Publishers Weekly, starred review
Featured on NPR's Morning Edition  âĻ Â âSuperlativeâĻmasterfully craftedâĻ[a] powerful work of historical fiction.ââThe Wall Street Journal  âĻ Â â[Sepetys is] a master of YA fictionâĻshe once again anchors a panoramic view of epic tragedy in perspectives that feel deeply textured and immediate.ââEntertainment Weekly  âĻ Â "Riveting...powerful...haunting."âThe Washington Post  âĻ âCompelling for both adult and teenage readers.ââNew York Times Book Review  âĻ âIntimate, extraordinary, artfully craftedâĻbrilliant.ââShelf Awareness âĻ Â "Historical fiction at its very, very best."âThe Globe and Mail  âĻ  â[H]aunting, heartbreaking, hopeful and altogether gorgeousâĻone of the best young-adult novels to appear in a very long time.ââSalt Lake Tribune