Salt to the Sea

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult

I gave this book ****

This is the story, based on true events, of Emilia, Florian, Joana and Alfred, all in their teens and early 20’s, all fleeing the Russians during World War II (as the Nazis were losing the war, the Russians advanced toward Germany, to Russia’s western border, brutally killing anyone in their way). Their lives intersect when they board the Wilhelm Gustloff ship, a German ship sailing from Gdynia, Poland to Kiel, Germany. Emilia is a fifteen-year-old Polish girl, whose parents send her away to a farm in the beginning of the war in an effort to save her. Florian, a Prussian boy in his late teens, works with top Nazi officers to steal famous artwork and has escaped with a secret inside his rucksack. Joana is originally from Lithuania, in her early 20’s and an experienced nurse already. Alfred, a German boy in his late teens, is conscripted to the German army and is stationed aboard the Gustloff. The story is told alternately from each of their perspectives. This is a story of how war affects people’s lives, about the suffering, perseverance and the human capacity to love in the most horrible of times.

There are several things I love about this book, but I must begin by saying that I was unsure about reading a Young Adult novel as I wasn’t sure that this would interest me. I’m happy to report that a good story that is written well is a good story that is written well, whether meant for young adults or adults. This story is just right. We get enough information about the characters, the scenery, the knowledge of what could happen if these people were caught by the Russians, and enough to know what the world looks like to these young people. This makes it appropriate for the young reader, but also helps the reader focus more on the characters and their perspectives, which I always enjoy. It’s very well done. I also really like that this story of World War II is relevant in today’s social and political climate. We learn that the Nazis (and Russians) were, indeed, evil to the Jews, but that they were also racist, prejudiced and evil towards everyone who wasn’t like them. No one was safe from hate and so the fight is against hate, all hate! I recommend this book, for the young (the publisher recommends ages 12 to 19—12 seems a little too young to me for this story) and old. Be sure to read the author’s comments at the end. It will give you some insight about the Gustloff and what happens on this real-life tragic journey.