Ruta Sepetys' finely crafted WWII novel, Salt to the Sea, is a gem. It was inspired by the real-life tragedy of the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff which claimed over 9,000 lives making it the greatest maritime disaster in history.

The story is told in four voices, each from a different homeland, Readers will meet:

Emilia, a 15 year old blond Polish girl with unbelievable perseverance and resilience.

Joana, a smart young woman with some medical training that abounds with kindness.

Florian, a handsome wounded German that saved Emilia from a Russian soldier. Florian is holding secrets, he was once a restoration assistant.

Alfred, a Nazi sailor on the Gustloff, concentrates on the people he hates, thinking of getting rid of Jews, Poles, and disabled as a disinfecting.

In the group of refugees, there was a cobbler, nicknamed the shoe poet for his gift with words.

“The shoes always tell the story…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 belong to your mother. 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.”

“Yet amidst all that , life has spit in the eye of death.” The shoe poet’s wise words after a baby is born in the chaos of war.

“You’re a blister, Ava, a sour little blister.” The colorful way he described the negative lady in the group.

How do these lives connect? Sepetys depicts the rawness of war and the kindness of caring at the same time in this remarkable book!

“Just when you think this war has taken everything from you, you meet someone and realize you still have more to give.”

Thanks so much for joining us. Happy reading!!!