She also told the Tribune [3] that she wanted to write the story from the refugees' point of view. She says, "The concept of "refugee" is something frightening, it's something foreign. So I wanted to write from that point of view, which is why I have four alternating main characters, all young people from different nations, seeing life from four different cultural lenses on this refugee trek."

Salt to the Sea - Wikipedia

Four young narrators from different nations experience the terrors of war. Emilia, a fifteen-year-old Polish orphan, follows Florian, an East Prussian restoration artist. She views him as her "knight" after he saves her from a Russian soldier. Both run into Joana, a Lithuanian nurse who is traveling with a group of refugees. All are trying to make their way to West Germany, to the ports of Gotenhafen and Pillau, in the hopes of boarding evacuation ships to safety. Meanwhile, Alfred, a bumbling and hateful Nazi sailor, is stationed at the port of Gotenhafen. There he prepares a ship called the MV Wilhelm Gustloff for the evacuation. By sharing the stories of 4 teens from different areas surrounding the Baltic Sea, Sepetys asks readers to remember and honor these brave and innocent souls. Most importantly, Sepetys sheds light and gives voice to an overshadowed part of history that deserves so much more attention.I am certain everyone heard your proclamation. It almost sounded like pride. And for some reason those words are now caught, like a hair, in the drain of my mind.

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys | Waterstones

The Kleist’s daughter. When Russian soldiers come to the Kleist’s farm, they ask for Else. However, Erna Kleist offers them Emilia instead. Dr. RichterI’m relived you are not here to see this. Your sugared heart could not bear the treacherous circumstances here in the port of Gotenhafen. At this very moment, I am guarding dangerous explosives. I am serving Germany well. Only seventeen, yet carrying more valor than those twice my years. There is talk of an honor ceremony but I’m too busy fighting for the Führer to accept honors. Honors are for the dead, I’ve told them. We must fight while we are alive! War had bled color from everything, leaving nothing but a storm of gray.” Salt To The Sea by Ruta Sepetys About Salt To The Sea Author, Ruta Sepetys I thought of the countless refugees trekking toward freedom. How many millions of people had lost their home and family during the war?" Joana, p. 33 Although a young adult novel, I knew Salt to the Seawould be graphic and tragic, especially since Sepetys focuses on children and teens during WWII. Not to mention that the sinking of the IRL Wilhelm Gustoff is at the heart of this story.

Salt to the Sea Study Guide | GradeSaver Salt to the Sea Study Guide | GradeSaver

I told myself that the handsome young man was a sleeping knight. He moved forward, his pistol at the ready. He was leaving. So, dear one, I have grown old now and my Niels is gone. Receiving your kind letter brought such peace to my heart, knowing that you, Joana, Klaus, and Halinka are together in America along with a child of your own. I do understand how you have struggled for this new life. The sinking of the Gusloff is the largest maritime disaster, yet the world still knows nothing of it. I often wonder, will that ever change or will it remain just another secret swallowed by war? This playful quote from Joana highlights Sepetys's masterful characterization of the group of refugees in the novel. Each character has a strong identity that Sepetys develops through anecdotes about their hometowns, memories of their lives before the war, and information about their family dynamics. While Salt to the Sea is a work of historical fiction that tells the story of real historical events, it is also fundamentally a character-driven novel. I’m Christine, The Uncorked Librarian. I have a Master’s of Library and Information Science, travel the world, and am an avid reader.If you like survival stories, historical fiction, or WWII narratives, Salt to the Seawill intrigue and capture your heart. Although YA, this title will flood your soul.

Salt to the Sea Characters | GradeSaver Salt to the Sea Characters | GradeSaver

Mcnary, Dave (25 May 2016). "Universal Boards World War II Disaster Drama 'Salt to the Sea' ". Variety. As an undergrad history major, I had never once heard or read about the Wilhelm Gustloff. Leo didn’t star in a movie even though this story is by far more disastrous. For some reason, the Baltic stories get left out of mostly eurocentric histories. And why is that?You wrote that Emilia was your savior and that she is ever on your mind. Please do know, Florian, that she is ever in my heart as well. War is catastrophe. It breaks families in irretrievable pieces. But those who are gone are not necessarily lost. Near our cottage, where the small creek winds under the old wooden bridge, is the most beautiful bed of roses. Are you okay?” I asked, barely recognizing my own voice. His face twisted at the sound of my words.