Salt to the Sea ( 378 Pages)

I recognized Ruta Sepetys' name as I stood in the bookstore. I had read Between Shades of Gray by her. This is an interesting book- also taking place during World War II.  Sepetys has done a huge amount of research in order to meld facts and fiction. Different people "speak" in the chapters. One character, Joana, has some nursing background. She has been allowed to escape Natzi horrors as an acceptable woman because she has the looks of an Arian. Blond hair, blue eyes, she herself admits she could be the poster girl for Hitler's Germany. Florian, a young man who found himself to be suckered by a German art historian who was working for Natzi higher-ups stealing art, assessing it's value, and even cleaning the masters' work of old varnish. And then there was Emelia, a young girl whose father sent her to his brother's farm to be safer from the Germans. Her aunt hated her so when the Russians arrived at the farm her aunt had them spare her daughter, and gave Emelia to them. She was raped multiple times, and as a result she became pregnant. Finally a young, insecure, German boy who dreams of becoming honored by Hitler. His name is Alfred and he is such a jerk I had trouble reading his "chapters." All of these characters end up on the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that offers safety and freedom to thousands of people fleeing the Soviets. However, the boat is hit by Russian torpedoes and sinks. Joana, Florian and Emilia's baby escape from drowning. But, in spite of the reader finding this out, the story leaves one gasping for breath. The sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff is true. Much information about what happened and to how many has not been spoken about, for what reason, I don't know. But a boat that was supposed to hold 1500 people went down with over 10,000 people on board, and most of them did not survive. It is another example of an author taking a historical event and creating a story around the event. Interesting.