The year is 1945, and Europe is in shambles. Soviet forces are moving into German-occupied territory, and nearly every civilian in the region is scrambling to escape. The goal for many is to reach the coast of the Baltic Sea, where they will board a variety of ships in order to be taken to safety. Refugees from all over the region are on the move. In the midst of this mass evacuation are four teenagers, each one carrying a secret.
There's Florian, a talented Prussian art historian/restorer and occasional forger. He discovered the Nazis he was working for were not "rescuing" art from war-torn areas, but rather stealing the art for the galleries of the Nazi elite. Florian finds himself shooting a Soviet soldier to rescue a girl who has clearly escaped a terrible fate. That girl is Emilia, a Polish girl who carries a secret of her own - she is pregnant and will be giving birth sooner than later. Together, the two join with a small group of refugees traveling the frozen countryside on the way to the rumored rescue vessels. That small group of refugees includes a young woman named Joana, a nurse from Lithuania who worries her past might catch up with her. Meanwhile, on the docks at Gotenhafen, a German soldier named Alfred writes imaginary letters in his head to a girl he left behind. It's clear the version of events he describes to his beloved is hyperbolic at best and delusional at worst.
Through the eyes of Florian, Emilia and Joana, readers will witness the dangerous trek to the docks at Gotenhafen, which includes attacks from Russian forces, a perilous multi-mile walk across a (mostly) frozen lake and the ever-present fear the wrong secrets will be revealed. Through Alfred's eyes, the reader will be introduced to the ship that offers hope to so many: the Wilhelm Gustloff, a former cruise liner. The reader, however, knows something our characters do not: the Gustloff will never make it to its destination. Even the most cursory research into the ship will reveal its sinking was the deadliest maritime disaster in history. By the time the Gustloff hits the bottom of the icy Baltic Sea, more than 9,000 souls will have perished.
Author Ruta Sepetys has already ably tackled lesser-known World War II tragedies in her debut novel, "Between Shades of Gray," so it's no surprise "Salt to the Sea," her newest novel is also both enlightening and harrowing. Sepetys has a knack for creating complex characters and placing them in historical situations that are rarely discussed. Readers will be breathlessly flipping the pages to find out not only the fate of each character, but also the secrets they carry. The sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff was a terrible tragedy, but Sepetys buoys her novel with hope and humanity, making "Salt to the Sea" an outstanding read on every level.
Courtney Waters is a teen services librarian at Missouri River Regional Library.