Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
Reviewed by: Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Suggested Age: Teens, Adults
What is the book about?: Four narrators bring each of Ruta Sepetys’s characters to life within the setting of WWII. 1945 brings the reader into the last stages of the war when the tide has shifted and the Russian army begins its encroachment into Germany. Perspectives switch between a German, Polish, Prussian, and Lithuanian who are trapped, trying to escape the chaos that ensues. Salt to the Sea has received quite a bit of praise in 2016 and 2017 by Booklist, Goodreads, YALSA, and others. It is also on the 2018 Abe Lincoln Award list which includes books chosen by Illinois librarians, teachers, and high school students.
My Review: I enjoyed this book though I was a little thrown off at the very beginning. Sepetys brings in all four perspectives very quickly and it was somewhat difficult to sort them out in my mind at first. Once acclimated, I found myself liking certain characters more than others, but I felt that the very short chapters led to bit of detachment I wouldn’t necessarily feel if Sepetys had focused on developing just one or two characters. The author does a nice job of weaving in a bit of mystery surrounding each narrator and revealing the truth behind these mysteries over the course of the novel. Though I felt this book did not quite live up to its hype, it was still a good read and brings light to a chapter during WWII that is not as well known.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Brisk, Tragic, and Dramatic
Give This a Try if You Like… WWII fiction, historical fiction, Between Shades of Grey
Rating: 4/5
About FDL Reads
Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!