314:, which was inspired by the history of Lithuania, that her father's cousin told her she should write the story of the "Wilhelm Gustloff." In an interview with NPR Sepetys also shared that her father's cousin had a ticket to board the Wilhelm Gustoff. However, she was ultimately unable to board the ship. Sepetys father's cousin wanted the story to be told as a way to give a voice to those who lost their lives on the Ship. Sepetys goes on to say, "And I was fascinated by the story, wondering why it is that some parts of history penetrate our collective consciousness, and others remain hidden?"
1140:
574:
664:
32:
361:; and Joana is secretly a "murderer". By the time the group reaches the evacuation ships, their relationships are solidified. It is clear that Joana and Florian have fallen in love, and Emilia sees Florian as a symbol of good men. As the group tries to cross a frozen harbor to get to the ships, Russians bomb the harbor, killing Ingrid.
352:
Emilia and
Florian meet when Florian saves Emilia from a Russian soldier. The couple runs into Joana, who is traveling with a group of refugees. Among them are a blind girl named Ingrid, an elderly shoemaker named Heinz (known amongst the group as the "shoe poet" as he is able to tell someone's life
300:
is the deadliest maritime disaster in history, "remarkably, most people have never heard of it." She continues writing: "Every nation has hidden history, countless stories preserved only by those who experienced them. Stories of war are often read and discussed worldwide by readers whose nations
321:
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,
353:
story by the shoes they are wearing), an older lady named Eva, and a young boy named Klaus (known amongst the group as the "wandering boy" since they found him wandering near the forest). Everyone is attempting to make it to West
Germany to board ships and escape before Russians bomb the area.
356:
Throughout the journey to the evacuation ships, the refugees get to know one another. It is revealed that fifteen-year-old Emilia is eight months pregnant after an assault by
Russian soldiers; Florian, the restoration artist, is on the run for stealing a piece of art from
301:
stood on opposite sides during the battle. History divided us, but through reading we can be united in story, study, and remembrance. Books join us together as a global reading community, but more importantly, a global human community striving to learn from the past."
136:
383:
While on the boat, Emilia gives birth to a daughter, Halinka; Joana works as a nurse; Florian hides from Nazis who are looking for him since he stole an artifact from the Amber Room. Just hours after setting sail, three
Russian
440:
praised
Sepetys' writing. In reviewing the book, Anderson wrote, "once again, Ruta Sepetys acts as champion of the interstitial people so often ignored — whole populations lost in the cracks of history."
403:
Emilia finds Alfred and they escape the sinking ship on a raft. Instead of sadness and grieving over the dead, all selfish Alfred thinks about is his highly longed-for medal for his service to
528:. She planned on finding him after the war. She gives birth to a daughter, Halinka, whom she saves and hands over to Florian during the sinking before dying and being washed up in
444:
The judges who awarded
Sepetys the Carnegie Medal for this book noted "the powerful, crafted language, the tight, carefully shaped plot and the range of moods evoked throughout"..
1248:
1223:
296:
Sepetys wanted to write about an element of World War II that had been forgotten. She writes in her Author's Note for the novel that even though the sinking of the
882:
1263:
1017:
1253:
1258:
1228:
1233:
1213:
396:, along with Klaus, after Emilia sacrifices her spot in the lifeboat for him. Heinz drowns as he tries to swim to the lifeboat as he gave his
364:
When they reach western
Germany, the group comes into contact with Alfred, their only hope of getting tickets to the boats. They board the
929:
1071:
333:
takes place in East
Prussia in 1945. The book follows four central characters as they evacuate their home countries: Emilia, a teenage
426:
woman, it is told that Emilia's body was found washed up on shore, and she was buried by a grove of roses near
Christensen's cottage.
407:. While on the raft, Emilia accidentally speaks in Polish, giving herself away. Alfred tries to kill her, but fails and suffers fatal
1208:
1054:
711:
241:
115:
685:
452:
49:
1171:
1145:
451:
in 2017 and was listed as a 2017 Best
Children's Book of the Year with Outstanding Merit from the Children's Book Committee of
281:
555:) and is highly narcissistic. His thought processes and secrets are revealed via letters he mentally composes to Hannelore, a
96:
689:
372:
53:
485:
forces. She develops a romantic relationship with Florian Beck, whom she calls "the Prussian". She is a crossover character
68:
772:
Best Children's Book of the Year 2017 with Outstanding Merit, Children's Book Committee of Bank Street College of Education
1243:
1203:
634:
524:. She is caught in an illusion that a boy named August, a member of the family she was working for, was the source of her
448:
400:
to Florian. As the lifeboat rows away, Florian realizes that Alfred is holding his pack, his most important possession.
1238:
1218:
422:. They have adopted Halinka, Klaus, and now have a child of their own as well. In a letter sent by Clara Christensen, a
974:
75:
674:
948:
992:
646:
693:
678:
42:
640:
82:
64:
380:
hates Poles, and since the ships are all German ships, Emilia poses as a Latvian woman to protect herself.
486:
469:
310:
1184:
1163:
365:
267:
1176:
628:
611:
606:
436:
255:
277:, a world-famous, ornately decorated chamber stolen by the Nazis that has never been recovered.
392:. Quickly, the ship sinks, and thousands die. However, Joana, Florian, and Halinka escape on a
1050:
393:
236:
89:
623:
619:
177:
167:
20:
587:
Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.
482:
187:
1197:
1043:
419:
213:
192:
887:
543:
521:
478:
423:
377:
338:
263:
259:
149:
663:
467:: The cousin of Lina Vilkas, the main protagonist in Ruta Sepetys' debut novel,
412:
31:
1135:
551:
546:
507:
503:
358:
274:
135:
626:
have been tapped to adapt the novel into a screenplay. Their credits include
525:
474:
397:
342:
883:"Carnegie and Kate Greenaway medals: US double in children's book awards"
529:
949:"More Died On This WWII Ship Than On The Titanic And Lusitania Combined"
1114:
1089:
533:
517:
404:
385:
322:
seeing life from four different cultural lenses on this refugee trek."
473:(2011). Joana is a 21-year-old woman fleeing from her native country
556:
408:
346:
334:
930:"Ruta Sepetys on 'Salt to the Sea,' sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff"
843:
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award 2017-2018 Master list (PA)
496:
495:: A young Prussian art restoration apprentice carrying a valuable
1072:"Universal Boards World War II Disaster Drama 'Salt to the Sea'"
559:
girl back in his hometown. He dies after a struggle with Emilia.
499:
370:, the largest ship in the harbor. Eva boards another boat, the
657:
567:
304:
Sepetys is the daughter of a Lithuanian refugee. She told the
25:
411:
in the process, dying shortly after. Not long after, Emilia
993:"2017 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Winner and Finalists"
778:
Winner of the Cybils Award for Young Adult Fiction 2016
418:
In 1969, Joana and Florian are married and live in the
858:
Virginia Reader's Choice Award 2017-2018 Winners (VA)
273:. The story also touches on the disappearance of the
846:
Florida Young Adult Reader's Choice Award 2016 (FL)
834:
Kentucky Bluegrass Award 2016-2017 master list (KY)
822:
California Young Reader Medal 2017-2018 Winner (CA)
800:
Winner of the Golden Dragon Book Award in Hong Kong
751:
Finalist for the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award 2017
542:: An eager, delusional young German who adheres to
481:with her family in 1941 to escape capture from the
235:
227:
219:
209:
199:
183:
173:
163:
155:
145:
56:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1042:
781:Los Angeles Public Library Best Teen Books of 2016
849:Rhode Island Teen Book Award 2018 Honor Book (RI)
837:Keystone to Reading Book Award 2018 Finalist (PA)
757:Winner of the Crystal Kite Award for Fiction 2017
510:. He develops a romantic relationship with Joana.
337:orphan; Florian, a restoration artist from
760:Publishers Weekly Best Young Adult Books of 2016
742:Winner of the Golden Kite Award for Fiction 2016
520:who was raped by Russian soldiers not far from
1049:(First; Hardcover ed.). Philomel Books.
8:
262:. It tells the story of four individuals in
128:
692:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
506:, after discovering that he is a puppet of
1224:Carnegie Medal in Literature winning works
1151:
861:Westchester Fiction Award 2017 Winner (CA)
748:Winner of the Goodreads Choice Awards 2016
447:The book was honored as a finalist of the
134:
127:
831:Just One More Page! 2017 Master List (WI)
828:Indiana Read Alouds 2017 Master List (IN)
809:Finalist for the Inky Awards in Australia
763:School Library Journal Best Books of 2016
712:Learn how and when to remove this message
116:Learn how and when to remove this message
1249:Children's books set during World War II
825:Florida Teens Read 2017-2018 Winner (FL)
775:Shelf Awareness Best Teen Novels of 2016
923:
921:
871:
803:Winner of the Prix Farniente in Belgium
754:Notable Books for a Global Society 2017
855:Thumbs Up Award 2017 Honor Titles (MI)
819:Black Bear 2017-2018 Reading List (NM)
806:Finalist for the Sakura Medal in Japan
739:Winner of the Indies Choice Award 2017
415:and sees her late mother and brother.
947:Montagne, Renee (February 17, 2016).
840:NYC Reads 365 2017-2018 Booklist (NY)
766:Booklist Top Ten Books for Youth 2016
7:
975:"'Salt to the Sea,' by Ruta Sepetys"
877:
875:
690:adding citations to reliable sources
266:who make their way to the ill-fated
54:adding citations to reliable sources
1018:"Best Children's Books of the Year"
973:Anderson, M.T. (12 February 2016).
14:
1264:Children's books set in the 1940s
787:ILA Young Adult Reading List 2017
516:: A 15-year-old Polish girl from
16:Young adult novel by Ruta Sepetys
1138:
1041:Sepetys, Ruta (March 22, 2011).
1022:Bank Street College of Education
928:Nance, Kevin (4 February 2016).
769:YALSA Top Ten Teen Books of 2017
745:A Junior Library Guild Selection
662:
572:
453:Bank Street College of Education
30:
41:needs additional citations for
1254:Children's books set in Europe
1234:Novels set during World War II
730:A #1 New York Times Bestseller
1:
1259:Children's books set on ships
852:Tayshas 2017 Master List (TX)
736:A New York Times Notable Book
449:Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award
280:Sepetys was awarded the 2017
1229:Children's historical novels
1146:Children's literature portal
1070:Mcnary, Dave (25 May 2016).
797:Winner of the CIal in the UK
733:Winner of the Carnegie Medal
487:from another book by Sepetys
1282:
1214:American children's novels
914:(Print ed.). Penguin.
18:
1180:
1169:
1159:
1154:
784:Capitol Choices List 2017
581:This section needs to be
477:, who had repatriated to
133:
1172:Carnegie Medal recipient
19:Not to be confused with
502:that he stole from the
1045:Between Shades of Gray
910:Sepetys, Ruta (2016).
635:The Fault in Our Stars
470:Between Shades of Gray
311:Between Shades of Gray
1209:2016 children's books
345:nurse; and Alfred, a
308:that after she wrote
258:young adult novel by
1244:Philomel Books books
1204:2016 American novels
1185:Where the World Ends
792:International Awards
686:improve this section
629:(500) Days of Summer
50:improve this article
1239:Penguin Books books
1219:American war novels
647:The Disaster Artist
130:
1115:"Michael H, Weber"
1090:"Scott Neustadter"
979:The New York Times
641:Our Souls At Night
612:Universal Pictures
437:The New York Times
317:She also told the
256:historical fiction
178:Historical Fiction
140:First edition (US)
1192:
1191:
1181:Succeeded by
722:
721:
714:
644:(2017 film), and
604:On May 25, 2017,
602:
601:
434:M.T. Anderson of
247:
246:
210:Publication place
156:Cover artist
126:
125:
118:
100:
65:"Salt to the Sea"
1271:
1160:Preceded by
1152:
1148:
1143:
1142:
1141:
1130:
1129:
1127:
1125:
1111:
1105:
1104:
1102:
1100:
1086:
1080:
1079:
1067:
1061:
1060:
1048:
1038:
1032:
1031:
1029:
1028:
1014:
1008:
1007:
1005:
1003:
989:
983:
982:
970:
964:
963:
961:
959:
944:
938:
937:
925:
916:
915:
907:
901:
900:
898:
896:
879:
717:
710:
706:
703:
697:
666:
658:
624:Michael H. Weber
620:Scott Neustadter
597:
594:
588:
576:
575:
568:
413:freezes to death
390:Wilhelm Gustloff
367:Wilhelm Gustloff
298:Wilhelm Gustloff
270:Wilhelm Gustloff
201:Publication date
138:
131:
129:Salt to the Sea
121:
114:
110:
107:
101:
99:
58:
34:
26:
21:Salt of this Sea
1281:
1280:
1274:
1273:
1272:
1270:
1269:
1268:
1194:
1193:
1188:
1175:
1167:
1144:
1139:
1137:
1134:
1133:
1123:
1121:
1113:
1112:
1108:
1098:
1096:
1088:
1087:
1083:
1069:
1068:
1064:
1057:
1040:
1039:
1035:
1026:
1024:
1016:
1015:
1011:
1001:
999:
991:
990:
986:
972:
971:
967:
957:
955:
946:
945:
941:
934:Chicago Tribune
927:
926:
919:
912:Salt to the Sea
909:
908:
904:
894:
892:
881:
880:
873:
868:
816:
794:
727:
725:National Awards
718:
707:
701:
698:
683:
667:
656:
616:Salt to the Sea
614:was developing
598:
592:
589:
586:
577:
573:
566:
564:Film adaptation
461:
432:
331:Salt to the Sea
328:
306:Chicago Tribune
294:
286:Salt to the Sea
251:Salt to the Sea
220:Media type
202:
191:
141:
122:
111:
105:
102:
59:
57:
47:
35:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1279:
1278:
1275:
1267:
1266:
1261:
1256:
1251:
1246:
1241:
1236:
1231:
1226:
1221:
1216:
1211:
1206:
1196:
1195:
1190:
1189:
1182:
1179:
1168:
1161:
1157:
1156:
1150:
1149:
1132:
1131:
1106:
1081:
1062:
1055:
1033:
1009:
984:
965:
939:
917:
902:
891:. 19 June 2017
870:
869:
867:
864:
863:
862:
859:
856:
853:
850:
847:
844:
841:
838:
835:
832:
829:
826:
823:
820:
815:
812:
811:
810:
807:
804:
801:
798:
793:
790:
789:
788:
785:
782:
779:
776:
773:
770:
767:
764:
761:
758:
755:
752:
749:
746:
743:
740:
737:
734:
731:
726:
723:
720:
719:
670:
668:
661:
655:
652:
618:into a film.
610:reported that
600:
599:
580:
578:
571:
565:
562:
561:
560:
544:Adolf Hitler's
537:
511:
490:
483:Soviet Russian
460:
457:
431:
428:
359:the Amber Room
327:
324:
293:
290:
282:Carnegie Medal
245:
244:
239:
233:
232:
229:
225:
224:
221:
217:
216:
211:
207:
206:
203:
200:
197:
196:
188:Philomel Books
185:
181:
180:
175:
171:
170:
165:
161:
160:
157:
153:
152:
147:
143:
142:
139:
124:
123:
38:
36:
29:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1277:
1276:
1265:
1262:
1260:
1257:
1255:
1252:
1250:
1247:
1245:
1242:
1240:
1237:
1235:
1232:
1230:
1227:
1225:
1222:
1220:
1217:
1215:
1212:
1210:
1207:
1205:
1202:
1201:
1199:
1187:
1186:
1178:
1174:
1173:
1166:
1165:
1158:
1153:
1147:
1136:
1120:
1116:
1110:
1107:
1095:
1091:
1085:
1082:
1077:
1073:
1066:
1063:
1058:
1056:9780399254123
1052:
1047:
1046:
1037:
1034:
1023:
1019:
1013:
1010:
998:
994:
988:
985:
980:
976:
969:
966:
954:
950:
943:
940:
935:
931:
924:
922:
918:
913:
906:
903:
890:
889:
884:
878:
876:
872:
865:
860:
857:
854:
851:
848:
845:
842:
839:
836:
833:
830:
827:
824:
821:
818:
817:
813:
808:
805:
802:
799:
796:
795:
791:
786:
783:
780:
777:
774:
771:
768:
765:
762:
759:
756:
753:
750:
747:
744:
741:
738:
735:
732:
729:
728:
724:
716:
713:
705:
695:
691:
687:
681:
680:
676:
671:This section
669:
665:
660:
659:
653:
651:
650:(2017 film).
649:
648:
643:
642:
638:(2014 film),
637:
636:
632:(2009 film),
631:
630:
625:
621:
617:
613:
609:
608:
596:
584:
579:
570:
569:
563:
558:
554:
553:
548:
545:
541:
538:
535:
531:
527:
523:
519:
515:
514:Emilia Stożek
512:
509:
505:
501:
498:
494:
491:
488:
484:
480:
476:
472:
471:
466:
463:
462:
458:
456:
454:
450:
445:
442:
439:
438:
429:
427:
425:
421:
420:United States
416:
414:
410:
406:
401:
399:
395:
391:
387:
381:
379:
375:
374:
369:
368:
362:
360:
354:
350:
348:
344:
340:
336:
332:
325:
323:
320:
315:
313:
312:
307:
302:
299:
291:
289:
287:
283:
278:
276:
272:
271:
265:
261:
257:
253:
252:
243:
242:9780141347400
240:
238:
234:
230:
226:
222:
218:
215:
214:United States
212:
208:
204:
198:
194:
193:Penguin Books
189:
186:
182:
179:
176:
172:
169:
166:
162:
158:
154:
151:
148:
144:
137:
132:
120:
117:
109:
98:
95:
91:
88:
84:
81:
77:
74:
70:
67: –
66:
62:
61:Find sources:
55:
51:
45:
44:
39:This article
37:
33:
28:
27:
22:
1183:
1170:
1162:
1122:. Retrieved
1118:
1109:
1097:. Retrieved
1093:
1084:
1075:
1065:
1044:
1036:
1025:. Retrieved
1021:
1012:
1000:. Retrieved
996:
987:
978:
968:
956:. Retrieved
952:
942:
933:
911:
905:
893:. Retrieved
888:The Guardian
886:
814:State Awards
708:
699:
684:Please help
672:
645:
639:
633:
627:
615:
605:
603:
590:
582:
550:
540:Alfred Frick
539:
513:
508:Erich Koch's
493:Florian Beck
492:
479:Nazi Germany
468:
465:Joana Vilkas
464:
446:
443:
435:
433:
417:
402:
389:
382:
371:
366:
363:
355:
351:
339:East Prussia
330:
329:
318:
316:
309:
305:
303:
297:
295:
285:
279:
269:
264:World War II
260:Ruta Sepetys
250:
249:
248:
150:Ruta Sepetys
112:
103:
93:
86:
79:
72:
60:
48:Please help
43:verification
40:
654:Recognition
549:(he quotes
522:Nemmersdorf
341:; Joana, a
1198:Categories
1027:2023-04-05
866:References
593:March 2022
552:Mein Kampf
547:propaganda
504:Amber Room
459:Characters
343:Lithuanian
292:Background
275:Amber Room
254:is a 2016
159:Matt Jones
106:March 2016
76:newspapers
1124:March 22,
1099:March 22,
1002:March 22,
958:March 22,
702:July 2023
673:does not
526:pregnancy
475:Lithuania
430:Reception
398:life vest
386:torpedoes
184:Publisher
530:Bornholm
409:injuries
394:lifeboat
388:hit the
376:. Since
164:Language
1155:Awards
1076:Variety
895:21 June
694:removed
679:sources
607:Variety
583:updated
534:Denmark
405:Germany
319:Tribune
168:English
90:scholar
1053:
557:Jewish
424:Danish
378:Hitler
335:Polish
146:Author
92:
85:
78:
71:
63:
497:amber
373:Hansa
228:Pages
223:Print
174:Genre
97:JSTOR
83:books
1177:2017
1126:2020
1119:IMDb
1101:2020
1094:IMDb
1051:ISBN
1004:2020
997:ALAN
960:2020
897:2017
677:any
675:cite
622:and
518:Lwów
500:swan
347:Nazi
326:Plot
284:for
237:ISBN
205:2016
195:(UK)
190:(US)
69:news
1164:One
953:NPR
688:by
268:MV
231:391
52:by
1200::
1117:.
1092:.
1074:.
1020:.
995:.
977:.
951:.
932:.
920:^
885:.
874:^
532:,
455:.
349:.
288:.
1128:.
1103:.
1078:.
1059:.
1030:.
1006:.
981:.
962:.
936:.
899:.
715:)
709:(
704:)
700:(
696:.
682:.
595:)
591:(
585:.
536:.
489:.
119:)
113:(
108:)
104:(
94:·
87:·
80:·
73:·
46:.
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
