Salt to the Sea

The sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff in the Baltic Sea at the end of WWII was the greatest tragedy in maritime history. Reading a YA novel about this event was informative and new to me. That is why appreciated this book. We follow the events from four different perspectives in alternating short chapters. All four characters are from different national and ideological backgrounds whose fates intertwine with the progression of the story. The sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff was not the main focus of the novel but it rather concluded the story at the end. The main story is who these characters are, what their story is, how they met and how they all ended up on that ship. I found the story captivating and well written. The only point that felt out of place was the romance in this book. It developed way too fast and therefore felt forced. It is a pity that most YA books, regardless of genre, feel the pressure of including a romantic storyline, whether it suits the story or not. I still enjoyed this very much and recommend it to all who would like to read a WWII novel that has a unique focus.

I read this book in one sitting unable to stop. We follow 4 young people, who want to be free each in their own way. But the war and not only the russian soldiers but also the german ones are unpredictable and dangerous. A brilliant book, filled with hope, fear and sadness.

Really good book. Beautiful and tragic at the same time.