Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys is a powerful and emotionally gripping historical fiction novel inspired by one of the worst maritime disasters of the Second World War. Set in early 1945, the story follows a group of refugees desperately making their way across war-ravaged Germany in search of safety and a chance to escape by sea.

Four young people, each carrying their own secrets, fears and hopes, narrate this unforgettable story from different perspectives. As their journeys converge, they find themselves connected by the desperate struggle to survive and reach the ship that could take them away from the devastation of war.

Key Features

• Based on a True Story – Inspired by the real-life sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff in 1945.
• World War II Historical Fiction – Set against the final months of the Second World War.
• Multiple Perspectives – Four young characters share their individual experiences and secrets.
• Powerful Story of Survival – Explores courage, desperation, loss, hope and resilience.
• Historical Tragedy – Brings attention to the experiences of civilian refugees caught in wartime displacement.