Salt to the Sea

<b><i>New York Times</i> Bestseller! <b>&quot;Masterly crafted&quot;<b> - </b><i>The Wall Street Journal</i></b><br><br>For readers of <b><i>Between Shades of Gray</i> and<i> All the Light We Cannot See</i>, bestselling author Ruta Sepetys </b>returns to WWII <b>in this epic novel that </b>shines a light on one of the war's most devastating - yet unknown - tragedies.<br></b><br>World War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, many with something to hide. Among them are Joana, Emilia, and Florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation, the <i>Wilhelm Gustloff.</i> Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage, and trust in each other tested with each step closer to safety.<br><br> Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. Not country, nor culture, nor status matter as all ten thousand people - adults and children alike - aboard must fight for the same thing: survival.<br><br>Told in alternating points of view and perfect for fans of Anthony Doerr's Pulitzer Prize-winning <i>All the Light We Cannot See</i>, Erik Larson's <i>Dead Wake</i>, and Elizabeth Wein's Printz Honor Book <i>Code Name Verity</i>, this masterful work of historical fiction is inspired by the real-life tragedy that was the sinking of the<i><b> </b>Wilhelm Gustloff<b> - </b></i>the greatest maritime disaster in history. As she did in <i>Between Shades of Gray</i>, Ruta Sepetys unearths a shockingly little-known casualty of a gruesome war, and proves that humanity and love can prevail, even in the darkest of hours.<br><b><br>Praise for <i>Salt to the Sea</i>:</b><br>Featured on NPR's Morning Edition ♦ &quot;Superlative ... masterfully crafted ... [a] powerful work of historical fiction.&quot; - <i>The Wall Street Journal ♦ </i>&quot;[Sepetys is] a master of YA fiction ... she once again anchors a panoramic view of epic tragedy in perspectives that feel deeply textured and immediate.&quot; - <i>Entertainment Weekly ♦ </i>&quot;Riveting...powerful...haunting.&quot; - <i>The Washington Post ♦ </i>&quot;Compelling for both adult and teenage readers.&quot; - <i>New York Times Book Review ♦ </i>&quot;Intimate, extraordinary, artfully crafted ... brilliant.&quot; - <i>Shelf Awareness</i> ♦ &quot;Historical fiction at its very, very best.&quot; - <i>The Globe and Mail<b> <i>♦ </i> </b></i>&quot;[H]aunting, heartbreaking, hopeful and altogether gorgeous ... one of the best young-adult novels to appear in a very long time.&quot; - <i>Salt Lake Tribune <b>♦ *</b></i>&quot;This haunting gem of a novel begs to be remembered.&quot; - <i>BOOKLIST </i> ♦ <b> *</b>&quot;Artfully told and sensitively crafted...will leave readers weeping.&quot; - <i>School Library Journal</i><br><br><b><b>Praise for <i><b>Between Shades of Gray</b></i>:</b></b><br>A<i> New York Times</i> Notable Book ♦ A <i>Wall Street Journal</i> Best Children's Book ♦ A <i>Publishers Weekly</i>, <i>School Library Journal</i>,<i><i> Booklist</i></i>, and<i><i> Kirkus</i></i> Best Book ♦ iTunes 2011 Rewind Best Teen Novel ♦ A Carnegie Medal and William C. Morris Finalist ♦ A <i>New York Times</i> and International Bestseller ♦ &quot;Few books are beautifully written, fewer still are important; this novel is both.&quot; - <i>The Washington Post ♦ </i> <b>*</b>&quot;[A]n important book that deserves the widest possible readership.&quot; - <i>Booklist</i><br><br><br><i>From the Hardcover edition.</i>