Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Haunting, heartbreaking, and yet uplifting. World War II can be overwhelming to read about, but author Ruta Sepetys makes history graspable by telling the small, intimate tales of four young adult strangers. Tossed together by the messiness of war, these strangers learn to watch over each other as they struggle to the coast of Prussia to attain what they hope will be safety and freedom aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff. (Salt to the Sea was inspired by maritime WWII history.)

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