Salt to the Sea is a haunting and beautifully written historical fiction novel that talks about one of the greatest marine disasters in history—the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff in 1945. The novel follows Joana, a Lithuanian nurse with German heritage who feels bad for leaving her family behind; Florian, a Prussian man on the run after betraying the Nazi regime; Emilia, a fifteen-year-old Polish girl who is pregnant because of a traumatic experience with German soldiers; and Alfred, a German soldier who idolizes Hitler and sees himself as a hero, despite his delusions. They form an unlikely bond, depending on one another for survival. Their goal was to get on the Wilhelm Gustloff, a German ship meant to evacuate civilians and soldiers.
I love this book so much because it handles important themes that capture the chaos, desperation, and reality of war while showing the characters’ resilience. The novel shows the human cost of war, showing how it affects civilians, refugees, and even soldiers in different ways. The novel emphasizes that kindness and love can prosper even in the darkest moments. Salt to the Sea is an unforgettable story that brings attention to a largely forgotten tragedy. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good heartfelt book and history because it is an amazing combination of the two.