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Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys


Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys was the 2016 Goodreads YA Fiction winner. Told from four different perspectives, this historical fiction novel tells the story of the Wilhelm Gustloff disaster during World War 2.

Sex: Russian soldiers rape one of the characters. It's not described in detail.

Violence/Gore/Death/Frightening Scenes: Set during World War 2, there is a lot of violence. Several people die. The Wilhelm Gustloff disaster is pretty frightening to read about. A scene where dead bodies are found in a house is particularly disturbing.

Language: Mild.

Alcohol/Drug Abuse: Mild drinking.

Final Note: This book was one of my top ten favorite for 2016. Readers are able to see several different perspectives. The story is captivating and heartbreaking but easy to follow. I definitely recommend it for teens who can handle the material.

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