Salt to the Sea book cover
9-12

Salt to the Sea

By Ruta Sepetys

#1 New York Times bestseller and winner of the Carnegie Medal! 

“A superlative novel . . . masterfully crafted.”–The Wall Street Journal

Based on “the forgotten tragedy that was six times deadlier than the Titanic.”–Time

Winter 1945. WWII. Four refugees. Four stories.

Each one born of a different homeland; each one hunted, and haunted, by tragedy, lies, war. As thousands desperately flock to the coast in the midst of a Soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom. But not all promises can be kept . . .

This paperback edition includes book club questions and exclusive interviews with Wilhelm Gustloff survivors and experts.

Educator Resources

  • Educator Guide to the Works of Ruta Sepetys

    Download
  • Writing Tips for Teens

    Download
  • Salt to the Sea Discussion & Research Guide

    Download

State Awards

Recommended reading lists from your state's teacher or librarian associations!
  • California
    • Westchester Fiction Award, 2017
    • California Young Reader Medal, 2017-2018
  • Indiana
    • Indiana Read Alouds, 2017
    • Young Hoosier Book Award, 2018-2019
    • Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award, 2017-2018
  • Iowa
    • Iowa Teen Book Award, 2017-2018
  • Michigan
    • Thumbs Up Award, 2017
    • Great Lakes, Great Books Award, 2017-2018
  • Missouri
    • Gateway Readers Award, 2018-2019
  • Texas
    • TAYSHAS Reading List, 2017
  • Wisconsin
    • Just One More Page!, 2017
  • Connecticut
    • Nutmeg Book Award, 2019
  • Delaware
    • Blue Hen Book Award, 2018
  • Florida
    • Florida Teens Read Award, 2017-2018
  • Georgia
    • Georgia Children's Book Award, 2017-2018
  • Illinois
    • Abraham Lincoln High School Book Award, 2018
  • Utah
    • Beehive Book Award, 2018
  • New Mexico
    • Black Bear Reading List, 2017-2018
  • Kentucky
    • Bluegrass Book Award, 2016-2017
  • New Hampshire
    • Flume Teen Reader's Choice Award, 2018
  • Arizona
    • Grand Canyon Reader Award, 2018
  • Vermont
    • Green Mountain Book Award, 2017-2018
  • Pennsylvania
    • Keystone to Reading Book Award, 2017-2018
    • Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award, 2017-2018
  • Mississippi
    • Magnolia Award, 2018
  • North Carolina
    • North Carolina Young Adult Book Award, 2017-2018
  • New York
    • NYC Reads 365 Reading List, 2017-2018
  • Oregon
    • Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA), 2019
  • South Carolina
    • South Carolina Young Adult Book Award, 2018-2019
  • South Dakota
    • South Dakota Teen Choice Book Awards, 2016-2017
  • Virginia
    • Virginia Reader's Choice List, 2017-2018
  • Tennessee
    • Volunteer State Book Award, 2017-2018
  • Alaska
    • Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award
  • Wyoming
    • Soaring Eagle Book Award, 2016-2017
  • Rhode Island
    • Rhode Island Teen Book Award, 2018

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