Here we go again, another World War II novel. Ā But this one is a story that you probably haven’t heard. Ā Ruta Sepetys is one of the best at finding the story that you haven’t heard. Ā This storyĀ involves groups of people that were rarely spoken of and a ship wreck that was the greatest maritime disaster in terms of lives lost in history and yet most have never heard the name of the ship. Ā The alternating narrative chosen by the author creates a feeling of snippets of memories being reveled in an edited slide projector format. Ā To see the story play out from many different narrators gives you a disjointed feeling of seeing the events but only partially. Ā It isĀ a highly emotional journeyĀ because you know the fate of at least some or most of the characters you meet and yet you want to hope for the best.
Leave a CommentWorld 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.Ā Among them areĀ Joana, Emilia, and Florian, whose paths converge en route to theĀ ship that promises salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage, and trust in each other testedĀ with each step closer to safety.
Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. NotĀ country, nor culture, nor status matter as all ten thousand peopleāadults and children alikeāaboard must fight for the same thing: survival.
Told in alternating points of view and perfect for fans of Anthony Doerr’s Pulitzer Prize-winningĀ All the Light We Cannot See, Erik Larson’sĀ Dead Wake, and Elizabeth Wein’s Printz Honor BookĀ Code Name Verity, this masterful work of historical fiction is inspired by the real-life tragedy that was the sinking of theĀ Wilhelm Gustloffāthe greatest maritime disaster in history. As she did inĀ Between Shades of Gray, 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.