Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0142423629/ref=nosim?tag=beyondwordsle-20
Overview: Salt to the Sea is a gripping historical novel involving the real-life sinking of the ship Wilhelm Gustloff in 1945, which resulted in more than 8,000 deaths - more than four times the death count of the better-known Titanic.
Occurring during the final chaotic months of World War II, the ship was filled with German civilians trying to flee to safety; more than half of them were children.
Ruta Sepetys' gripping account of this forgotten tragedy centers on four teens -- Joanna, Emilia, Alfred, and Florian -- trying to escape their own tragic circumstances.
Included:
20-word Multiple Choice test on whole novel with key. The questions include plot, character motivation, and theme.
Age Level and Length: Advanced grade 6, or grades 7-9. At 448 pages, this is a long read for those younger; it should take the average 8th grader 6-8 hourd to read. The quix takes 25 minutes or less.
Maturity or Political Issues: Cold, hunger, and general suffering abound in this book and there is at least one shooting (by a Russian soldier.) However, this true story ends on a positive note. No sexual scenes or bad language.
Additional Considerations: This is a great story for those interested in World War II. Ruta Sepetys has written other historical fiction books.
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