# Salt to the Sea

**Author:** Ruta Sepetys
**Lexile:** 560L
**Grade range:** Grades 8–12
**Age range:** 13–18
**First published:** 2016
**Page count:** 416
**Genre:** Historical Fiction
**ISBN-13:** `9780142423622`
**ISBN-10:** `0142423629`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/salt-to-the-sea
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## About this book

In the final winter of World War II, four young refugees converge on the Wilhelm Gustloff, the overloaded ship whose sinking was the deadliest maritime disaster in history. Ruta Sepetys rotates among their voices to recover a largely forgotten tragedy. A grades 8-12 historical-fiction selection, it pairs short, propulsive chapters with rigorously researched history.

## Themes

- war
- survival
- refugees
- Holocaust
- hope

## Content notes

- war
- death
- sexual assault

## Where this book is assigned

### California Young Reader Medal

- **recommended** · 8th grade · California — [source: California Young Reader Medal past winners, 2018 winner (Young Adult)](https://californiayoungreadermedal.org/s/CYRM-Winners-Complete-List-yhxf.pdf)

### Golden Kite Award

- **recommended** · 8th grade — [source: Golden Kite Award (SCBWI) winners, via Wikipedia — 2017 Winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Kite_Award)
- **recommended** · 9th grade — [source: Golden Kite Award (SCBWI) winners, via Wikipedia — 2017 Winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Kite_Award)
- **recommended** · 10th grade — [source: Golden Kite Award (SCBWI) winners, via Wikipedia — 2017 Winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Kite_Award)
- **recommended** · 11th grade — [source: Golden Kite Award (SCBWI) winners, via Wikipedia — 2017 Winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Kite_Award)
- **recommended** · 12th grade — [source: Golden Kite Award (SCBWI) winners, via Wikipedia — 2017 Winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Kite_Award)

## Banned / challenged record

Documented removals or formal challenges in at least one school district in 2 states: FL, TX. Source: [PEN America's Index of School Book Bans](https://pen.org/banned-book-list/) 2022-2024.

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