Books like Salt to the Sea

Looking for books like Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (Historical Fiction · 560L · grades 8–12)? It’s most often read for its themes of war, survival, and refugees. The 10 titlesbelow are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, genre, and reading level, and each linked to the curricula, states, and grades where it’s assigned, with primary sources.

These are reading-level matches, not just topical ones — so the picks stay grade-appropriate for a grades 8–12 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Salt to the Sea

Why each is a match

A Long Walk to Water720L
Shares themes of war, survival, and hope, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (720L vs 560L).
Refugee800L
Shares themes of survival and refugees, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (800L vs 560L).
Night590L
Shares themes of survival and Holocaust and a close reading level (590L vs 560L).
The Book Thief730L
Shares themes of Holocaust, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (730L vs 560L).
The Devil's Arithmetic730L
Shares themes of Holocaust, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (730L vs 560L).
The Diary of a Young Girl1080L
Shares themes of Holocaust and hope and overlapping grades (7–10).
Maus: A Survivor's Talegrades 9–12
Shares themes of survival and Holocaust and overlapping grades (9–12).
One Crazy Summer750L
Same genre (Historical Fiction), a close reading level (750L vs 560L), and the same era (2010s).
Inside Out & Back Again800L
Shares themes of refugees and a close reading level (800L vs 560L).
Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon920L
Shares themes of war and overlapping grades (6–9).

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