What happens in the book Salt to the Sea?

In 1945, World War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, almost all of them with something to hide. Among them are Joana, Emilia, and Florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff.

What happened at the end of the book Salt to the Sea?

The book concludes with a glimpse into the future. Joana and Florian live in the United States. They have Emilia's baby, the boy Klaus, and a child of their own. Through a letter sent by Clara Christensen, a Danish woman, it is told that Emilia's body was found washed up on a shore, and she was buried.

Do Joana and Florian end up together in Salt to the Sea?

Joana and Florian get married, raising Emilia's baby and the little boy. The novel ends on a bittersweet note when Florian, twenty-three years later, reads a letter from a woman who discovered Emilia's raft on her beach in Denmark a month after the ship sank.

Who got Emilia pregnant in Salt to the Sea?

One of the four narrators, Emilia is a fifteen-year-old girl from Lwów, in southeastern Poland. Emilia's father sent her to safety to the Kleist's farm in East Prussia. There she became pregnant when Russian soldiers raped her. Emilia is a highly perceptive, intuitive young woman who feels deeply connected to nature.

What is the main idea of the book Salt to the Sea?

Truth is a significant theme in the novel and often shows up in its opposite form: lies. Joana, Florian, Emilia, and Alfred each harbor a secret that forces them to lie, either directly or by omission.

Book Review: Salt to the Sea

What is Alfred's secret in Salt to the Sea?

Alfred is a delusional seventeen-year-old German soldier. He is the foil to Florian, who upon first meeting Alfred reflects, “This guy is a first-class booby” (177). Due to physical weakness, Alfred was picked over for Hitler Youth and was a late recruit for the military.

What is the climax of Salt to the Sea?

Climax. The climax in the story was when all of the main characters heard a loud bang and the lights went out on the ship. This was the climax because the ship had been torpedoed.

Did Emilia get raped in Salt to the Sea?

The hideous story of her pregnancy unfolds: Frau Kleist, August's mother, gave Emilia to Russian soldiers when they tried to take August's sister. The Kleist family watched as Emilia was “dragged to the cold cellar” and raped (239).

Why is Emilia's Hunter shame?

Hunters are persistent, they patiently await the perfect moment to strike. Emilia Stożek states that “Shame is a hunter”(5). Emilia feels constant shame because she has been raped and impregnated by Russian soldiers, she copes by convincing …show more content…

What does Emilia's pink hat symbolize?

Emilia Stozek wears a pink hat in Salt to the Sea. For her, her hat is a symbol of regeneration that takes place due to the war.

Who is Clara at the end of Salt to the Sea?

Clara Christensen is a woman who lives with her husband on the coast near the sinking site of the Wilhelm Gustloff. They were the ones who found Emilia's body, but they never knew who she was.

What does Joana finally find out about Florian?

Later, Joana is able to confront her terrible guilt when she tells Florian the story of her cousin's deportation and likely death.

Is there romance in Salt to the Sea?

'Salt to the Sea' effectively blends World War II history with teen romance. In this World War II story, set during the sunset hours of the terrible conflict, Ruta Sepetys effectively spins a tale that is equal parts romance, thriller, and real life dystopia.

Is Salt to the Sea sad?

It takes place during WWII and focuses on the lives and stories of four different characters- Alfred, Joana, Emilia, and Florian. It's such a sad book but sooo worth it and you will not be able to put this book down.

Is Salt to the Sea based on a true story?

At the center of "Salt To The Sea" is the true story of a doomed German ship, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Late in the war, this one-time cruise ship became part of a massive evacuation of German soldiers and civilians plus refugees from Poland, Lithuania and beyond. All were fleeing the advancing Soviet army.

Why does fate hunt Florian?

Fate is hunting Florian, a young East Prussian man carrying a grave secret and prized treasure that could seek revenge on Adolf Hitler. Shame is hunting Emilia, a Polish girl merely trying to survive after various persecutions from the Germans and the Russians.

Who is the bravest character in Salt to the Sea?

However, Joana, the girl who protected and nursed the characters shows the most bravery. She defied Nazi beliefs, and saved people from being tortured, and ultimately slaughtered by the cruelty of Hitler's followers.

Is there a Salt to the Sea movie?

Universal Pictures is developing a movie based on Ruta Sepetys' historical novel “Salt to the Sea,” and set up the project with “Transformers” producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura. The studio won the rights in an auction.

How many people have already board the Wilhelm Gustloff when Alfred is fighting the crowds to take Joana to see Florian?

They ended up on the Wilhelm Gustloff, built as a cruise ship meant to accommodate only about 1,900 including crew. When it departed on January 30, 1945 to cross the icy Baltic Sea, it held over 10,500 people, and only twelve lifeboats.

Who is Klaus in Salt to the Sea?

Klaus, in Salt to the Sea, is a German boy who turns into a refugee as the rest of the characters of the novel. He feels alone after his grandmother's...

What is the conflict of salt to the sea?

The conflict of Sepetys' Salt to the Sea is the main characters' fight for survival, as Joana, Florian, and Emilia are all refugees seeking to escape... See full answer below.

Who is the antagonist of salt to the sea?

For those familiar with young adult literature about World War II, the antagonist of the story is an unusual one in that of the advancing Soviets. In 1945, Germans realize that things aren't looking good and the Soviets are encroaching closer and closer. Caught between the two sides are millions of refugees.

Why should I read Salt to the Sea?

Salt to the Sea is a great book for teens to read because it is educational in history and in morals. This novel provides readers with another view of what refugees lived through during the tragic World War II era.