I've loved Ruta Septys since I read Between Shades of Gray, and Salt to the Sea was no exception. Within pages, I was completely engrossed in the story of these three travelers trying to escape the war, and walking unknowingly into the greatest maritime disaster in history. Reading this book made me realize how very little I remember from my school days regarding WWII and the conflicts among various factions and nationalities, but it's presented in such a way that you feel like you should have more background, without making the reader feel completely lost. More importantly, it made the history and tragedy of the war come to life in a way that history books simply cannot accomplish. The story is stunning, hopeful, hopeless, and heartbreaking, all at once. I loved every single minute.