Near the end of World War II, in a
little known tragedy, over 9,000 refugees perished on the Wilhelm
Gustloff, a ship that was meant
to take them closer to freedom. In this stunning work of historical
fiction, author Ruta Sepetys presents what it might have been like to
be a young adult trying to survive in a war zone. She does this by
sharing with readers the perspectives of several main characters.
One young man is fleeing Nazi Germany with a stolen artifact. A
young pregnant girl, raped by soldiers, just wants to feel safe. A
caring young Lithuanian nurse is trying so hard to help whoever she
can along the way, trying to find redemption. On the darker side, a
sociopathic young man expresses his frightening and fanatical views,
swept away by the Fuhrer's hold over the German people.
This
is not an easy book to read, but I feel it is a very important one.
Thankfully, I have never had to live in a war zone. My children have
never had to know that terror. I have never been forcibly separated
from the people I love. Many are not so fortunate. While it is a
work of fiction, it is extensively researched. In her notes at the
end of the book, the author notes how she tread the paths these
refugees took all those years ago, trying to find passage on a ship
that could take them further from the Russian invaders pressing in on
them. Her efforts show; as you read you can easily visualize the
scenes as the weary young travelers carry on bravely in the midst of
a very real nightmare. This is one of the most powerful books I have
read.
* I
received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. *
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