Book Review: Salt to the Sea

SALT TO THE SEA by Ruta Sepetys tells the story of refugees on a dangerous journey at the end of World War II in Europe.

Joana, Emilia, and Florian along with thousands of others make their way along dirt roads and the back country in hopes of finding a place on a ship to freedom. Told through alternative voices, readers learn the backstory of each character and how they came together in these desperate times. In addition to the three refugees, readers also gain insights into the life of a German soldier named Alfred. Along the way, the author skillfully integrates important war topics including the loss of great artwork, rape by soldiers, and prejudice.

This well-researched young adult work of historical fiction weaves in true events including the tragic sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff carrying ten thousand wounded soldiers and refugees. The back matter includes author notes connecting the real events to the narrative along with sources, maps, and other information.

Librarians will find this book to be an excellent addition to their World War II historical fiction collections. The alternating viewpoints and variety of well-developed characters will be of particular interest to teen readers. The constant threats and ever-changing landscapes help the plot move quickly.

To learn more about the author, go to http://rutasepetys.com/.

Published by Philomel, an imprint of Penguin on February 2, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: Front Lines

FRONT LINES by Michael Grant is a groundbreaking new series that reimagines World WII with female soldiers on the front lines.

When a 1942 court decision rules that women will be drafted and fight alongside men, Rio, Frangie, and Rainy begin their new lives as soldiers. Using a wounded soldier as the narrator, the story explores how three very different young women are trained and enter the war in Northern Africa.

Grant skillfully blends fact and fiction to create a gritty, yet believable alternative world. Teens will enjoy the authentic language, diverse cast, and realistic situations.

Librarians will find readers among those who enjoy alternative history and historical fiction. Fans of Code Name Verity and other books about women’s roles in World War II will find this genre-bending book intriguing. This engrossing novel provides endless opportunities for book club discussions regarding alternate history and the role of women in the military.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.themichaelgrant.com/.

Published by Katherine Tegen, an imprint of Harper Collins on January 26. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Special Event Website Review: Veteran's History Project

In honor of Veteran’s Day, spend some time exploring the Library of Congress Veteran’s History Project.

The VETERAN’S HISTORY PROJECT from the Library of Congress gathers the personal accounts of American war veterans and makes them available online. First-hand accounts from U.S. veterans from World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, and the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts have been posted. From Army medical volunteers to Air Force pilots, a wide range of military positions are represented. Primarily an oral history program, most of the interviews are available in audio- or video-recorded formats along with transcripts. In many cases, memoirs and collections of photographs, letters, diaries, maps, and other primary source documents have been digitized and are included.

Since the project began nearly fifteen years ago, thousands of interviews have been uploaded to the database. Users can search by era, branch of service, gender, media type, and other categories. It’s also possible to search within fields such as location of service and highest rank.

Encourage students to seek out areas of interest such as female nurses of the Vietnam War, African American airmen of the Korean War, or Japanese American soldiers of World War II.

Visit the website at http://www.loc.gov/vets/.