Salt to the Sea

By: Ruta Septeys

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys is a Historical Fiction book that portrays the fleeing population of Poland and others who are escaping Hitler. This book shows the perspective of very different people all running from their past. Florian used to be a Prussian soldier, and he is running from the Nazi’s with treasure he has stolen. Joana is a Latvian nurse who’s family is gone. Emilia is a fifteen year old, pregnant, Polish girl fleeing Hitler. Hitler sees Poland as another place for Germans to conquer, so she comes up with false stories to cover the traumatic memories she has. Alfred is a Nazi that helps the ship they all flee on run smoothly.

They travel in a group across the ice, trying to get to the port, when the ice cracks. They make it across broken ice and Joana is hired to be a nurse on the Gustloff, the ship they are all on. Florian snuck on and wasn’t supposed to be there. Emilia is giving birth to her baby and confesses her darkest secret. Alfred is trying to fulfill his own agenda. Disaster strikes the Gustloff and they are all fighting for their lives. We witness this story unfold between four perspectives, each with a unique point of view. 

One of Us Is Lying

By: Karen M. McManus

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus is a fascinating Mystery where readers have to figure out who killed Simon Kelleher. Five students come into detention, but only four come out. Simon Kelleher, the creator of Bayview Highs’ most looked at gossip app, came into detention with Bronwyn Rojas who is set on getting into Yale, Nate Macauley who is on probation for dealing drugs, Addy Prentiss, the picture-perfect homecoming princess, and Cooper Clay, the baseball pitcher that has colleges lining up. 

By the end of detention, Simon is dead and investigators say it wasn’t an accident. Since Simon was about to reveal juicy gossip about the four, Bronwyn, Simon, Addy, and Cooper are the main suspects. 

Pictures by Goodreads.