Reviews tagging 'Genocide'

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

26 reviews

themichellegray's review against another edition

challenging sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A beautifully written yet heartbreaking historical fiction that captured a part of WW2 I'd never learned about before. While I appreciate this book, I simultaneously struggled with the pacing and sadly never became fully invested in any of the MC's due to the storytelling format. Despite my personal reading struggles, this story is so important and the author's note perfectly sums up why:

History divided us, but through reading we can be united in story, study, and remembrance. Books join us together as a global reading community, but more important, a global human community striving to learn from the past.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Death of parent, Death, Rape, Genocide, Ableism, Antisemitism, Pregnancy, Animal cruelty, War, Blood, Child death, and Injury/Injury detail

k_spence92's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Genocide, Child death, Violence, Antisemitism, Death, and War

fluture's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

A heart wrenching book taken from a true tragedy during World War II. I admire how Ruta can depict the situation and horror during the war with her words. Most parts gave me the shivers and goosebumps. It's a really good book to be read for those who like history fiction.

The point of view were taken from four different people with different characteristics yet it wouldn't confuse you to read it. Every chapter flows just like a river and very enjoyable to read. A page-turner book, beautiful yet tragic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, War, Violence, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Genocide, Hate crime, Infertility, Antisemitism, Child death, Gun violence, and Grief

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Vomit, and Stalking

sarahlove6's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: War, Murder, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Blood, Rape, Pandemic/Epidemic, Medical content, Animal death, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Death, Vomit, and Genocide

gefmongoose's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Xenophobia

Minor: Genocide, Rape, and Violence

Set in WWII era Europe

allisonbraun's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, War, Medical content, Genocide, Body horror, Pregnancy, and Death

Moderate: Vomit

Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, and Antisemitism

taracloudclark's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

An excellent story told from four perspectives of one of the most horrific events in history. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Antisemitism, War, Blood, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Rape, Child abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Homophobia, Violence, Hate crime, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Murder, Pregnancy, and Racism

Minor: Animal cruelty

grammar_police's review against another edition

emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Beautifully written, deep, and emotional. A spectacular story about the most devastating shipwreck in history.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, War, Blood, Child death, Gore, Ableism, Death of parent, Death, Genocide, and Rape

Moderate: Pregnancy, Vomit, Murder, Suicide, Grief, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Cursing

Most of your favorite characters will die, and it’s very dramatic and will have you crying…< / spoiler>

katrinaburch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Wow.... I don't know what to make of this book. The last quarter sped by (that's not to say that the first part of the book was slow, it wasn't, Sepetys is very good at that) but I have to say, I HATED the format. I did finally get used to it but it was really hard keeping track of who's who and what everyone's back story was. And to be honest, I wish Sepetys had fleshed those out more because they were what kept me going, what was everyone running from, I needed more! 

It's sad, I've read a lot and studied a lot of World War 2 history and I've never heard of this disaster! So I'm glad Sepetys used it. 

I'm also glad Alfred died... Holy moly, I've never had someone creep me out in a book so much before. Also, again, I wish that Emilia had survived and lived to help her baby grow up. I know the daughter had a happy ending and I'm happy the little boy survived (though I wish it would have told what happened to his family) but still. She suffered though so much (like so many).

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Genocide, Murder, Rape, Vomit, Hate crime, Pregnancy, War, and Death

Minor: Antisemitism, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Religious bigotry, Gore, Violence, Child death, Blood, and Bullying

natalie183's review against another edition

emotional informative tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Rape, Antisemitism, Genocide, Pregnancy, and Medical content