58 pages • 1-hour read
Salt to the Sea
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Book Club Questions
General Impressions
Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.
1. Are you familiar with Setepys’s other young adult historical fiction novels, which include Between Shades of Gray (2011) and I Must Betray You (2022)? If so, how does Salt to the Sea compare to the author’s other works in terms of tone and themes? What other similarities and differences do you notice?
2. What did you think of the novel’s ending? Did you find it a satisfying conclusion to the main characters’ arcs? Why or why not?
3. Have you read any other coming-of-age novels set during World War II, such as John Knowles’s A Separate Peace? If so, compare and contrast how the authors treat the global conflict and its impact on individual lives.
Personal Reflection and Connection
Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.
1. Each of the novel’s main characters has their own skills, struggles, and secrets. Which of them did you find yourself most drawn to? Why did their story resonate with you?
2. At the end of the novel, Joana and Florian become parents to Emilia’s child. Has there ever been a time when a shared struggle brought you closer to someone—especially someone unexpected?
3. Salt to the Sea is a coming-of-age novel. During your own journey into young adulthood or adulthood, was there a decisive moment when you knew you had left your childhood behind? Describe the experience and what it taught you about yourself.
4. Florian, Joana, and Emilia finally find love and peace when they unburden themselves of the secrets they carry. Have you ever had to keep a secret from someone? If you were eventually able to share the truth, how did that affect your relationship with that person?
Societal and Cultural Context
Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.
1. How does this story contribute to your understanding of World War II? What new insights did you gain into this crucial period of history?
2. The novel’s main characters are displaced by war. What lessons does this historical fiction novel offer that can be applied to current refugee crises?
Literary Analysis
Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.
1. How do the main characters establish new connections after losing their homes and families? How does the resolution impact your understanding of the theme of reinventing the familial unit, as well as the novel’s overall meaning?
2. How are each of the four main characters’ coming-of-age stories shaped by the traumas they have experienced? Citing specific evidence from the text, discuss Joana, Florian, and Emilia’s maturation as well as Alfred’s ultimate failure to mature.
3. How does Sepetys use Eva to illustrate the liberating power of the truth? Consider her appearance, personality traits, and character arc in your response.
4. Trace the appearances of water throughout the book. How does this motif contribute to the novel’s structure, themes, and overall meaning?
Creative Engagement
Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.
1. Imagine that the novel is being adapted into a film or TV series. Which do you think would better serve this narrative, and why? Whom would you cast in the lead roles?
2. Select one of the characters and create a playlist that charts their emotional journey over the course of the novel. How do your choices relate to their arc?
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