I am an emotional wreck! This is such a wonderfully evocative and poignant recount of such a dark period in human history. Sepetys has brought history to life in amongst these pages filled with pain, grief and heartbreak of the worst possible kind - that caused by other human beings. 
 This split narration follows the lives of four young individuals and their alternate opinions and stances in the war. The year is 1945 and the civilians of Germany are fleeing for safety as Russia attacks and it appears that Hitler's reign will soon be overthrown. All evacuees are making for port, to board one of the ships they hope will bring them to comparative safety. 
 This is such a heart-rending account of such a bleak period of human history and Sepetys spares her readers none of the agony and chaos of the time. Through the split perspectives we get not only a complete story, but differing perspectives on the war-torn land they are communally fleeing. The reader pieces the story line together as the protagonists reveal more about themselves, as their fear over their situation grows. With the tentative reveal of their individual humanity comes an empathetic insight into the harrowing tales that emerge. We get an insight into the past horror witnessed that fills the war-ravaged survivors as they attempt to hope for a brighter future. The grace these sensitive subject matters are handled with, however, belies the bleak nature of the text and beauty can be found in the alluring and exquisite writing. 
 This is a brutal, yet honest and necessary, historical account that manages to remain historically accurate whilst using fictional personal histories to portray it. Stunning writing, harrowing stories and venerated characters - this is a story that will stay with me for a long time to come.