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On Jan. 30, 1945, more than 10,000 evacuees gathered in the German-occupied seaport of Gdynia, Poland, to board the Wilhelm Gustloff. Most, although not all, of the evacuees were German — a desperate collection of civilian refugees, wounded soldiers and military officials. Although the Wilhelm Gustloff was originally a cruise liner designed to hold fewer than 2,000 passengers, the refugees saw the repurposed ship as their last best hope to flee the advancing Red Army.

Within hours, a Soviet submarine torpedoed the Wilhelm Gustloff on the open sea, killing more than 9,000 people. Five thousand of them were children. The staggering loss of life that day was higher than the Titanic and Lusitania death tolls combined. The sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff is one of the greatest maritime disasters of all times that no one has ever heard of.

Enter Ruta Sepetys, the critically acclaimed author of the young-adult novel "Between Shades of Grey," which tells the story of Lithuanian residents who were forcibly relocated by the Soviet government to Siberian work camps during the World War II. Sepetys loves historical fiction — particularly if it sheds light on events with which readers are unfamiliar. It's no surprise, then, that the Nashville author would be attracted to the story of the Wilhelm Gustloff, especially since her father's cousin narrowly missed boarding the ill-fated ship.

The result of Sepetys' interest in the disaster is a haunting, heartbreaking, hopeful and altogether gorgeous new novel called "Salt to the Sea," one of the best young-adult novels to appear in a very long time. Sepetys, who will be in Salt Lake next week, talks about her new book with The Tribune.

The sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff is a tragedy of epic proportions. Why do you think so many people have never heard of it?

I think there are several contributing factors. Immediately following the disaster, the Nazi regime tried to conceal the story. They were concerned it would affect morale and cause further panic during the ongoing evacuation. On the Soviet side, they did not widely publicize the event because the submarine commander, Alexander Marinesko, had been dishonorably discharged from the Navy. In the years following the war, Germany felt it was inappropriate to draw attention to their war losses in light of the horrors inflicted by the Nazi regime. As a result, the sinking, and the story of thousands of refugees from several countries, remained unknown.

What similarities, if any, do you see between the displacement of European populations in the 1940s and today's Middle-Eastern refugee crisis?

Sadly, I see similarities in the plight of the children. Innocent young people, victims of war and vengeful regimes, are caught in the crosshairs of crisis. Their decisions are not yet their own, but they're saddled with the struggle and heartache.

How deeply do you become involved in your characters' imagined lives? Does your storytelling ever take an emotional toll on you? How do you manage that toll?

I become quite invested in the characters as I'm writing a novel. Most of my characters are woven together from various people I've met or learned of during the research process. As a result, they feel very real to me, as does their struggle and triumph. In writing "Salt to the Sea," I became very protective of the character Emilia. For me, Emilia represented the beauty, courage, pain and sacrifice of Poland that many aren't familiar with. In terms of how I manage the emotional toll, I try very hard to remain present within it. Although grief, pain and sadness can be completely overwhelming, I do think there is wisdom and hope to be found there. I try to find beauty that might be hiding amidst the wreckage. This helps me navigate through difficult and sad topics. When I read through an early draft of "Salt to the Sea," it occurred to me that I actually gave Emilia the same coping mechanism. Despite her hardships, she focuses on beautiful things that bring her comfort and happiness — nature, family, love — and through that process she brings meaning to her suffering and sacrifice.

You seem to have an affinity for historical fiction. Any particular reason?

I am drawn to historical fiction because it's an opportunity to give voice to those who might never have a chance to tell their story. And by applying narrative structure and story to underrepresented parts of history, we give face to the forgotten, suddenly making them human and memorable for readers. Historical fiction creates opportunity for sustained impact.

Do you research and then write a novel? Or do you research and write simultaneously. Some novelists who specialize in historical fiction have said that researching a subject becomes a way for them to not write.

I absolutely love the research process. History provides a skeletal outline for my novels, but my characters are born through travel and research. The character of the shoe poet in "Salt to the Sea," for example, was born on a tiny cobbled street in Italy. I am so passionate about the research and investigation process that I try to research and write simultaneously. I want to make certain that my enthusiasm and emotion are captured in the text, not just in my notes.

Is there a scene or a moment — or even a sentence — in "Salt to the Sea" of which you're particularly proud?

I wouldn't say proud exactly, but there were moments when I was writing that I was truly present in the process and, as a result, was able to describe things in a way that have personal resonance for me. For example: "She held her breath in one hand and her suitcase in the other." That perfectly describes how I felt when I made a very scary transition at one point in my life. So there are moments and lines of "reflection" in the novel that are a result of creative presence and I'm so grateful for those.

Why do readers connect so profoundly to your novels?

I don't think readers connect to the fact that I am writing them. I think they connect to the universal themes of hope, love, courage and the miraculous nature of the human spirit. And those are all themes that historical fiction has to offer.

What book have you recently read that has stayed with you? And what books are currently in your to-be-read pile?

I loved "Circling the Sun" by Paula McLain. In my "to-read" pile are "Outrun the Moon" by Stacey Lee, "The Passion of Dolssa" by Julie Berry and "American Daredevil" by Cathryn J. Prince.

What would you like to do on your visit to Utah?

As someone who is obsessed with researching and history, I'm dying to visit the Family History Library! —

Ruta Sepetys

Ruta Sepetys will read from and sign her new novel, "Salt to the Sea."

When • Friday, Feb. 12, 7 p.m.

Where • The King's English Bookshop, 1511 S. 1500 East, Salt Lake City

Details • http://www.kingsenglish.com and for more on Ruta Sepetys, visit http://www.rutasepetys.com

'Salt to the Sea'

Ruta Sepetys

Philomel Books

400 pages

$18.99