“In 1945, as Germany fell, refugees and Germans alike streamed towards the Polish coast to evacuate across the Baltic Sea ahead of the invading Russians. The evacuation was called Operation Hannibal. One ship, the Wilhelm Gustloff, carried almost 10,000 passengers -- more than half of them children -- and was torpedoed by a Russian submarine, becoming the largest maritime disaster in history. Sepetys has created a masterful story, including historical detail that grounds readers in those terrible moments. Told in four voices, this stunning novel allows readers to not only bear witness to the loss of so many, but also celebrate the humanity that may be found even in wartime.”