Salt to the Sea

Salt to the Sea

by

Ruta Sepetys

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Salt to the Sea makes teaching easy.

Salt to the Sea: 173. Emilia Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Emilia is in the kitchen of her childhood home. Her friends Rachel and Helen are coming over after synagogue. Halinka, now a young child, is running around the kitchen, playing. Outside, are Emilia’s mother and her baby brother. Storks fly overhead, and her mother comments that the birds have finally come home. Emilia raises her face to the sun. She thinks, “my war had been so long, my winters so cold. But I had finally made it home.”  
Emilia has spent much of the novel trying to comfort herself with fantasies of a happier life. Now, as she dies, Emilia’s fantasy has fully come to life. The storks flying above symbolize the reunification of her entire family, living and dead. She has finally found peace. 
Themes
Storytelling and Fantasy  Theme Icon