Fear History Book Cover Design (Featuring sky, girl, and water)

Visuals: The book cover features a haunting gray backdrop with ominous, swirling skies. In the lower front, a girl with blond braided hair wearing a distinct pink hat stands with her back to the viewer, adding intrigue and uncertainty. The focus is a massive, imposing refugee ship looming in the stormy atmosphere, its stark silhouette dominating the horizon. Surrounding the ship, tiny rubber ducks float helplessly, their bright yellow offering a striking contrast to the surrounding grayness. In the sky, a group of storks gracefully fly across, their wings outspread, symbolizing both freedom and foreboding.

Typography: The title "Salt to the Sea" appears in bold, weathered serif font, conveying both strength and wear. The author's name, Ruta Sepetys, is placed at the bottom in a classic serif font with smaller, understated lettering, maintaining the somber theme.

Layout: The girl's figure is placed in the lower third, with the ship centrally dominating the width. The title is positioned prominently above the ship, and the author's name is subtly placed below the girl's figure, ensuring balanced visual flow.

Explanation: The visual composition draws on the elements of fear and uncertainty associated with wartime history. The placement of the young girl and the massive refugee ship symbolizes the poignant contrast between innocence and the overwhelming scale of historical events. The textured gray background amplifies the feeling of dread and suspense. Meanwhile, the yellow ducks scattered across give a subtle indication of lost innocence and highlight the human-scale tragedy of such historical narratives. The flight of the storks, traditionally seen as harbingers of change and hope, adds a layer of complexity, offering a glimpse of warmth amidst the cold dread of gray skies. The typography with a worn serif font reinforces the book's historical context, while the matte texture ensures the visual and physical experience remains deeply engaging.