THE FOUNTAINS OF SILENCE
by Ruta Sepetys
Sepetys writes teens beautifully and accurately. Her teens
are impetuous, naïve, full hearted, empathetic, selfish, quick thinking and
foolhardy. THE FOUNTAINS OF SILENCE tells of teens caught up in the tyrannical world
of General Francisco Franco in the aftermath of the Spanish Revolution of 1939.
In 1957 as Spain was beginning to open up to the outside
world, a family of American citizens, including their teenage son, entered
Franco’s world. Daniel, a camera buff who wants to become a
photojournalist, meets Ana, his family’s assigned maid. Ana’s family, formerly professors and
Republicans, has been decimated by the Nationalists.
Through Daniel and Ana, Sepetys tells of tyranny, torture,
death and bull fighting, friendship, kindness and a people’s yearning for
freedom. As good historical fiction
does, she teaches us painlessly the truths of dictators and freedom fighters
and the good people caught between them.
Written for teens, this book will resonate with adults as
well. It offers a multitude of topics for book group discussion. This is an altogether worthy read.
5 of 5 stars
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