The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
Publication Information: New York, NY: Philomel Books, 2019
Summary: Madrid, 1957. Under the fascist dictartorship of General Francisco Franco, Spain is hiding a dark secret. Meanwhile, tourists and foreign businessmen flood into Spain under the welcoming promise of sunshine and wine. Among them is nineteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, the son of an oil tycoon, who arrives in Madrid with his parents hoping to connect with the country of his mother's birth through the lens of his camera.
Photography - and fate - intoduce him to Ana, who's family's interweaving obstacles reveal the lingering grasp of the Spanish Civil War - as well as chilling definitions of fortune and fear. Daniel's photographs leave him with uncomfortable questions amidst shadows of danger. He is backed into a corner of difficult decisions to protect those he loves.
Lives and hearts collide, revealing an incredibily dark side to the sunny Spanish city.
Book Trailer:
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Links of Interest:
Author website: rutasepetys.com
Educator's guide: HERE
Author interview: HERE
Another author interview: HERE
Documentary about Spain under Franco: HERE
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