I read an early copy of Ruta Sepetys’ The Fountains of Silence, and it was absolutely fantastic. If you aren’t familiar with this author, she writes books about history that we often aren’t familiar with or taught in school.
The Fountains of Silence takes place in Madrid, 1957 when Spain was under the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, which was a very dark time in the history of Spain but is talked about very little. This book brings American Texan Daniel to Spain where he meets Ana and begins to see the truth of this place and what lies under the facade presented at the hotel.
This book really moved me, and I found myself very attached to the characters and the outcome. And desperate for a happy ending! While this is promoted as young adult, it is one that definitely appeals to adults, and the way it’s written, you can’t really determine YA or adult. Honestly, I think everyone 14 and older who is interested in history should read it!
–Candace, Vintage Books, Vancouver, WA
“[At a recent industry event], one of the most impassioned speeches came from writer Ruta Sepetys, who had hundreds of us riveted as she talked about her new novel set in Franco’s Spain, The Fountains of Silence, and her more general project of introducing readers of all ages to important truths about our world, past and present, through fiction. It reminded me of a time when there was no category for Young Adult novels. If a book was good enough, it found its way to precocious teens, their parents, and their grandparents without discrimination. Don’t take my word for it—give The Fountains of Silence a multi-generational reading test yourself.”
–James Crossley, Madison Books, Seattle, WA
Whether you’re looking for a recommendation for yourself or others, ask the staff at Vintage Books or your local independent bookstore. Who knows, they might even have a collectible signed copy on their shelves!
