Bibliography
Sepetys, Ruta. (2019). THE FOUNTAINS OF SILENCE. Philomel Books: New York.
ISBN: 978-0-399-16031-8.
Plot Summary
A story set in Madrid, Spain during the 1950’s. This historical fiction novel gives the reader an insight into life under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. An American teenager, Daniel Matheson has traveled to Madrid with his parents. His mother is from Spain and his father is an American oil man hoping to finalize a business deal with Franco. Daniel’s family is assigned a maid to help them with all of their needs, Ana Moreno. Daniel and Ana fall in love but it is forbidden. Daniel begins to uncover many secrets but is forced to look the other way or Ana’s family could suffer. Once Franco dies, Spain’s dictatorship begins to fall apart. Daniel visits Madrid again with his younger sister and is reunited with his true love.
Critical Analysis
Ruta Sepetys’s novel exposes the secrets and silence that was expected of the people of Spain during the 36 year reign of dictator Francisco Franco. This historical fiction novel tells of a forbidden love but exposes the reality of what life was like in Spain. The story shows the fear the people had of being caught breaking the law and the distrust they had for each other. Poverty and hunger were a common thread in all the lives of the Spanish characters in the story. A part of the story that is difficult to comprehend is the Stolen Children as they are called today. The government, in conjunction with doctors, nurses, priests, bishops and nuns were taking newborns from unsuspecting parents and putting them in orphanages to be sold to families who will raise them in a good Catholic, Franco approved lifestyle. There are pictures of Franco, a maternity ward, children in the orphanage, and other pertinent aspects of the story. As I was reading the novel I realized how all of the secrets people were forced to keep kept them troubled. They were always cautious of what they said or who they spoke to. At the end of the story, the secrets are revealed and the story becomes happier and lighter to read. You could almost feel the characters releasing some long held burdens and feeling the happiness it gave them. This story of love conquers all, family, friendship, and life under a dictatorship is full of many rich characters and is so beautifully written that it is hard to put down. It is recommended for readers 15 years old and above.
Review
Praise for The Fountains of Silence:
"Spain under Francisco Franco is as dystopian a setting as Margaret Atwood’s Gilead in Ruta Sepetys’s suspenseful, romantic and timely new work of historical fiction . . . Like [Shakespeare's family romances], 'The Fountains of Silence' speaks truth to power, persuading future rulers to avoid repeating the crimes of the past." --The New York Times Book Review
“Full of twists and revelations…an excellent story, and timely, too.” --The Wall Street Journal
"A staggering tale of love, loss, and national shame." --Entertainment Weekly
* "[Sepetys] tells a moving story made even more powerful by its placement in a lesser-known historical moment. Captivating, deft, and illuminating historical fiction." --Booklist, *STARRED REVIEW*
* "A stunning novel that exposes modern fascism and elevates human resilience." --Kirkus, *STARRED REVIEW*
* "This gripping, often haunting historical novel offers a memorable portrait of fascist Spain." --Publishers Weekly, *STARRED REVIEW*
* "This richly woven historical fiction . . . will keep young adults as well as adults interested from the first page to the last." --SLC, *STARRED REVIEW*
* "Riveting . . . An exemplary work of historical fiction." --The Horn Book, *STARRED REVIEW*
* "With The Fountains of Silence, Sepetys has once again written gripping historical fiction with great crossover appeal to adult readers, combining impeccable research with sweeping storytelling." --BookPage, *STARRED REVIEW*
Connections
*The role of a dictatorship is vividly depicted. The book also mentions other dictators like Hitler and Stalin. A study of the rise and fall of dictators would be an interesting follow up to this story.
*In the Author’s Note Ruta Sepetys discusses the Stolen Children of Spain and Argentina. She gives the reader some information about organizations that are working to reunite these children with their birth parents. This would be a topic that could be researched.
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