Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys

Fountains of Silence

By Ruta Sepetys
Published: Philomel Books, 2019
Pages: 512
Genre: Historical fiction, Young adult
Amazon, Goodreads

"Truth breaks the chains of silence."
Puri puts a trembling hand to her chest. Her voice drops to a whisper.
"It sets us all free."

About the book

Madrid, 1957. Under the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, Spain is hiding a dark secret. Meanwhile, tourists and foreign businessmen flood into the country under the welcoming guise of sunshine and wine. Among them is eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, the son of a Texas 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 — introduce him to Ana, whose 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 admidst shadows of danger. He is backed into a corner of decisions to protect those he loves. Lives and hearts collide, revealing an incredibly dark side to the sunny Spanish city.

Review

Fountains of Silence is one of the biggest page-turners of the year you won’t want to miss!

The story alternates between the viewpoints of Daniel, a young Texan man who aspires to be a photojournalist, and Ana, a poor Madrid maid who works at a hotel catered to rich Americans.

With the story revolving around a teenage boy who comes from a family of wealthy oil tycoons falling in love with a young woman from a poor family, the book is at risk of becoming a clique, but thanks to the rich dimensions of Daniel and Ana, the Fountains of Silence is actually very unique.

Daniel is given added depth by his mother, a transplanted Spanish native who instills in his son the importance of her heritage. This helps steer him away from the typical “rich boy” vibe. Ana is also an impressive character; she is a mature young woman who has to work hard to assist in supporting her family following the murder of her parents by Franco’s regime.

The setting of the book — Madrid in 1957 when it was under the fascist dictatorship is General Francisco Franco also makes this novel stand out among YA historical fiction. It’s clear that author Ruta Sepetys completed thorough research prior to writing this novel; Fountains of Silence shows a glimpse into the true post-war struggles of Spain at that time.

I devoured this book in an entire day, which is saying a lot since it’s over 500 pages. I really enjoyed this one!

RATING (out of five puppies)

The Bear and the Nightingale

The Bear and the Nighingale

By Katherine Arden
Published: Del Ray, 2017
Pages: 370
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Magical Realism
Amazon, Goodreads

The shadow on the wall. You cannot trust him. Beware the dead.

About the book

At the edge of the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses. But Vasilisa doesn't mind—she spends the winter nights huddled around the embers of a fire with her beloved siblings, listening to her nurse's fairy tales. Above all, she loves the chilling story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon, who appears in the frigid night to claim unwary souls. Wise Russians fear him, her nurse says, and honor the spirits of house and yard and forest that protect their homes from evil.

After Vasilisa's mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa's new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits. The family acquiesces, but Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows.

And indeed, crops begin to fail, evil creatures of the forest creep nearer, and misfortune stalks the village. All the while, Vasilisa's stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent.

As danger circles, Vasilisa must defy even the people she loves and call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed—this, in order to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse's most frightening tales.

Review

The Bear and the Nightingale is an elegantly-woven tale that mixes Russian folklore, fantasy, and complex family dynamics. It's a book that sucks you into a mythical world and won't let you go.

This book is a great example of dark, intriguing atmosphere; it's set at the outer wildness of Russia before modern technology. The The setting is enough alone to be fascinating -  but the author also weaves myth and folklore into the storyline. 

The author creates vivid imagery in the novel that makes the story come to life, such as:

But the chill of that burnt forest, of the frost-demon's touch, lingered. Dunya's bones shook until it seemed they would shake through her skin. All she could see was the frost-demon, intent and despairing, and the laughing face of his brother, the one-eyed creature. The two faces blurred into one. The blue stone in her pocket seemed to drip icy flame. Her skin cracked and blackened when her hand closed tight around it.

The writing is addicting and compelling with an air of mysteriousness and magical realism. 

If you've been following my reviews, you already know that Vasya is my favorite type of protagonist; fierce, strong, independent, and intelligent. Suffocated by society's expectations of who she should be - a mild, well-mannered maiden to be married off and turned into a baby factory - Vasya finds peace in the woods and the ability to be who she was born to be. The other characters are as distinct and well-written as Vasya.

The Bear and the Nightingale is the first book in a trilogy, and I'm curious to how this story will continue. I definitely recommend it.

RATING (out of five puppies):

These Shallow Graves

These Shallow Graves

By Jennifer Donnelly
Published: Delacorte Press, 2015
Pages: 487
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Historical Fiction
Amazon, Goodreads

"If you're going to bury the past, bury it deep, girl. Shallow graves always give up their dead."

About the novel: In 1890s New York City, Jo Montfort has everything: money, popularity, a good family and an expected engagement to the most sought-after bachelor. There's something inside Jo, though, that yearns for journalism, to write the stories of those facing adversity. Jo's sheltered life comes to a halt when her father dies and she discovers that he was murdered. With the help of reporter Eddie, Jo becomes lost in a world of secrets and must decide who the real villain is and who she wants to become.

I lovedddd Jo Montfort... she's everything I want in a main female character: brave and intelligent while also kind and good-natured. Strong female characters really speak to me - they're what I wish I was in real life. I didn't pay much attention to the book's description so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that Jo was interested in reporting (I work in the newsroom of a newspaper myself). Jo's character is my favorite part of These Shallow Graves. The other characters were just as well-written and gripping as Jo.

I also liked how the book turned a corner in its plot: Donnelly highlighted an unexpected friendship as Jo grows into herself as a person and learns what real friendships are all about. Women, both in real life and in media, are constantly pitted against each other when in reality us ladies need to stick together. The book also shows how our past can never be buried or forgotten; we need to deal with our demons and embrace our past or we will be forever haunted (trust me, that's something I'm currently working on).

These Shallow Graves felt too long sometimes, and I could guess the true bad guy almost halfway into the novel. I liked the book but it wasn't quite as spellbinding as other reviews say it is. I enjoyed it overall (especially the characters), but I felt like the writing fell a bit short.

RATING (out of five puppies):

Salt to the Sea

Salt to the Sea

By Ruta Sepetys
Published: Philomel Books, 2016
Pages: 391
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Amazon, Goodreads

Guilt is a hunter.
Fate is a hunter.
Shame is a hunter.
Fear is a hunter.

During World War II, four young people of different homelands and backgrounds are in Nazi Germany fighting for their lives while struggling to hold on to their secrets. Salt to the Sea starts out promising then fails to deliver.

OK, so plot is really interesting to me, and I thought it clever how Sepetys divided the narration among the four main characters. However, I found the writing dull and uninspired. I feel like the novel could have been a really good book if the writing were more mature and engaging.

The characters were a hit and miss. My favorite character is Emilia; she's only 15 but has an old soul and displays act of courage that the average person would never even think of doing. I especially enjoyed the flash backs to her childhood, I could really picture her clearly. Alfred is a well-written villain. Reading the mental letters he writes to his childhood crush about his days and then reading what actually happens helps place him as a sociopath, including the actions witnessed by others, such as kicking the dog. Yet, I didn't care for Joana or Florian because I didn't feel like they were flushed out; I couldn't get a feel for them.

Overall, Salt to the Sea is the kind of book you'd read while super bored and you had nothing better to do. I enjoyed the historical context and thought the plot and story structure were interesting but it just didn't live up to my expectations.

RATING (out of five puppies):

Beneath a Scarlet Sky

Beneath a Scarlet Sky

By Mark Sullivan
Published: Lake Union, 2017
Pages: 513
Amazon, Goodreads

"We can't stop loving our fellow man, Pino, because we're frightened. If we lose love, all is lost."

Based on the true events, Beneath a Scarlet Sky follows the life of Italian man Pino Lello who fights against the Nazi regime by being a spy for one of Hilter's right hand men. I encourage everyone to read this novel.

Pino's story is incredible. I hate to admit this but I've never given a thought to World War II's impact on Italy. There's hundreds, probably thousands of books both fiction and nonfiction written on WWII, and it would seem there's next to none relating to Italy. It boggles my mind that I've never heard of Pino Lella. For its historical context, I recommend that everyone read Beneath a Scarlet Sky and I'd love to see it read in classrooms, though it's technically fiction.

Beneath a Scarlet Sky is full of love, courage, death and heartbreak. Though a great story, the novel is just not well-written. I almost put the book down at first because it read like a middle school creative writing project. After the first hundred pages, I did get quickly addicted and couldn't stop reading until the end. I just feel like so much more could have been done with it... like it's a good book but it had the potential to be a GREAT book with the perfect writing.

Nonetheless, I still feel like Beneath the Scarlet Sky is worth the read. Pino's story deserves to be shared. He is a hero, and my heart breaks for all the terrible atrocities he had to witness. I give this novel four puppies instead of three because of that simple fact.

RATING (out of five puppies):

Circe

Circe

By Madeline Miller
Published: Little, Brown and Company, 2018
Pages: 393
Genre: Fantasy, Historical
Amazon, Goodreads

I could taste the venom in my mouth. It was a pleasure to see him frighten at last. "You think that will stop me? You have never understood how strong I am."
His look I will remember all my life. A man who has seen the veil lifted and beholds the true face of the world.

Set in the cruel world of Greek mythology, Circe is an enchanting novel.

Growing up in the home of of Helios, Circe is an outcast: she lacks the striking beauty and vocal melody of typical gods and has a conscious towards mortals. Though Circe is not blessed with the same powers as her ancestors, she soon discovers she has other talents that are feared among gods and mortals alike. So begins the story of Circe, the witch of Aiaia.

Circe is spell-bounding. Miller creates an captivating ambience that makes the novel too good to put down. Spanning across centuries, the book definitely seems more character-driven to me. Readers see Circe living in exile and finding her powers, but we also see Circe figuring out her place as a goddess. Of course, Circe is wise and powerful, but there is a part of her that has always been mortal. The ending is perfect. I don't post spoilers but just know that you won't be disappointed.

There's something about Circe that speaks to me as a human; mortals may live only a fraction of what the gods do, but perhaps they live more fully and make life more worth living. The gods may be immortal, all powerful and can have basically whatever they want, but they are also cruel and can kill another god or mortal without batting an eye... the only emotion they seem to feel is rage. Would you rather be a human able to fully love and feel all range of emotions or would you rather be a wrath-filled god/goddess?

Circe is a fantastic novel that I'd recommend to anyone!

RATING (out of five puppies):

The Steep and Thorny Way

The Steep and Thorny Way

By Cat Winters
Published: Amulet Books, 2016
Pages: 335
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction
Amazon, Goodreads

Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,
Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven,
Whiles, like a puffed and reckless libetine, himself the primerose path of dalliance threads...
- Hamlet

Cat Winters crafts an incomparable historical fiction set in 1920s Oregon where 16-year-old Hanalee Denney is still grieving for her father who tragically died in a car accident a year and a half ago. Joe Adder, drunken driver of the car sent to prison for his crime, is released from prison on good behavior, and Hanalee discovers her father's death was more than an accident.

The Steep and Thorny Way is the kind of novel you pick up on a whim and find it to be a delightful surprise. The plot, the characters, the paranormal vibe are all elegantly crafted into a young adult historical fiction that readers are unlikely to forget long after reading it.

The plot and background of this novel are so unique and interesting... I never knew that Oregon was controlled by the KKK in the 1920s. I don't know much about Oregon's history - I've always lived in Illinois myself - and there being a eugenics program during that time shocked me. At the end of the novel there's a short timeline showing changes to Oregon law in regards to race, eugenics and homosexuality. If you look at history, it wasn't that long ago that these bigot programs were in place.

Though set in the 1920s, The Steep and Thorny Way is still relevant today. Racism and homophobia are still problems in this day and age; the only difference is back then the hatred was overt while these days it's more subdued. Example: A disproportionate number of African-Americans are incarcerated on minor drug charges (ie weed) compared to their white counterparts. Back then African-Americans weren't allowed to sit with whites or use the same facilities but now the racism has shifted so that African-Americans are more likely to be born into poverty and as such must work twice as hard to climb themselves out of it. We as a society must keep history in mind and learn from our mistakes.

As for the characters, I loved Hanalee. Not only does she practically have my name (hehe), but she's very headstrong, ambitious and has a good head on her shoulders. She is betrayed by her childhood friend but she doesn't let the fear control her life in the end. Joe, Mildred, Fleur are all characters that I enjoyed.

I recommend The Steep and Thorny Way to any YA reader.

RATING (out of five puppies)

Outlander

Outlander

By Diana Gabaldon
Published (my version): Delacorte Press, 2011
Pages: 662
Genre: Historical fiction, Romance
Check it out on Amazon

People disappear all the time...
Many of the lost will be found, eventually, dead or alive. Disappearances, after all, have explanations.
Usually.

It's 1945 and Claire Randall is reunited with her husband after being apart for several years because of a war. Claire accidentally touches an ancient boulder in the British Isles and gets thrust 200 years into the past. On just her wits and nursing knowledge along, Claire must survive in eighteen hundred Scotland long enough to get back to her home. Or will she be stuck in 1743 forever?

Outlander starts out promising and then falls flat. I tried to read Outlander a few years ago but didn't bother finishing it because I found it too unbelievable. I managed to finish it this time because I actually did enjoy reading it and wanted to know the ending.

Plot: OK, so the premise behind Outlander is really interesting. The book itself is very well-written, and Gabaldon's writing is addicting. It's also clear that she did her research - it really feels like I'm transported to that time while reading the novel. However, about two-thirds of the way in the book, I felt like the plot goes stale and I was left wondering when Outlander would end. Also, I still feel like the parts with Jamie were forced at the beginning - like I know that Claire is opposed to the marriage at first and is seen feeling guilty about her husband in 1945 but Claire and Jamie having to be forced to be married at the beginning is still unbelievable to me.

Characters: The characters in Outlander are great - especially Jamie. I love the little traits Gabaldon writes for Jamie, such as smiling in his sleep while being touch is a sign that he's happy. Ignoring the whole forced to be married thing, I really got a feel for Claire and Jamie's love. I have to admit, the ending portion when Claire talks to the priest to sort out her feelings was a great way to close that part of the storyline.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Outlander but I doubt I will be reading the other books in the series anytime soon unless I get in the mood for some Scotland historical fiction. I'd recommend the series to someone who enjoys Outlander's setting... but other than that I would not. I give Outlander three puppies instead of two because I really enjoyed the writing.

RATING (out of five puppies):

The Comet Seekers

The Comet Seekers
By Helen Sedgwick
Published: HarperCollins, 2016
Pages: 301
Genre: Historical, Contemporary
Check it out on Amazon

He can feel the rush of the wind as the Earth races around the sun. He feels like he needs to cling on, or he will go flying off into space. Things shifted while he wasn't looking at the group and now the world is different; everything is beautiful, and wild, and precarious, because now he knows how the sky can change.


The Comet Seekers is a whirlwind of a novel written by former physicist Helen Sedgwick. Roisin and Francois meet during a scientific expedition in Antarctica in 2017. Though at first glance they seem completely different, they are drawn together by tragedy and their backgrounds unexpectedly intertwine.

This book was completely unexpected. Sedgwick has a unique voice and engaging writing style which quickly became addicting. I felt like I was actually inside of the characters' minds - I shared Liam's loneliness, Roisin's restlessness for something greater, and Francois's turmoil. The novel being centered around comets is creative; I interpreted as showing that we are the ones responsible for our perceptions of the world. The Comet Seekers is a real gem. I can't go into much detail without reveling spoilers. I definitely recommend it.

RATING (out of five puppies)

The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street

The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street

By Susan Jane Gilman
Published: Grand Central Publishing, 2016
Pages: 518
Genre: Contemporary, Historical Fiction
Check it out on Amazon

Everybody thinks that once you reach the top, you can lie back on a divan with a goddamn mai tai. No. Wrong. Success is not a mountain climb. Success is a treadmill.

Malk Treynovsky is a young child who travels to America in 1913 with her family but tragically becomes crippled then abandoned by her parents. Taking pity on her, a man who owns an ice cream business takes her in and Malk, utilizing her creative intelligence and the knowledge she gleans from childhood, builds an ice cream empire. Spanning over 80 years, she chronicles her metamorphosis into Lillian Dunkle and her struggles as a crippled woman in an unforgiving age.

I enjoyed this novel. Lillian is a very lively character; her sassiness and bluntness really jumped out at me. It was easy to be really sympathetic to her at times while at others to dislike her. Yet, I can understand why she made some of her bad, sometimes cruel decisions. I liked how Lillian's story came together, how the present was inserted at just the right times. Overall, I felt like it was a well-written book. The only complaint I have is that at certain parts, I felt like Gilman overused "darlings." I stopped reading and though to myself, "Jeeze, I think that's enough already," because it was used too often in those parts. However, at other portions of the novel, I believe her phrase made Lillian stand out. I recommend "The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street" to those who want an enjoyable summer read.

RATING (out of five puppies):

The Bluest Eye

The Bluest Eye

By Toni Morrison
Published (my version): Alfred A. Knopf, 2000
Pages: 215
Genre: Historical Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Check it out on Amazon

Adults, older girls, shops, magazines, newspapers, window signs - all the world had agreed that a blue-eyed, yellow-haired, pink-skinned doll was what every girl child treasured. 

Set right after the Great Depression, Pecole is a black preteen who faces horrible circumstances. She yearns to be beautiful like the blond, blue-eyed children; more specifically, she wants blue eyes. As the story unravels, Pecole's nightmare is revealed and her wish is horribly fulfilled.

So, wow. "The Bluest Eye" packs a lot of punch for a book so small. What really strikes me about the novel is how Morrison breaks up the novel by seasons and then the characters tell their stories. There's something about this that forces the reader to see the humanity in each character. We see Pecole living in squalid conditions and with abusive parents, but we also see how her parents had a rough childhood as well; her mother with her limp foot and her father who had parents who wanted nothing to do with him. It doesn't make what Pecole is going through OK, but it makes you see things in a different light.

"The Bluest Eye" also speaks strongly on beauty in America. Even in this day and age, light skin, thin, blue eyes and blond hair still appears to be the standard definition of beautiful. Pecole, along with the other characters, is constantly being told from every direction and in every possible way that she is ugly. Her mother feels the same way about herself as well; that no matter how well she does her hair or what clothing she wears, she will never be like the actresses in the movies. The fact that this novel is still relevant says a lot about what's wrong with our culture. It will only be through teaching our children that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes that we will finally be able to change society's standards of beauty.

RATING (out of five puppies):