The Fountains of Silence, by Ruta Sepetys

I grabbed this from the public library just before it closed for the next few weeks. I wasn't sure it would appeal to many middle school readers, but I read another book by Sepetys, Salt to the Sea, and loved it! The Fountains of Silence didn't start as quickly as Salt did, but once it got going, it was a page turner extraordinaire! Sepetys is a master historical fiction writer, equal to Steve Sheinkin, if not better. Where Sheinkin writes totally engaging and fact-filled books, Sepetys adds romance, and what pug doesn't like a little romance now and again? None that I know...

Fountains has a strong romantic story line, set in Spain during the last half of the 20th century. Franco was the fascist dictator who ruled for nearly 40 years, supported by Hitler and Mussolini (both of whom are more widely known) but also supported in many ways by the United States. During Franco's regime, 300,000 babies were stolen from their families and adopted out to wealthier, Catholic families all over the world. Sepetys weaves all of these elements into a totally readable tale...a page turner! If you will allow yourself to dive into some historical fiction, and are ready for a slightly more sophisticated story than most middle school reads, get this! Be sure to carve out a few uninterrupted hours...you won't be able to put this down! 5 paws!