The Fountains of Silence

I am not sure why it took me so long to read this book, but I am glad I finally prioritized it. This is a beautiful, informative story about a summer in Madrid in 1957 during which a young man from Texas falls in love with a young Spanish woman and learns the realities of life in Spain under the dictatorship of Franco.

Daniel Matheson, a budding photographer, spends the summer of his 18th year in Madrid with his mother and father. While there, he meets and forms a bond with Ana, a young maid at the hotel where his family is staying. Through his interactions with Ana and the photographs he takes around the city, Daniel learns some uncomfortable truths about life in Spain.

There is a lot to praise in this book. The pacing is perfect; the story never lags. The short chapters make it easy to continue in the story. It creates that “just one more chapter” feeling. The historical context is interesting and engaging. The story explores a topic that is not overdone in other books. The characters are well-developed and likable. Daniel and Ana are easy to embrace as protagonists. Secondary characters add richness to the narrative and help to reveal the historical context.

My only complaint is that the story does not feel resolved in the end. I do not believe that every story needs to have every aspect completed wrapped up, but in this case I was left feeling a bit cheated out a resolution.

Overall, I would recommend this book to readers of all ages, not just young adults. It is educational and entertaining and just so readable. 4.5 stars!