Daniel is the son of a rich Texan oil magnate visiting his mother's native Madrid in the summer of 1957. The family is staying at the Castellana Hilton, hotbed of American society abroad, and while his father woos Franco for drilling rights in Spain, Daniel takes photos for the portfolio he hopes will win the Magnum photography prize. Ana is the daughter of schoolteachers murdered during the Spanish Civil War for wanting to start a Montessori (non-Catholic) school. She works as a maid at the Castella Hilton to help support her family: older sister Julia, her husband Antonio, and their infant daughter; and her brother Rafa, who spent years being tortured in a Anuxilio Social home for boys before escaping. She is assigned to take care of Daniel's family during their stay. As the two teens become friends, they realize the gulf that exists between them, but are drawn together in ways that won't become apparent for years.

This historical novel attempts to shed light on numerous social issues during the "war after war," Franco's 39 year long dictatorship: the estimated 300,000 infants stolen from Republicans and sympathizers and adopted by Catholic families; the notorious Auxilio Social homes for children of "enemy" parents; and the institutionalized silence that buried these issues for decades. It also attempts to depict the complexity of US-Spanish relations during this time. Numerous official documents and transcripts of former US diplomats are interspersed throughout the novel, and these, along with the photo section at the end of the book, lend an air of historical veracity. The author writes:

During my study and examination, the fragile tensions between history and memory emerged. Some were desperate to remember and other were desperate to forget. I was haunted by the descriptions of war—and also war after war. Hunger, isolation, fear, and the socialization of silence. Suffering emerged the victor in Spain, touching all sides...

The Spanish Civil War and its aftermath is less visible in the US than WWII and the Holocaust. This novel and it's extensive bibliography will hopefully inspire young people to learn more about it.

The novel is written in very short chapters which keeps the action tight and allows for frequent changes of setting. After covering a few weeks in great detail, I was surprised to find an 18 year gap before a surprising denouement. Although I didn't find the novel as compelling as [Salt to the Sea], it did provoke a latent interest in learning more about this time period. I will follow up with [Paracuellos: Children of the Defeated in Franco's Fascist Spain] by Carlos Giménez. ( )

“Thousands of babies were stolen from their parents during the Franco dictatorship in Spain, but the story was suppressed for decades…
Between 1939 and the late 1980s, it is alleged that over 300,000 babies were stolen from birth mothers and sold into adoption.”

The setting is Madrid, 1957. General Franco’s fascist regime still rules with an iron fist. Eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, the son of an oil tycoon, is staying at the Hyatt, with his parents. There he meets Ana, a teenage hotel worker, who is assigned to his family. As their friendship grows, the story of Ana’s family begins to unfold and dark secrets are revealed. I knew very little about Spain in these post-war years and this wonderfully researched novel filled me in. The author is such a good storyteller and despite it’s 500 page length, the novel read very quickly. Top-notch historical fiction. ( )

During dictator Franco’s reign in Spain, life was extraordinarily hard for average citizens but especially those whose parents fought on the “wrong side” during the Spanish Civil War. It’s the 1950s, and along comes a Texas teen Dan whose dad wants to enter the oil business with Franco. But Dan has a huge heart and empathy and falls for a hotel maid. We learn her family’s stories through various family members and friends and they are heart-breaking. This author writes brilliant books. I’ve loved them all and this one is just as good. Highly highly recommended especially about very recent events that unbelievably continued to occur into the 1980s. ( )

NB: Set in Franco's Madrid, Spain.

This is set in the 1950’s about twenty years after Generalissimo Franco’s rule began in Spain. Franco is beginning to allow business with other countries.

Daniel, is the son of a rich Texas oilman. His father hopes to make oil deals which will enrich both his business and Franco. He has traveled to Madrid with his family to meet the dictator in person. Daniel has no interest in the oil company and plans to be a photojournalist. Although he has been cautioned about taking photographs in Franco’s Spain, he does so, capturing images that the dictator’s strong men are not happy to see, including a nun carrying a dead baby.

Daniel is intrigued by Ana, a maid at the hotel. Her parents were both anti-Franco republicans, killed during the revolution. Lke other offspring and relatives of those who fought Franco, Ana's family are still paying the price.

This is a vivid picture of Spain under Franco’s dictatorship: there are many orphaned children of the anti-Franco movement, who, denied education and opportunity, have no path to better themselves. A friend of Ana’s brother, an orphan who sleeps on the streets, takes up the path of bullfighting as a means to escape his situation.

But the true story here is the continuing mystery of thousands of children who disappear from those who fought against Franco.

There is also a strong romantic story in this novel, too, which does give it more YA tones than the others I have read by this author.

Once again Sepetys has produced strong research and an unforgettable story. ( )

The main action in this historical fiction takes place in the late 1950s in and around Madrid, Spain, about two decades into Generallisimo Francisco Franco's brutal regime. The novel is part love story and part expose of the horrors inflicted on dissidents and their families: murdering anyone who opposes the repressive regime, crushing dissent, burying the truth, and stealing the children of Republicans and selling them for adoption to people loyal to the regime. The story, which is beautifully told, is interspersed with excepts of diplomatic reports, letters, and news stories from the time. The writing is strong, with some beautiful phrasing in places: e.g., “A waiter appears and discreetly slides an ashtray under Ben’s hand, forecasting the gray snowfall from his cigarette.” Or: “Fortune. Born into, unearned. The mute accomplice of fate that determines futures and carves lines to divide.” Well-drawn characters, mystery, and tension round out this excellent work. ( )

Of the four Ruta Sepetys books that I've read, I would rank THE FOUNTAINS OF SILENCE as her best. All four of the books bring light to history that is not widely known. But THE FOUNTAINS OF SILENCE is even more than that. It is unputdownable, a book that I did not want to end.

18-year-old Daniel and Ana (about the same age) meet when he is visiting Spain with his parents in 1957. Franco is dictator there, and Daniel's father, an oil businessman, has come to make a deal with him. Ana is their hotel maid. Daniel is an aspiring photographer. He takes many pictures of life as it really is for the people living under Franco and his regime.

So you would think these two main characters and their quick romance is what this book is about. But I found the main subject of THE FOUNTAINS OF SILENCE is really the approximately 300,000 babies who were stolen from their parents and sold to adoptive parents. Sure, we meet Ana's brother and sister and cousin, each with their own story, but they all come down to this, the babies stolen from parents who the government deemed unsuitable, "Red."

Although THE FOUNTAINS OF SILENCE is classified as young adult, as are all Sepetys novels, she is a "crossover" author, and adults as well as young adults will enjoy and benefit from this book. ( )

I'm not a regular YA reader but I picked this one up because it was set during the Franco dictatorship. Not surprisingly, this was a bit too YA and melodramatic for my taste but the historical setting and information were excellent and well-integrated into the narrative.

At the Castellana Hilton in 1957 Madrid, eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson connects with Ana Moreno through photography and fate as Daniel discovers the incredibly dark side of the city under Generalissimo Franco's rule. From 1939-1980s, thousands of babies were stolen on helaf of the government and sold.

DNF ( )

Oh my goodness. I am absolutely in love with this book. A coworker of mine went to a signing and got a copy for me. And wow, I couldn't put the book down. I LOVED reading a historical fiction book from a time period I know nothing about--Franco's time of power in Spain after WWII. I knew nothing about what the country was like during this time.

I learned a lot. Ruta Sepetys truly did her research with this novel(and my copy of the book includes some of that research so we can see her process.) The novel bounces from the perspectives of Daniel a young man from Texas visiting the country of his mother....and Ana, a Spanish girl working in a hotel. Everyone has secrets. And you are blown away by them.

What I appreciate is that with this book, Ruta also brings to light a topic of Spanish history--the mystery of the stolen babies. I won't say more lest I spoil the book. ( )

I learned so much about Spanish history from this book. However, it was slow-moving, and for some reason I didn't connect to the writing or the characters as much as I like to in a story. ( )

Once again, Ruta Sepetys uses her talent to bring light to a subject that I knew nothing about. This takes place in Madrid, Spain under the dictatorship of Franco. While wealthy Americans come to Madrid for the sunshine and wine, the Spanish people are still suffering the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War. Recommended! ( )

I have loved Ruth Sepetys books for a long time. So when I heard her most current book takes place in Madrid, Spain during Franco’s reign in 1957 I was very excited. Spain is my home away from home so I was very excited to read a book about a time period that I knew a little about but a place I was very familiar with. Daniel is an eighteen year old American who travels to Madrid with his mother, a Spaniard and his father. Daniel is a photographer and through that he meets Ana, an employee at the hotel him and his family are staying at. He soon realizes there are secrets at every turn and he has to figure out how to walk the fine line of what is right and what is safe. This book is phenomenal and amazing and completely took my breathe away. This book left me wanting more and wanting to learn more about this dark history of Spain. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting heart beating, history with a shocking, happy ending. ( )

Wonderful descriptive prose set this novel apart from most other historical fiction out there. Add to that a compelling story, along with complex characters and this book is hard to put down. Highly informative also. If you are a fan of this genre, be sure to put this on your TBR list. ( )

Not a favorite of mine ( )

Post-civil war Spain living as a Republicans’ daughter with little hope for raising herself from the slums of Madrid, girl falls in love with an American photographer. Not an easy situation, he finds where she and her family live in squalor. Important side story of the children stolen and sold, some 300,000 of them during these years. Worth rereading. My first Sepetys historical novel. ( )

This felt like reading All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. That was one of the most beautiful books I've read in a while, and I enjoyed this one equally as much. The details about the city of Madrid and surrounding towns were beautiful and I felt fully immersed in the time period and was invested in the story of the characters.

Things I liked:

I really enjoyed the intro to each chapter with transcripts of interviews from real life political figures who were in Spain during the time period that the novel takes place in. They helped to make the novel feel realistic and relevant.
I really enjoyed the stories told through Daniel's photographs and the references to prominent photographers of the time period. It helped me to understand the important narrative that journalistic photography tells and understand the risks that those professionals take on a daily basis.
I loved the theme of family that runs throughout the book. Some key ones are Daniel's relationship with his mom and his father and how those relationships change and grow and his relationship with his adopted sister. The family bonds in Ana's family and how they've been shaped by their past and the tragedy around them are well developed. Nick and Shep's relationship is interesting, and I really enjoyed how a change in perspective about Nick's behavior helps you to understand that dynamic a bit more.
The way the hardships of those living and suffering under Franco's rule are starkly juxtaposed with the extravagant and indulgent lifestyle of the American tourists in Spain.

Things I didn't like:

The pacing was off. While I liked the story and the short chapters, it felt slow in a lot of parts, and rushed in others. I can't pinpoint why, it just felt off.
The romance at the end was a bit soap-opera like and melodramatic.
I wish the "surprise" ending was more of a surprise and that we got to see more of the present day storyline.
Puri's character change made me really upset. I had higher expectations.
Daniel's noble sacrifice was annoying. I think young readers would find his decisions and the choices he makes in his future to be highly unlikely in reality. While this is supposed to be a cross-over book that can appeal to both adults and young adult readers, Daniel's decisions are definitely written from an adult viewpoint and I think teens might find fault with this and possibly be turned off of the book.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I have heard great things about other books by this author, and reading this one makes me more likely to choose her other books. I would also like to state that this is one of the books on the list that teachers who only recommend "highbrow and intellectual" books would not hesitate to recommend. It is a very well written book that deals with "important" topics. I think this would qualify as "literature" for teachers who judge books based on literary quality. Despite all of that, I do think it is a book that teens would simply enjoy. Daniel and Ana's story is compelling, the mystery of the orphans is intriguing, and the supporting characters are interesting. ( )

Whose idea was it to read an emotional, intense book during the most emotional and intense part of the school semester? That actually sounds like something I would do. This book is weird to read because of how recently the events within it took place. The book starts in 1957, which feels so recent to me. Franco is ruling Spain and everybody has a secret and a story. The book follows Daniel, a young photographer from Texas, and Ana, a local girl who works at a hotel, and a cast of additional significant characters. It's a romance and a mystery and a lot to think about.

This book has moments of Spanish dialogue or thought, but I didn't feel confused even though I don't speak the language. Again, [a:Ruta Sepetys|3407448|Ruta Sepetys|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1344869981p2/3407448.jpg] writes historical fiction in a way that makes you think she went back in time and followed someone around with a camera and a notebook. Very worth the time. ( )

The Fountains of Silence is about Texan teen Daniel visiting Francisco Franco's Spain in the 1950's. Franco is a dictator who needs business men to invest in his country so he opens it to Americans. Daniel visits with his parents to see his mother's birthplace. Ana works at the hotel Daniel and his parents are staying in and is assigned to their rooms. Daniel and Ana quickly become friends but Ana is guarded with him. Her family were Republicans, those who were against Franco's rein, and now are either shunned to live as second class citizens or died horrific deaths. Daniel quickly learns that Spain isn't what the government likes to show and there are secrets everyone is hiding.

I was fascinated with this novel as it's something I have never really learned of this time in history in school. I knew of before, during World War II, but never afterward with Franco's dictation. I cared about the characters and wanted to know the outcome. I could tell when some things would happen and cried during some of them too.

It was a heartfelt novel set in a dark time that had family and love and exploration. A must read for historical fiction readers and lovers of Ruta Sepetys. ( )

Ruta Sepetys is one of my go to without fail excellent authors that I love to read. This book did not disappoint at all, it was just as great as her other books. She writes a truly moving and fascinating story with characters you not only want to read about in the book but also would love to know in real life.

One of the things I find most fascinating about what Ruta Sepetys chooses to write about is how she picks major moments in history but then tells the story of the lesser known parts of those significant moments in time. After reading this book I found myself eager to learn more about the Spanish Civil War. I also enjoyed the multiple narrators in this book even if I personally liked some better than others. ( )

I loved [a:Ruta Sepetys|3407448|Ruta Sepetys|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1344869981p2/3407448.jpg] [b:Salt to the Sea|25614492|Salt to the Sea|Ruta Sepetys|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1437084512l/25614492._SY75_.jpg|27126244], so it was a no-brainier to grab this one when I saw it available at my library.

The story begins in the late 1950's, when Franco held sway over Spain and continues through Franco's death . It follows the life of a family of children, whose parents were both swept up in the violence of the Civil War. It asks the profound question of "Why are children held responsible for the actions of their parents."

Intertwined into this is the story of a young Texan who visits Madrid with his parents, his mother being a Spaniard who escaped before the war. The wealth and influence of the family sticks out like a sore thumb in the dictatorship world of Franco.

Sepetys is a YA author, who many call a "cross-over" author, meaning an author who appeals to adults as well. Her stories are gentle enough for the younger set, but deep and impeccably researched. Some may not like the writing style she uses: There are many points of view, which continuously jump from chapter to chapter. Many of the chapters are only 1 or 2 pages long. In IMO, because there are so many characters involved in this story, this style works well. You never lose track of what is going on with each character, and the connections between characters is never lost.

I wanted this to be a 5 star-but as the story closed I found the ending contrived and was not fully satisfied. The final 20 pages offer Author's notes, research data, and pictures of life in Franco's Spain. All of this was much appreciated. ( )

So much unhappiness and so much pain in this story. It was hard to read, and yet, once begun, it was hard not to. It is set in Spain during the reign of dictator Francisco Franco. Many things were hidden then from tourists and foreign businessmen. Through the different points of view of various characters, some native Spaniards, some Americans, the reader learns of the hardships the people endured. Lack of food, inhumane treatment by the government, lack of good jobs, and more were only part of the problem. In hospitals and orphanages across the country, and reminiscent of Georgia Tann and the Tennessee Children’s Society in the US, many mothers were told their newborn babies had died, and then these children were stolen and sold to adopting parents. It’s a heartbreaking tale at times, and yet it ends on a hopeful note. It is a well written and engrossing story, with characters readers will care about. Though fiction, the book contains snippets of facts that illuminate a dark time in Spain’s history, and will enlighten readers’ understanding of what life was like in Spain for many of its inhabitants. ( )

**Spoilers**

I will start off by saying that historical fiction is usually not my favorite genre, so the fact that this was a 5 star book for me is huge! I was immediately hooked by this novel. All of the characters were dynamic and well-developed. I felt invested in all of their stories, but obviously, especially Daniel's and Ana's story. I loved that they ended up together at the end! I also enjoyed the added aspect of the mystery about the dead babies, empty coffins, and babies being stolen. I had no idea that this happened in real life, so I appreciated how Sepetys portrayed this. All in all the novel felt very authentic. I have read all of Sepetys's books and I think this is her best work by far! ( )

Just another book to add to the list of books that have my heart and soul. I had heard quite a bit about The Fountains of Silence, along with Sepetys' other books, on booktube from some of the videos I had watched. Most of these booktubers absolutely praised the book and Ruta Sepetys' writing. I 100% agree with the praise they gave this book. The Fountains of Silence is so beautifully intricate and detailed while being exquisitely simple as well. I loved the storyline, all the POVs we get, and the entire premise of the book. As I've mentioned here quite a few times on my blog (https://historybookreads.blogspot.com/), historical fiction is flooded with WWII settings. The Fountains of Silence was a wonderful break from seeing all the WWII historical fiction books. 1957 Spain and Franco's dictatorship is such an interesting setting to use for a novel, and Sepetys incorporates it so well. I definitely agree with many booktuber's opinions of the book, and I highly recommend it as a read. ( )