The Fountains of Silence

3.5 really, I'm rounding up. This was a very impressive and well researched novel that gave me a glimpse into a period of history that I'm fairly unfamiliar with. It took me a bit of time to catch all the threads of the story, but as I continued reading I found it much easier to switch between characters and plot lines. Maybe because there were so many characters I felt that too many loose ends were unresolved at the end? On the other hand, this uncertainty in plot really captured the feeling of uncertainty that so many Spanish citizens must have experienced after Franco's death. This was not a light read, and I didn't expect it to be. There was a strong element of mystery and secrets to be unraveled that carried the plot forward, a tender romance, and a terrifying political backdrop. I would recommend this to any fan of historical fiction, young adult or otherwise.