5 breathtakingly heart wrenching stars for yet another masterpiece by Ruta Sepetys.
Spain, 1957
Franco’s reign over the country is at its peak and the people are still recovering from the war that tore them apart. Daniel, a young man from Texas, is visiting Madrid with his family. A trip that started as an opportunity to win a photography contest quickly turns into so much more for Daniel. Soon Daniel is immersed in the world of post-war Spain, befriending the children of Spanish Republicans, and learning more about the dark secrets of Spain than he could have ever imagined.
The research that Sepetys puts into her stories is what makes them so incredible. You know what you’re reading is a fictionalization of things that could have really happened mixed with the facts she uncovered and the truths that many people choose to ignore.
Before this book I didn’t know much about Spain, especially not Spain during that time period. This book was eye opening and tragic and magical. There is so much to be learned from dark times of a country and Sepetys knows how to unearth some of the most incredible and unbelievable pieces of history that don’t get told.
I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.