The Fountains of Silence: A Novel

The Fountains of Silence

• Genre: Fiction; young adult historical
• Originally Published: 2019
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile HL620L; grades 9-12
• Structure/Length: 149 chapters; approx. 512 pages; approx. 12 hours, 24 minutes on audio
• Protagonist and Central Conflict: Eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson visits Madrid in 1957 with his wealthy parents. A budding photographer intent on journalism school, Daniel knows little about the oppressive authoritarianism of Spanish leader General Francisco Franco. Then, he meets Ana and her siblings, surviving members of the Torres Moreno family whose parents were violently murdered for resisting Franco; soon, Daniel realizes the traumatic and lasting impact of fascist control on the people of Spain.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Dictatorship; murder; loss of family members; oppression; poverty; sexual harassment

Ruta Sepetys, Author

• Bio: Born in 1967 in Michigan; daughter of a Lithuanian refugee; bestselling writer of historical fiction for adults and young adults; known for treating historically underrepresented groups in her stories; recipient of The Rockefeller Foundation’s prestigious Bellagio Fellowship, acknowledging her studies on human resilience; considered a humanitarian and invited to speak at NATO, the US Congress, and the European Parliament; currently lives in Tennessee
• Other Works: Between Shades of Gray (2011); Out of the Easy (2013); Salt to the Sea (2016); I Must Betray You (2022)
• Awards: Carnegie Medal Nominee (2021)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:

• Silence
• Fascism
• Resistance

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Unit, students will:

• Explore background information on Franco’s Spain and living under fascism to increase their engagement with and understanding of Fountains of Silence.
• Read/study paired texts and other brief resources to deepen their understanding of themes related to Silence, Fascism, and Resistance.
• Demonstrate their understanding of characterization and theme in Fountains of Silence by creating a gallery of Estampa Popular art “curated” by four of the novel’s main characters.
• Analyze the significance of various elements of the novel, such as symbolism, detail, characterization, narrative strategy, and setting, and construct essay responses tying these to the novel’s meaning.