This is the first book I've read from this author, and I really liked it! I generally like historical fiction, but I have zero background knowledge on Spain's history or the revolution. I think that's part of why I liked it--I like learning about new places!
I felt like this book had the thing that we typically find in young adult books- the struggle to follow in a parent's footsteps or following your own dream. suffering, heartbreak, and valuing family. And while this is a YA book, I felt that the two main characters, Daniel and Ana, were relatable to me as a thirty something year old woman.
If you like historical fiction, add this one to your list!
Here's a summary of the book:
Madrid, 1957. Under the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, Spain is hiding a dark secret. Meanwhile, tourists and foreign businessmen flood into Spain under the welcoming promise of sunshine and wine.
Among them is eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, the son of an oil tycoon, who arrives in Madrid with his parents hoping to connect with the country of his mother's birth through the lens of his camera. Photography--and fate--introduce him to Ana, whose family's interweaving obstacles reveal the lingering grasp of the Spanish Civil War--as well as chilling definitions of fortune and fear. Daniel's photographs leave him with uncomfortable questions amidst shadows of danger. He is backed into a corner of difficult decisions to protect those he loves. Lives and hearts collide, revealing an incredibly dark side to the sunny Spanish city.
I felt like this book had the thing that we typically find in young adult books- the struggle to follow in a parent's footsteps or following your own dream. suffering, heartbreak, and valuing family. And while this is a YA book, I felt that the two main characters, Daniel and Ana, were relatable to me as a thirty something year old woman.
If you like historical fiction, add this one to your list!
Here's a summary of the book:
Madrid, 1957. Under the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, Spain is hiding a dark secret. Meanwhile, tourists and foreign businessmen flood into Spain under the welcoming promise of sunshine and wine.
Among them is eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, the son of an oil tycoon, who arrives in Madrid with his parents hoping to connect with the country of his mother's birth through the lens of his camera. Photography--and fate--introduce him to Ana, whose family's interweaving obstacles reveal the lingering grasp of the Spanish Civil War--as well as chilling definitions of fortune and fear. Daniel's photographs leave him with uncomfortable questions amidst shadows of danger. He is backed into a corner of difficult decisions to protect those he loves. Lives and hearts collide, revealing an incredibly dark side to the sunny Spanish city.