Ruta Sepetys is one of the finest historical fiction writers out there, and with this new book she has taken readers to Spain under Franco's regime. As with her previous books, this isn't a time or place I'm very familiar with, and Sepetys has clearly done enormous amounts of research in order to present the most accurate depiction of life in this era. It's never didactic, but I definitely learned a lot. Sepetys also chose to contrast the Spanish teens in the story with one who was raised in Texas and is seeing their world with fresh, curious eyes. There are enough reminders throughout the story that it's a complicated, dangerous time, but the author also allows the characters room to be teenagers and live their lives. All of this author's books should be required reading, and this is no exception.