Initially, I was intrigued by the elements of mystery in the title and the cover picture in Ruta Sepetys’ The Fountain of Silence a YA historical fiction book. The setting of the story is Spain, in 1957, when the despot Francisco Franco led the fascist government. The provocative prose is juxtaposed with primary documents that support this fiction story with factual historical reality. Vivid descriptions such as “Cars and shoes are black, with street tapestries of charcoal, Goya brown, and dark current” evoke stunning and accurate images in the reader’s mind. Moreover, the staccato rhythm of the short sentences adds to the dramatic reality of the danger and privation caused by the repressive regime. However, after the auspicious beginning, and the many wonderful elements in the novel, I found the pacing slow and the characters were not nuanced individuals but somewhat underdeveloped. Therefore, my initial high praise is tempered.