The Fountains of SilenceThe Fountains of Silence
Score Modern
What it's about
Madrid, 1957: under General Franco's dictatorship, Spain hides a dark secret, while tourists and businessmen flood in for the sunshine. Eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, son of an oil tycoon, arrives hoping to connect with his mother's homeland through photography, and meets Ana, a hotel maid, whose family's story reveals what the country is hiding.
Why it's worth reading
It has spent 26 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. Ruta Sepetys brings forgotten history to life for teens and adults alike.
You'll love it if you liked
Salt to the Sea
The Book Thief
The NightingaleGood to know
It's written for young adults, with short chapters. It's based on the real scandal of children stolen during Franco's rule.
By the numbers
- Readers84 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller45 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #46 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #406 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #792 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Dark
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Quick answers
Is The Fountains of Silence worth reading?
Yes. It has spent 26 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #792 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 75.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Fountains of Silence about?
Madrid, 1957: under General Franco's dictatorship, Spain hides a dark secret, while tourists and businessmen flood in for the sunshine. Eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, son of an oil tycoon, arrives hoping to connect with his mother's homeland through photography, and meets Ana, a hotel maid, whose family's story reveals what the country is hiding.
How long does it take to read The Fountains of Silence?
About 13 hours (515 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Fountains of Silence?
If you liked it, try Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak or The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.