Description
Description
Junior Library Guild Gold Standard
From the award-winning author of Furia--two brothers struggle against a totalitarian regime in this historical YA about fighting for what you believe in, even when the world around you tries to silence your voice. In 1976 Rosario, Argentina, brothers Daniel and Adrián Aguirre share a passion for music and a bond as best friends. However, under the authoritarian military government, artists and musicians are considered enemies of the state, even if they're just teenagers playing at home. When one of their songs unexpectedly gains popularity on the radio, Daniel and Adrián, along with their band Río Babel--comprised of children of immigrants from Spain, Palestine, and Germany--face a daunting choice. They must decide whether to pursue their dream of becoming musicians or to remain silent to protect their families. Ready to challenge the military regime, their resolve is tested when one of their own goes missing. This novel delves into the power of music in the fight for a better tomorrow, making it a compelling read for those who appreciate stories of courage, family, and the enduring spirit of resistance against a totalitarian regime.
About the Author
About the Author
Yamile (sha-MEE-lay) Saied Méndez is the author of many books for young readers and adults, including Furia, a Reese's YA Book Club selection and the 2021 Inaugural Pura Belpré Young Adult Gold Medalist. Her books have received many accolades such as the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard, Whitney Award, Cybils Award, Américas Award, Bank Street Spanish Language Book Awards, Amelia Elizabeth Walden book Awards finalist, and others.
She was born and raised in Rosario, Argentina, and now lives in a lovely valley surrounded by mountains in Utah. An inaugural Walter Dean Myers Grant recipient, she's also a graduate of Voices of Our Nations (VONA) and the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA Writing for Children's and Young Adult program. Yamile is also a founding member of Las Musas, a Latine collective of women and nonbinary authors.
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
"Méndez adeptly draws readers into the lived experience of the people from this time period. She beautifully captures the ambience [and] conveys the sense of terror that so many people felt and their desire for a more hopeful future... Recommended for readers who enjoy historical fiction that explores themes of authoritarianism and social upheaval with an ensemble cast of characters." -- School Library Journal
"Raw and heartbreaking... a haunting, morally urgent tale of art, resistance, and memory." -- Publishers Weekly
★ "Unfurls in bouts of profound tragedies and hopeful triumphs, all wonderfully presented in Méndez's rich, lyrical prose... A fierce, timely, and beautifully executed ode to artistic expression imbued with a spirit of optimism." -- Kirkus (starred)
"Emotional, timely... Méndez's touchpoints of Argentina's history...create an intense landscape she peoples with a rich community of fully fleshed-out characters whose interactions highlight the importance of bearing witness, caring for others, and fighting back while living in an increasingly authoritarian regime."
-- Horn Book
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
Publisher:
Levine Querido
Pub date:
2026-05-05
Length:
304 pages
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