If you read this book (and I recommend you do!) be prepared. Ruta Sepetys has written a gut wrenching history of Spain under Franco that caused me to cringe and gasp, yet - amazingly - still have hope. Why the hope? Because it was also a love story, a story of people that would not forget or give up. This is historical fiction, fiction because Sepetys has created the people and scenarios within the story, but historical because it is based on fact.

I always read the Author's Note prior to starting a book as the note often helps set the stage for the 'why' of the story and Ruta's Author's Note is no exception. Placed at the end of the text, it is followed by eight pages delineating her research and sources. After that comes her Acknowledgements followed by the final section which is a Glossary and photos from the era. All of these end notes, coupled with the actual media reports preceding each section of the book results in a sense of accuracy and honest reporting through the eyes of her fictional characters. And this historical accuracy is what makes the story so gut wrenching. But don't let that stop you from reading it!

Daniel Matheson, an 18-year old Texan in Madrid with his parents, is a talented photographer who dreams of attending a university with a journalism program; his father wants him to join the family oil business. They are in Spain not only because his mother is Spanish (and raised him speaking purely Spanish so he is bilingual) but also so his father can cement an oil deal with Franco. There is yet another reason his family is in Spain, one he will learn several weeks into their stay.

Daniel is introduced to a bevy of people including Ben (an internationally based journalist), Nick and his parents (his father being a U.S. diplomat based at the U.S. Embassy), Miguel (proprietor of a camera and film developing shop), Ana (who works at the hotel and is assigned Daniel's family), and members of Ana's family. The people who comprise Ana's family are the people who you will wince for, root for and gasp for – Ana's siblings: Rafa and Julia; Julia's husband and daughter; Puri (Ana's cousin); and Fuga - El Huérfano (The Orphan) - who focuses his anger, fear and hope into becoming the best bull fighter in Spain.

You can read another description of the book on the Author's Page here. If you read the book, one piece of advice - try not to read it too close to bedtime. I had one night of interrupted sleep due to dreams based on the story.