The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind by Meg Medina
Buy This Book: Amazon
Summary:
Sonia’s entire village believes she has a gift, but it’s only in leaving home that she finds out who she truly is. A compelling tale from a rich new voice in young adult fiction.
Sixteen-year-old Sonia Ocampo was born on the night of the worst storm Tres Montes had ever seen. And when the winds mercifully stopped, an unshakable belief in the girl’s protective powers began. All her life, Sonia has been asked to pray for sick mothers or missing sons, as worried parents and friends press silver milagros in her hands. Sonia knows she has no special powers, but how can she disappoint those who look to her for solace? Still, her conscience is heavy, so when she gets a chance to travel to the city and work in the home of a wealthy woman, she seizes it. At first, Sonia feels freedom in being treated like all the other girls. But when news arrives that her beloved brother has disappeared while looking for work, she learns to her sorrow that she can never truly leave the past or her family behind. With deeply realized characters, a keen sense of place, a hint of magical realism, and a flush of young romance, Meg Medina tells the tale of a strongwilled, warmhearted girl who dares to face life’s harsh truths as she finds her real power.
I read this book in just a couple of hours. The writing is what told the story for me. This book is really well written and it reads like an old fable mixed with beautiful poetry. I loved that the main guy character, Pancho, wanted to be a poet. It fit in so well with the tempo of the story.
Sofia is a girl with the world on her shoulders. She has so much pressure and weight from her family, village, and everyone really that it’s amazing that she is as strong as she is. It’s strange because the village love and revere her so much, yet she is so isolated. It is such a lonely life for her and I found myself hoping and hoping that she could find happiness somewhere.
What I really liked about this story is that it is realistic. It is not overly dramatic or unrealistically happy. Sometimes tragedy happens and sometimes situations do not work out the way we planned. But it is how we respond to this situations that define us and Sophia and Pancho responded so well to the hand of cards that they were dealt. I also liked that even though some hard/sad things happened to the characters, they were strong enough and positive enough to still find happiness. They made their own happiness.
The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind is such a nice, quick read. To me, it is like a fable with its own wise message to send on to the readers. Give it a shot, and I think you will be happy you did. I came away from this story with a very satisfied and hopeful feeling.
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| 3.5/5 Gavels |
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Angel (Mermaid Vision Books)
I actually have a finished copy for review, and I wish my schedule let me read it earlier! I loved that you described it as reading like an old fable–Latin American magic realism has always been one of my favourite genres to read. Great review, and I look forward to reading my own copy soon!
Anonymous
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Melissa (Books and Things)
“They made their own happiness.” Right there is why I want to read this book. Wonderful review. Sounds like a sweet read!
Cait
This really isn’t my sort of book but I’ve been seeing so many lovely reviews of it that I’m tempted to give it a go. Great review!
The Cait Files
Molli @ Once Upon a Prologue
I really liked the sound of this one, Michelle! I almost requested it on NG but decided to wait. I like that you describe it as kind of like a fable. I’ll definitely be making time to check it out after reading your review!
avry15
I heard so much about this book but I hadn’t gotten the chance to read yet…
Thanks for the review..I never thought this book is like a fable..:D
avry15
I heard so much about this book but I hadn’t gotten the chance to read yet…
Thanks for the review..I never thought this book is like a fable..:D
avry15
I heard so much about this book but I hadn’t gotten the chance to read yet…
Thanks for the review..I never thought this book is like a fable..:D