Mónic Montañés

Perhaps one of the simplest, most straightforward, and best books I've read about the Spanish Civil War for children, from children's perspectives. Though they are siblings, Paco and Socorro had slightly different experiences of the war, and it's clear that everyone's experience of the war was different, no matter whether they were on the Republican (loyal to the democratically elected government) or Nationalist (rebels who wanted to return to a more military, Catholic system) side, or lived in the city or countryside, north or south.

The book's design is beautiful; the trim size is smaller than the average picture book, the pages pale pink, which gives the charcoal, pastel, and colored pencil illustrations a little something extra.

Quotes

Life can change suddenly and without warning. I know because it happened to me. (Paco, p. 5, first sentences)

That's how I understood what a war meant, and why the adults were always so afraid. (Socorro, 12, when the next pueblo is bombed)

[My grandmother] spent the day reading books and knew a lot of facts, the kind where one never knows exactly how useful they'll be in the future. (38)

Little by little, we adapted to living in Venezuela and to being foreigners. We were still different from everyone else, and that was noticeable in our accents. But at least being different had stopped being something dangerous for us. (58)

Back matter: "more about Soccoro and Paco's world" (about the Spanish Civil War, its aftermath, and refugees today), glossary, resources for children and young adults, resources for older readers, author/illustrator/translator bios.… (altro)