Expected publication August 26, 2025
“Méndez has crafted a sympathetic, lovable character in Gen that readers will root for. Themes of generational trauma and grappling with past mistakes resonate. A poignant, recommended story for fans of character-driven fiction with a touch of supernatural thrill.” -School Library Journal
★ "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)“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“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
“Poignant… complex… There is a lyrical grace to this novel, even when awful things are being described, that befits a novel built around the power of music to both disrupt and heal… the cost of resistance is often distressingly high, a fact that contemporary teens may find just as haunting and powerful as the young members of Río Babel fifty years ago.” ― Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
“Méndez constructs a tragic, heart-wrenching story within a story that delves into resistance, resilience, and the power of song. The characters are complex and sympathetic, which makes some of their fates painful yet galvanizing. This is for readers who welcome books that confront tragedy, especially fans of historical fiction, music, and fighting authoritarianism.” ― Booklist
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Yamile (sha-MEE-lay) is an Argentine-American author. She’s the mother of 5 kids and 2 adorable dogs. Yamile’s an inaugural Walter Dean Meyers Grant recipient, a graduate of Voices of our Nation (VONA) and the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA Writing for Children program.
