Eyes Open - by Lyn Miller-Lachmann (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Living under the Salazar dictatorship in 1960s Portugal, Sâonia must find her voice as a poet and an activist after the government arrests her boyfriend and shuts down her family's business"--

Book Synopsis

Portugal, 1967. Sónia thinks she knows what her future holds. She'll become a poet, and together she and her artist boyfriend, Zé Miguel, will rise above the government restrictions that shape their lives. The restrictions on what Sónia can do and where she can go without a man's permission. The restrictions on what music she can enjoy, what books she can read, what questions she can ask.

But when Zé Miguel is arrested for anti-government activities and Sónia's family's restaurant is shut down, Sónia's plans are upended. No longer part of the comfortable middle class, she's forced to leave school and take a low-paying, grueling, dangerous job. She thought she understood the dark sides of her world, but now she sees suffering she never imagined.

Without the protection of her boyfriend or her family, can Sónia find a way to fight for justice? This poignant novel in verse follows a teen girl discovering how to resist tyranny and be true to herself.

Review Quotes

"Miller-Lachmann's free-verse poetry captures the exquisite and the harrowing . . . Both the verse format and the intensity of the protagonist's lived experiences and choices make this story about the power of teenage resistance a page-turner."--Horn Book Magazine

-- (5/30/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"Employing tightly bound poems, Miller-Lachman weaves the perils of authoritarianism into the dynamics between Sónia and her family, and highlights Sónia's activist awakening and the power of protest."--Publishers Weekly

-- (2/26/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"The verse format allows Sónia's poetic voice to shine, drawing readers into the stark reality she's dealing with. . . Conveys harshness, beauty--and lingering hope."--starred, Kirkus Reviews

-- (2/12/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"Beautifully and fluidly written, Miller-Lachmann's memorable verse novel captures the setting splendidly, dramatizing the abysmal condition of women under the dictatorship."--starred, Booklist

-- (1/19/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"A revealing, timely glimpse into Portugal's frighteningly recent history and a passionate, authentically teen portrait of one young woman finding her voice, claiming her power, and writing her way to freedom."--Melanie Crowder, author of Jumper

-- (11/28/2023 12:00:00 AM)

"Beautifully-written verse perfectly captures this young poet standing up to injustice. A must read!"--Kip Wilson, YA author of White Rose and The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin

-- (10/12/2023 12:00:00 AM)

"Deeply engrossing and moving. Miller-Lachmann is masterful in showing us the heart of a girl who's finding her voice and the soul of a country in conflict with itself." --Betty G. Yee, author of Gold Mountain

-- (10/12/2023 12:00:00 AM)

"Sensuous. Atmospheric. Compelling. You won't want to put this one down."--Ellen Hopkins, author of the Crank trilogy

-- (10/12/2023 12:00:00 AM)