Silenced Voices - by Pablo Leon (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Langley Park, Maryland, 2013. Brothers Josâe and Charlie know very little about their mother's life in Guatemala, until Josâe grows curious about the ongoing genocide trial of Efrain Rios Montt. At first his mother, Clara, shuts his questions down. But as the trial progresses, she begins to open up to her sons about a time in her life that she's left buried for years. Petâen, Guatemala, 1982. Sisters Clara and Elena hear about the armed conflict every day, but the violence somehow seems far away from their small village. But the day the fight comes to their doorstep, the sisters are separated and are forced to flee through the mountains, leaving them to wonder...Have their paths diverged forever?"--

Book Synopsis

A Pura Belpré Award Honor, Young Adult
A Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor
A 2026 Américas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature Winner

In this moving intergenerational tale perfect for fans of Messy Roots and Illegal, Eisner-nominated creator Pablo Leon combines historical research of the Guatemalan Civil War with his own experiences as a Guatemalan immigrant to depict a powerful story of family, sacrifice, survival, and hope.

Langley Park, Maryland, 2013

Brothers Jose and Charlie know very little about their mother's life in Guatemala, until Jose grows curious about the ongoing genocide trial of Efrain Rios Montt. At first his mother, Clara, shuts his questions down. But as the trial progresses, she begins to open up to her sons about a time in her life that she's left buried for years.

Peten, Guatemala, 1982

Sisters Clara and Elena hear about the armed conflict every day, but the violence somehow seems far away from their small village. But the day the fight comes to their doorstep, the sisters are separated and are forced to flee through the mountains, leaving them to wonder...Have their paths diverged forever?

Review Quotes

"A gripping tale across generations. Leon shows us all how the most harrowing memories should spark hope." - Sara Alfageeh, bestselling creator of Squire

"A monumental work of historical memory." - Julio Anta, Eisner nominated author of Frontera and Speak Up, Santiago!

"A powerful story that gives voice to millions of forgotten and displaced people from Central America." - Robin Ha, bestselling creator of Almost American Girl

"A heart wrenching tale of the brutality and healing that happens when we shed light on family trauma." - Victoria Ying, author and illustrator of Harvey Award-winner Hungry Ghost

"A stirring story about the power of familial bonds and historical recollection in the face of grief, fear, and hopelessness." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A beautiful, timely reminder that hope is never out of reach." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"A riveting graphic novel about a family coming to terms with the far-reaching ways their lives have been traumatized by genocide. Despite its brutal subject, Silenced Voices manages to be hopeful." - BookPage (starred review)

"In every way, this title is hard to put down, difficult to forget, and unequivocally needed in all collections as buried stories of marginalized groups are brought to the forefront through the refreshingly ­accessible graphic novel format." - School Library Journal (starred review)