This is the author’s first-ever YA novel – mine too, as a reader – and it’s set the bar high. The author says in the Afterword, “I wrote Sonia’s story in the tradition of old Latino tales — romantic and magical. But I didn’t want a telenovela. I wanted a novel that spoke to what’s happening all around us even today.”

And she succeeded. I’m impressed with the way she found a balancing point (if any of us is ever in perfect balance) exactly as she intended. Don’t be fooled by a somewhat languid beginning. The characters deal with ups and downs, and the challenges they face are both modern and dire; choices are sometimes impossible and the consequences are real. Even though you suspect all will work out in the end, there are a couple of times when you’re not at all sure there’s a way for that to happen.

The setting, language and intricacies of daily life are observed keenly and described warmly or with fear, as appropriate. Here’s a subtle example of the author’s eye for detail:

“He looked nothing like a miner, Sonia thought. Not like his father or grandfather or any other Ocampo man before that. It was as if he’d been born into the wrong life entirely.”

Pacing is quite good, the conclusion is satisfying and optimistic – though definitely not rainbows and lollipops. Characters are engaging. Story is wonderful. What more could I ask for? I look forward to Meg Medina’s future writing.
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Narrated by Christina Panfilio. Sonia is the village talisman, the perceived girl of miracles who can answer prayers, assure fruitful marriages and cure skin ailments. It's a heavy role she bears and when she is unable to save a missing young man, she sees herself as a fraud. To escape the weight of expectations, she takes a job in the capital as a servant in a mansion. The story lacked a certain heft for me; I never felt Sonia's burden or why she needed to escape it. Panfilio's narration is adequate but her Spanish can be wobbly. Also, the story never states where or when it takes place, but I imagine Mexico or Latin America over a century ago, since the young men seek better lives "in the north," there is description of milagros, and people travel by horses. ( )

Sixteen-year-old Sonia Ocampos just wants to be treated like a normal person. She was born under unusual circumstances, so her village believes she has a special gift of protecting them from harm. Sonia has carried the burdens of the village of Tres Montes all her life, but when a young villager dies despite her many prayers for his safety, she is convinced she’s a fraud.

Read the rest of my review on my blog: http://shouldireaditornot.wordpress.com/2012/12/21/the-girl-who-could-silence-th... ( )

Review originally published on my blog: AWordsWorth.blogspot.com
ARC provided by publisher for review.

This is one of those stories that can't be nailed down to a single time, or even a single place. It's got a trace of wildness, and a simple beauty. Just a hint of magic, and a heaping scoop of spunk; years of secrets, and a thousand dreams.

Sonia Ocampo has been cursed with a blessing. The day she was born, the raging winds of a horrible storm ended, and from that point on, everyone believed she was blessed with a special connection to Heaven. The villagers of Tres Montes would come, bearing milagros (prayer charms), begging for her intercession on their behalf. For sixteen years, things seemed to "work," but then something goes horribly wrong. Desperate for an escape, Sonia leaves for the Capitol - to work in a rich widow's house, with three other Tres Montes girls, hoping to lose her blessing along the way. Even in the beautiful Capitol, life is not easy for Sonia, nor is she safe from the burden of her "gift." Her brother, Rafael, is also trying to make things better - but his plans and dreams go horribly awry. At last, Sonia realizes she must face the truth. All of it. And only by bringing the truth out into the open can her family, and the community of Tres Montes, find the healing and new beginnings they so desperately need.

This story has some very poignant, even sad, moments. But it also has a rare beauty. Sonia and her friend Pancho have a truly beautiful relationship, and I loved watching them grow. It's sweet, it's pure, it's real. There's a multicultural flavor to The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind, but not so much that it becomes part of a separate people (if that makes sense). As I said, there is no time or place - this could be any number of small towns with a quiet routine and slow, almost forgotten, economy. (Obviously it's historical fiction, but there's no set time period - that I could tell, anyway). While the story concluded beautifully, I can't help but wish there were more. ( )

This was definitely a different read.

Based on the summary, I assumed it was more of a fantasy read so imagine my surprise when I realized it was more of a historical fiction read. It's in a different setting from what I'm used to, so it was a learning experience. It was out of the box and I think the fact that it was so different made it more intriguing for me.

Sonia was a really great character. She was strong and she had a big heart and she loved her family. And she learned how strong she was as the book went on and she just learned a lot about herself. Her family relationships and her relationship with a certain boy were SO well done.

The writing was pretty gorgeous. It was descriptive when needed and engaging. It's a short book because that's all there needed to be to get the point across. Meg Medina has a really good balance of description and dialogue and including what needs to be included.

This wasn't really my type of book, but I enjoyed it. It was different and entertaining and enjoyable. Kind of heavy, but quick. I liked it more than I thought I would, despite the confusion and differences from what I normally read. It's not like any YA book I've ever heard of. Definitely one for you to try out!