The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind

March 19, 2012
Hints of magical realism infuse Medina's story, set in an unnamed Latin American country. Teenage Sonia Ocampos lives with her familyâincluding her handsome rakish brother, Rafaelâin a tiny village where the residents struggle daily against poverty and natural forces. According to the villagers, Sonia is special, endowed from birth with the power to answer prayers. Sonia walks through life wrapped in a shawl that grows ever heavier with the metal milagros (prayer charms) bestowed upon it. The opportunity to serve as apprentice housemaid in a wealthy home in the capital brings new discoveries and obstacles, particularly in the form of the owner's lecherous nephew. When Sonia learns that Rafael has gone missing, presumably seeking a brighter future, she must look beyond her powers of prayer to rescue him. Touches of romantic longing between Sonia and a poetically talented orphan boy create an enticing undercurrent; secondary characters reveal unexpected aspects of their personalities as the suspense builds. Medina persuasively depicts the sights, rhythms, and relationships of both village life and the servants' world at Casa Masón, but her story is missing the spark that would make it truly engrossing. Ages 14âup

August 27, 2012
Sonia Ocampo, born in a storm, is believed by her fellow villagers in an unnamed Latin American country to be a prophet from God. As a girl, she is burdened by the responsibility her community places on her during times of great need. Sonia also thinks the esteem of her peers is misplaced and feels like a fraud. Eventually, she flees to work for a wealthy woman in the city. But when a tragedy befalls her own family, she must return and confront what she knows is true about herself and the expectations placed upon her by others. Narrator Cristina Panfilio's performance is a treat. She ably brings to life each of the book's varied charactersâeven the tertiary ones. Her narration is equally goodâher reading of the story (written mostly in close third-person) subtly indicates Sonia's anxieties, her uncertainties, and even the butterfly feelings she gets when she sees a boy she likes. Ages 14âup. A Candlewick hardcover.