Between Brothers

by Sarah Metts, Patrick Metts (illustrator)

Fernando and Isabel Jiménez are a devoted married couple raising their three children in a small village in northeastern Spain in the late 1920s. Responsible Javier aspires to a life of service as a priest, passionate Inés dreams of making her mark on the world and of finding love, and fiery, loyal Rafa seeks to right the wrongs committed against those he loves. After the family experiences unthinkable tragedy, they move to Madrid for a fresh start. But there they witness the anti-clerical violence and political upheaval that breaks out under the Second Spanish Republic. As arson, assassination, and violent revolutionary strikes engulf the nation, Fernando struggles to keep his family safe. Inés and Rafa must decide whether to trust Hector, a young socialist whom they have befriended, as the risks involved in remaining in Madrid become ever greater.

264 pages, Paperback

Published February 22, 2024

Reviews

[Gabriela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah is a friend of mine and this is her first book. Seven years in the making but a lifetime of family history here. Her grandmother lived through the Spanish civil war but would never speak of it, prompting Sarah to learn as much as she could about that period of history. The result is a story of a family living through personal tragedy as well as societal breakdown. She did a great job of showing the family's faith through all the trauma, which was such an important aspect of most people's lives at the time. Once again, well researched fiction can be such a great way to learn! Communism is definitely the author of much of the world's ills and we would be well advised to fight against it as hard as we can.
There is a second book in the works which will continue the story of the Jimenez family as the war rages on.

[Tom Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engrossing story of a tightknit, loving family dealing with tragedy and the events leading up to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. It is clear that the author has done extensive research on this time period. I will be looking forward to more about the family and how they deal with the civil war.