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Silenced Voices: Reclaiming Memories from the Guatemalan Genocide
In this moving intergenerational tale perfect for fans of Messy Roots and Illegal, Eisner-nominated creator Pablo Leon combines historical research of the Dos Erres Massacre 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 the life their mother lived before she came to Maryland. In fact, Clara avoids even telling people she’s from Guatemala. So when Jose grows curious about the ongoing genocide trial of former military leader Efrain Rios Montt, at first the questions he asks Clara are shut down—he and Charlie were born here, after all, and there’s no reason to worry about places they haven’t been. But as the trial progresses, Clara begins to slowly open up to her sons about a time in her life that she’s left buried for years.
Dos Erres, Guatemala, 1982.
Sisters Clara and Elena hear about the civil war every day, but the violence somehow seems far away from their small village of Dos Erres, a Q’eqchi Maya community tucked away in the mountains of Guatemala. They spend their days thinking of other things—Clara, of gifts to bring her neighbors and how to perfect her mother’s recipes, and Elena, of rock music and her friend Ana, whose family had to flee to the US the year before. But the day the Kaibiles come to Dos Erres and destroy everything in their path, the sisters are separated as they flee through the mountains, leaving them to wonder…Have their paths diverged forever?
Langley Park, Maryland, 2013.
Brothers Jose and Charlie know very little about the life their mother lived before she came to Maryland. In fact, Clara avoids even telling people she’s from Guatemala. So when Jose grows curious about the ongoing genocide trial of former military leader Efrain Rios Montt, at first the questions he asks Clara are shut down—he and Charlie were born here, after all, and there’s no reason to worry about places they haven’t been. But as the trial progresses, Clara begins to slowly open up to her sons about a time in her life that she’s left buried for years.
Dos Erres, Guatemala, 1982.
Sisters Clara and Elena hear about the civil war every day, but the violence somehow seems far away from their small village of Dos Erres, a Q’eqchi Maya community tucked away in the mountains of Guatemala. They spend their days thinking of other things—Clara, of gifts to bring her neighbors and how to perfect her mother’s recipes, and Elena, of rock music and her friend Ana, whose family had to flee to the US the year before. But the day the Kaibiles come to Dos Erres and destroy everything in their path, the sisters are separated as they flee through the mountains, leaving them to wonder…Have their paths diverged forever?
240 pages, Paperback
First published September 2, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
September 8, 2025
In a Nutshell: An #OwnVoices graphic novel covering a historical genocide that rarely gets attention: the Dos Erres massacre in Guatemala in 1982. Not an easy read, obviously. Despite the text limitations of the format, it covers the context in fair detail. Aimed at teens and young adults, but adults might benefit more from this.
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Plot Preview:
While there have been several atrocities against humans over the centuries, mostly due to racial or political biases, only a few get prominence beyond their location. The barbaric acts against the Indigenous peoples have especially been brushed under the carpet. It is praiseworthy that this novel brings to light one such genocide that is relatively unknown around the world – the Dos Erres massacre of 1982 in Guatemala. This was just one massacre resulting from the government’s controversial ‘scorched earth‘ policy in which about 200,000 Indigenous and Mayan people were killed.
Prior to this, I have read only one OwnVoices book from Guatemala and that was a contemporary short story collection. I had absolutely no idea that the Central American country’s history involved such crimes. Reading this was an eye-opener in various ways.
The story provides enough details about the events that led to such brutality where neighbour turned against neighbour. The globe is anyway filled with racism and discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, and race, but when these come from within your own country, when your own neighbours look at you as an outsider, the hurt is always greater. More than four decades later, humankind is still struggling on the same path of “othering” their own, forgetting that we are all in this together.
Clara’s character is well-sketched. I like how her arc doesn’t contain only typical victim clichés. Her past trauma does force her to shut herself and her loved ones away from revisiting those days, but this doesn’t turn her into a saint. She has a temper and isn't afraid to show it to her sons, with whom she keeps a strict hand. Her character raises an interesting question – should you keep your children protected from your trauma, even if it means blocking them from knowing an essential part of their roots? A tricky decision this. Intergenerational trauma is not an easy burden to bear.
Jose and Charles are also good characters within their relatively limited roles. Their track shows how modern media and social media can be helpful in resolving certain matters.
While I love the intent of the book and even a fair bit of the execution, a few things could have worked better for me. I’d have liked to know more details of Clara’s initial days in the USA. The boys’ father has supposedly returned to Guatemala, but his character arc is kept too vague. The Guatemalan timeline is a bit tricky as there are many characters at the start and it takes time to figure out not just who’s who but also what’s happening. Also, there are a few back-and-forth conversations that get a little tough to follow sometimes. The political content also becomes a tad confusing at times as the scale of the government’s cruelty was much wider than a single graphic novel could incorporate. Lastly, the ending was a bit too happy considering the circumstances, though I get how this writing choice can be justified by keeping the target age group in mind.
The illustrations are apt for the content. I like how realistically the characters were sketched. No character was purposely beautified to be visually striking. All felt like typical, ordinary individuals.
As the book is aimed at teens and young adults, it keeps the content only moderately disturbing. I appreciate that the text mentions several heinous acts but the illustrations don’t sensationalise the matter by adding gruesome images. But even this level is quite distressing.
Overall, while this is not an easy read, it is still an important one, making us aware of a horrific action by a government against its own people, the repercussions of which are still being felt today. Though aimed at teens, the book will also be enlightening to adults unaware of the issue as the approach is fairly mature.
Recommended to readers of OwnVoices graphic novels containing some forgotten historical truths. There is some triggering content herein, so keep your headspace in mind before picking this up. Parents/Teachers/Librarians, this book would work better if paired with adult discussions.
3.75 stars.
My thanks to HarperCollins Children's Books and HarperAlley for providing the DRC of “Silenced Voices: Reclaiming Memories from the Guatemalan Genocide” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
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Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
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Plot Preview:
2013. Maryland, USA. When Charles is asked by his teacher if his mother had been following the genocide trial of former military leader Efrain Rios Montt on TV, Charles has no idea what he's talking about. All he knows that his mother Clara was from Guatemala, had moved to the USA many years ago, and never wants to talk about her past. Every time Charles and his elder brother Jose raise the topic, Clara dismisses them firmly saying that they were born Americans. But as the trial progresses, the wall around Clara’s heart begins to crumble, and she reveals to her son her traumatic experiences from 1982, when she and her family were residents of Dos Erres, a small mountain village filled with Q’eqchi Mayans.
The graphic novel is split in four chapters, each focussed on one key character. Clara’s chapter takes us to 1982 in flashback.
While there have been several atrocities against humans over the centuries, mostly due to racial or political biases, only a few get prominence beyond their location. The barbaric acts against the Indigenous peoples have especially been brushed under the carpet. It is praiseworthy that this novel brings to light one such genocide that is relatively unknown around the world – the Dos Erres massacre of 1982 in Guatemala. This was just one massacre resulting from the government’s controversial ‘scorched earth‘ policy in which about 200,000 Indigenous and Mayan people were killed.
Prior to this, I have read only one OwnVoices book from Guatemala and that was a contemporary short story collection. I had absolutely no idea that the Central American country’s history involved such crimes. Reading this was an eye-opener in various ways.
The story provides enough details about the events that led to such brutality where neighbour turned against neighbour. The globe is anyway filled with racism and discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, and race, but when these come from within your own country, when your own neighbours look at you as an outsider, the hurt is always greater. More than four decades later, humankind is still struggling on the same path of “othering” their own, forgetting that we are all in this together.
Clara’s character is well-sketched. I like how her arc doesn’t contain only typical victim clichés. Her past trauma does force her to shut herself and her loved ones away from revisiting those days, but this doesn’t turn her into a saint. She has a temper and isn't afraid to show it to her sons, with whom she keeps a strict hand. Her character raises an interesting question – should you keep your children protected from your trauma, even if it means blocking them from knowing an essential part of their roots? A tricky decision this. Intergenerational trauma is not an easy burden to bear.
Jose and Charles are also good characters within their relatively limited roles. Their track shows how modern media and social media can be helpful in resolving certain matters.
While I love the intent of the book and even a fair bit of the execution, a few things could have worked better for me. I’d have liked to know more details of Clara’s initial days in the USA. The boys’ father has supposedly returned to Guatemala, but his character arc is kept too vague. The Guatemalan timeline is a bit tricky as there are many characters at the start and it takes time to figure out not just who’s who but also what’s happening. Also, there are a few back-and-forth conversations that get a little tough to follow sometimes. The political content also becomes a tad confusing at times as the scale of the government’s cruelty was much wider than a single graphic novel could incorporate. Lastly, the ending was a bit too happy considering the circumstances, though I get how this writing choice can be justified by keeping the target age group in mind.
The illustrations are apt for the content. I like how realistically the characters were sketched. No character was purposely beautified to be visually striking. All felt like typical, ordinary individuals.
As the book is aimed at teens and young adults, it keeps the content only moderately disturbing. I appreciate that the text mentions several heinous acts but the illustrations don’t sensationalise the matter by adding gruesome images. But even this level is quite distressing.
Overall, while this is not an easy read, it is still an important one, making us aware of a horrific action by a government against its own people, the repercussions of which are still being felt today. Though aimed at teens, the book will also be enlightening to adults unaware of the issue as the approach is fairly mature.
Recommended to readers of OwnVoices graphic novels containing some forgotten historical truths. There is some triggering content herein, so keep your headspace in mind before picking this up. Parents/Teachers/Librarians, this book would work better if paired with adult discussions.
3.75 stars.
My thanks to HarperCollins Children's Books and HarperAlley for providing the DRC of “Silenced Voices: Reclaiming Memories from the Guatemalan Genocide” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
October 10, 2025
If you don't read anything else this year, I implore you to check out this book!
Silenced Voices caught my attention earlier this year and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it Once again (after finished this book in one sitting) I'm reminded why graphic novels are such an important form of literature. Prior to reading this, I knew absolutely nothing about the genocide of Mayan Ixil people during the Guatemalan Civil War. I spent time researching after getting this small but impactful insight to the experience of these characters. Though I highly recommend this title, I also recommend checking out content warnings before diving in. This is another moment in history that a lot of us are never taught.
Silenced Voices caught my attention earlier this year and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it Once again (after finished this book in one sitting) I'm reminded why graphic novels are such an important form of literature. Prior to reading this, I knew absolutely nothing about the genocide of Mayan Ixil people during the Guatemalan Civil War. I spent time researching after getting this small but impactful insight to the experience of these characters. Though I highly recommend this title, I also recommend checking out content warnings before diving in. This is another moment in history that a lot of us are never taught.
July 25, 2025
A powerful graphic novel based on true events that takes place in Maryland in 2013 and Guatemala in 1982 focusing on two brothers wishing to know more about their mother’s past only to learn of the tragedies of the Guatemalan Civil War and Genocide.
Almost everything written here was unknown to me and it was harrowing and heartbreaking to learn yet so important. The author himself grew up in Guatemala and I appreciated both the historical research and personal insight he provided in this graphic novel.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
Almost everything written here was unknown to me and it was harrowing and heartbreaking to learn yet so important. The author himself grew up in Guatemala and I appreciated both the historical research and personal insight he provided in this graphic novel.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
December 8, 2025
Jose has never been all that curious about his mother's background—which is just as well, because she shuts down any conversation about her previous life in Guatemala. But when something sparks Jose's curiosity, he starts asking questions...and learns far more than he'd bargained for.
This is the second YA graphic novel I've read recently that is largely about a conflict—first there was Tall Water (partly about the 2004 tsunami, partly about the civil war in Sri Lanka), and now this. In both cases, they're major conflicts; in both cases, the conflicts were barely a footnote in my education. Most of this book is Jose's mother's story: growing up in Guatemala, her family, the incredible violence and loss wrought upon her community. We come back to Jose and his brother now and then, as Jose is trying to figure out what to do with this new information (e.g., the existence of an aunt he was never able to meet), but the crux of the story is about his mother.
It's a hard read, but one well done. I'm not sure why it feels to me less violent (to be clear: the telling, not the actual history) than Tall Water did—perhaps because the events in Tall Water are happening in the story's now, while in Silenced Voices it's happening in the story's past. Again, not a comment on the conflict itself, but this book might be a slightly easier starting point for a teenager reading about conflict. Overall, an excellent effort to amplify unheard voices, and makes me wonder what stories will be coming out in a decade or two that are happening now but aren't making the headlines.
This is the second YA graphic novel I've read recently that is largely about a conflict—first there was Tall Water (partly about the 2004 tsunami, partly about the civil war in Sri Lanka), and now this. In both cases, they're major conflicts; in both cases, the conflicts were barely a footnote in my education. Most of this book is Jose's mother's story: growing up in Guatemala, her family, the incredible violence and loss wrought upon her community. We come back to Jose and his brother now and then, as Jose is trying to figure out what to do with this new information (e.g., the existence of an aunt he was never able to meet), but the crux of the story is about his mother.
It's a hard read, but one well done. I'm not sure why it feels to me less violent (to be clear: the telling, not the actual history) than Tall Water did—perhaps because the events in Tall Water are happening in the story's now, while in Silenced Voices it's happening in the story's past. Again, not a comment on the conflict itself, but this book might be a slightly easier starting point for a teenager reading about conflict. Overall, an excellent effort to amplify unheard voices, and makes me wonder what stories will be coming out in a decade or two that are happening now but aren't making the headlines.
Read
September 3, 2025If you add ONE book to your Latinx Heritage Month list, let it be this one.
I mean it.
I had never read about the genocide of Mayan Ixil people during the Guatemalan Civil War. And now that I have, I can't unread it, or unsee the way history (and genocide) continues to repeat itself. Silenced Voices may be an upper YA graphic novel, but it should be a must-read for any adult in US public education. This was so recent!! You undoubtedly have students with family members who lived through the war. Who still carry the trauma.
As a Latinx author in the kidlit world, I can count on *one hand* the Guatemalan voices being published in the United States today. It is imperative that we lift up their stories.
That we bear witness.
I mean it.
I had never read about the genocide of Mayan Ixil people during the Guatemalan Civil War. And now that I have, I can't unread it, or unsee the way history (and genocide) continues to repeat itself. Silenced Voices may be an upper YA graphic novel, but it should be a must-read for any adult in US public education. This was so recent!! You undoubtedly have students with family members who lived through the war. Who still carry the trauma.
As a Latinx author in the kidlit world, I can count on *one hand* the Guatemalan voices being published in the United States today. It is imperative that we lift up their stories.
That we bear witness.
September 5, 2026
This was incredible. I loved the art style and the different POVs, as well as the queer storyline too!
November 12, 2025
My 6th grade teacher was a Jesuit nun who introduced us to Amnesty International and had us write letters about different atrocities in Central America. I remember some of the parents of my schoolmates were upset with her for being “too political.” My mother took the opposite approach and checked out books from the library about Central America. I remember not being able to understand much because they weren’t written for a 6th grader. How amazing is it that there are now graphic novels that can teach kids (and 55 year olds) about history in a reflective way about current events since not everyone could have Sister Mary Anne as a teacher?
November 30, 2025
Silenced Voices is a book with the heavy subject of the Guatemalan genocide. Pablo Leon uses facts to ground his fictional story in the story of a family, two sisters and two brothers, over 33 years. The frame story of José and Charles in 2013 trying to connect to their mother and their culture allows for Leon to set the scene and teach readers about the atrocities committed during the Guatemalan Cival War. Their mother Clara recounts her journey, as well as her sister’s 30 years earlier. Generational trauma is explored, as well as the importance of community and storytelling as part of healing.
Leon's artstyle was expressive, showing the tragedy and hope coexisting, with characters who lept of the page.
Leon is both frank and respectful in his approach, allowing for nuance without softening the horrors. Silenced Voices is a great place to either start or learn more about Guatemala.
I highly recommend this book.
Leon's artstyle was expressive, showing the tragedy and hope coexisting, with characters who lept of the page.
Leon is both frank and respectful in his approach, allowing for nuance without softening the horrors. Silenced Voices is a great place to either start or learn more about Guatemala.
I highly recommend this book.
September 12, 2026
Theres a lot of infuriating things about colonization, and one of them is how egotistical, self-centered and dishonest is our education system. It pains me to know NOW about this, it pains me to know that people like my grandparents see the atrocities of today's news and think this is all new. ITS NOT, and as a society we are condemned to repeat history because of our lack of knowledge. Because history when not convenient to some, is swept under the rug. This graphic novel was truly eye opening, devastating and will without a doubt stick with me forever. I need to educate myself more about this.
October 16, 2025
Such an important story to tell, and one that I had never learned about before. The illustrations and structuring of the visual storytelling were gorgeous and had a really impressive cinematic quality at times.
January 5, 2026
Read this is one sitting. Going to Guatemala soon and needed to get more educated on its history. Moving graphic novel where I learned about the genocide. Will continue to learn more!
May 26, 2026
6 stars out of 5! AN INCREDIBLE GRAPHIC NOVEL! THE BEST I'VE EVER READ! This story is imperative to global history. My heart aches for the victims of the Guatemalan Genocide and hope they get the support and story coverage that they deserve. These survivors matter!
Want to Read
October 15, 2021this is a ya graphic novel, part one of two i believe, about two sisters finding their way back to each other after a military raid on their village during the civil war in Guatemala in 1982.
i’ve never read a ya book about Guatemala before and that’s where i was born so i am so unbelievably excited for this!
it doesn’t come out until 2024 so it’ll be a long wait but i’m still looking forward to it
i’ve never read a ya book about Guatemala before and that’s where i was born so i am so unbelievably excited for this!
it doesn’t come out until 2024 so it’ll be a long wait but i’m still looking forward to it
September 7, 2025
Wow. I did not know about the Guatemalan Genocide before reading this graphic novel, and now, just like José, I want to learn more about it. Told through intergenerational stories of the effects of this atrocity on the Guatemalan, and mostly indigenous Mayan, people, this graphic novel is moving and informative. While this graphic novel can function as a way to begin learning about this specific genocide; however, it is also a book in which many can relate to through generational trauma, family dynamics, loss, grief, starting anew, coping mechanism, identity, culture, and more. I cannot recommend this graphic novel enough and definitely want to add it to my classroom library as a great book to read as a companion to one of our course texts about the Sierra Leonean Civil War, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. There were so many common threads between the two and I could not help but be reminded of Ishmael and his experiences; likewise, I was constantly thinking of the Palestinian people and the genocide happening in Palestine right now. It is my sincere hope that I will one day live in a world where this book and others like it are not timeless and timely. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
September 9, 2026
📖 Silenced Voices - Pablo Leon
5 ⭐️
Wow. What can I say?
This is a significant piece of literature that discusses another important event in Latin American history, specifically the genocide of the Mayan Ixil people during the Guatemalan Civil War.
Silenced Voices is told in dual timeline - Langley Park, Maryland 2013 and Dos Erres, Guatemala 1982 - and in multiple pov's. It discusses the Guatemalan political turmoil that led to the violent deaths of thousands of indigenous people, the trauma and suffering that was experienced before and after these events, and the dark memories and history that continue to be repressed by both survivors and perpetrators.
I was suprised to learn that the war only just ended in 1996 - 30 years ago. That's really not that long ago. And sadly, the Guatemalan government continues to hide the truth of the massacres that occurred, because "in 2022, as many as 73 journalists, prosecutors, judges, and activists were forced into excile." In addition, a lot of the land where these massacres occurred and which are considered Mayan ancestral regions, have been used to build mines and other projects.
This is so infuriating, and what upsets me most is that I never would have known this if it weren't for this book. So yeah, this is an important read and one I recommend to everyone.
5 ⭐️
Wow. What can I say?
This is a significant piece of literature that discusses another important event in Latin American history, specifically the genocide of the Mayan Ixil people during the Guatemalan Civil War.
Silenced Voices is told in dual timeline - Langley Park, Maryland 2013 and Dos Erres, Guatemala 1982 - and in multiple pov's. It discusses the Guatemalan political turmoil that led to the violent deaths of thousands of indigenous people, the trauma and suffering that was experienced before and after these events, and the dark memories and history that continue to be repressed by both survivors and perpetrators.
I was suprised to learn that the war only just ended in 1996 - 30 years ago. That's really not that long ago. And sadly, the Guatemalan government continues to hide the truth of the massacres that occurred, because "in 2022, as many as 73 journalists, prosecutors, judges, and activists were forced into excile." In addition, a lot of the land where these massacres occurred and which are considered Mayan ancestral regions, have been used to build mines and other projects.
This is so infuriating, and what upsets me most is that I never would have known this if it weren't for this book. So yeah, this is an important read and one I recommend to everyone.
September 5, 2025
I had the privilege of visiting several Ixil villages in the Guatemalan mountains during the summers of 2013-2016. To say these communities are still affected by the tragedies of the Guatemalan Civil War (1960-1996) is an understatement. The violence, trauma, and displacement is a generational wound that is felt by all. Mega corporations and corrupted politicians continue to encroach on ancestral Mayan land and create hostile, arrid, and drought-ridden farmland to continue to push the Ixil peoples out.
I applaud Pablo Leon for addressing these issues in a way for young readers to understand, without shying away from the terrible truths. Told in dual timelines (Maryland in 2013 and Guatemala in 1982), we follow two brothers as they uncover their mother's past. The ending is hopeful and inspiring, encouraging the audience to embrace their heritage - no matter how heartbreaking it may be - to build a better and more beauitul future.
Thank you, Pablo Leon.
"The Journey forward won't get better until we confront the failures of our past."
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I applaud Pablo Leon for addressing these issues in a way for young readers to understand, without shying away from the terrible truths. Told in dual timelines (Maryland in 2013 and Guatemala in 1982), we follow two brothers as they uncover their mother's past. The ending is hopeful and inspiring, encouraging the audience to embrace their heritage - no matter how heartbreaking it may be - to build a better and more beauitul future.
Thank you, Pablo Leon.
"The Journey forward won't get better until we confront the failures of our past."
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2026
Two brothers unpack the story their mother never wants to talk about: how she escaped a massacre during the Guatemalan civil war. It's a riveting tale, if a terrifying and deeply disturbing one. There's limited historical framing for the civil war, but the "on the ground, you are there" experience of one village's decimation is enough to understand that whatever happened was awful.
Fortunately, there are a few happier twists towards the end, even if they're a tad contrived. The artwork, which is sort of generic YA style, helps keep Silenced Voices from becoming too terrifically dark. Still, it's a rough read at times.
Fortunately, there are a few happier twists towards the end, even if they're a tad contrived. The artwork, which is sort of generic YA style, helps keep Silenced Voices from becoming too terrifically dark. Still, it's a rough read at times.
February 12, 2026
Pura Belpré Award Honor & Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor!
Combines historical research of the Guatemalan Civil War with the creator's own experiences as a Guatemalan immigrant to depict a powerful story of family, sacrifice, survival, and hope.
Combines historical research of the Guatemalan Civil War with the creator's own experiences as a Guatemalan immigrant to depict a powerful story of family, sacrifice, survival, and hope.
November 9, 2025
Knowing the truth is painful but liberating without it the scars will never heal - Bishop Gerardi
A heart wrenching true account of the Guatemalan Genocide told with eloquence and compassion in graphic novel form.
A heart wrenching true account of the Guatemalan Genocide told with eloquence and compassion in graphic novel form.
November 15, 2025
I learned a lot
November 20, 2025
3.5 Stars
February 17, 2026
(3.5) This was educational on a topic that I know very little about and was a good story.
February 22, 2026
Beautiful story. Cried for most of the book.
June 30, 2026
4.5 Stars
Really wish this was a little longer. It moves pretty fast.
Really wish this was a little longer. It moves pretty fast.
September 17, 2026
So moving and so sad. The things done to the Indigenous Guatemalans is just sickening. I’m glad the sisters found each other again.
July 30, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Silenced Voices by Pablo Leon is a dual-timeline YA graphic novel focusing on the genocide of the Ixil Mayan people in Guatamala in the 1970s to the 90s. When Jose hears about the trial happening in Guatemala from a teacher, he tries to open a conversation with his mother about her past. Clara doesn't want to talk about all that pain and his brother Charlie says to let sleeping dogs lie. But when Clara does decide to open up, Jose and Charlie will finally learn the truth of what their mother has been holding in for so long.
I have never heard of the genocide in Guatamala and I'm horrified that I haven't after seeing the numbers laid out in this text. What the people went through under the guise of trying to remove communism is nothing short of horrific. We get some details depicted through imagery and others, some deeply upsetting but important to record, are told to the reader by a survivor. The use of the past and present in the narrative helps to sell how justice still has not been achieved for all those who were impacted by the military’s actions, the people who condoned it, and the ones in the government giving orders. This is an enraging graphic novel, to say the least, but we have to know our history so we don't repeat it and so we can understand other people and cultures.
Clara having difficulty looking at Charlie and her pain boiling over into her relationship with him makes a lot of sense when we go into her POV and we see all that she lost. Due to my father's own experience with the impact his father's traumatic childhood had, I can't say I fault Clara for this nor can I fault Charlie for having a complicated relationship with her and not understanding why Jose is so determined to learn more about Guatemala once the truth comes out. Pain makes things complicated and it's better to acknowledge how it can affect our relationships even if we don't want them to.
The art style is beautiful and sometimes brutal. There are depictions on page of the atrocities committed and the racism that followed Clara as well as the homophobia that followed Elena. It is gorgeously colored and there is a bit of a hopeful edge here and there and I think that is probably what is so key to why this graphic novel works. The beauty of Guatemala and the vibrancy of the clothes of the Mayan people don't go anywhere just because there's a genocide happening. The difficult choices we make when we feel we have no other option don't mean there isn't a chance for hope later.
Content warning for depictions of child murder, homophobia, racism, genocide, and mentions of sexual assault
I would recommend this to readers of graphic novels who want to learn more about the recent history of Central America and readers of YA who getting passionate about social justice
Silenced Voices by Pablo Leon is a dual-timeline YA graphic novel focusing on the genocide of the Ixil Mayan people in Guatamala in the 1970s to the 90s. When Jose hears about the trial happening in Guatemala from a teacher, he tries to open a conversation with his mother about her past. Clara doesn't want to talk about all that pain and his brother Charlie says to let sleeping dogs lie. But when Clara does decide to open up, Jose and Charlie will finally learn the truth of what their mother has been holding in for so long.
I have never heard of the genocide in Guatamala and I'm horrified that I haven't after seeing the numbers laid out in this text. What the people went through under the guise of trying to remove communism is nothing short of horrific. We get some details depicted through imagery and others, some deeply upsetting but important to record, are told to the reader by a survivor. The use of the past and present in the narrative helps to sell how justice still has not been achieved for all those who were impacted by the military’s actions, the people who condoned it, and the ones in the government giving orders. This is an enraging graphic novel, to say the least, but we have to know our history so we don't repeat it and so we can understand other people and cultures.
Clara having difficulty looking at Charlie and her pain boiling over into her relationship with him makes a lot of sense when we go into her POV and we see all that she lost. Due to my father's own experience with the impact his father's traumatic childhood had, I can't say I fault Clara for this nor can I fault Charlie for having a complicated relationship with her and not understanding why Jose is so determined to learn more about Guatemala once the truth comes out. Pain makes things complicated and it's better to acknowledge how it can affect our relationships even if we don't want them to.
The art style is beautiful and sometimes brutal. There are depictions on page of the atrocities committed and the racism that followed Clara as well as the homophobia that followed Elena. It is gorgeously colored and there is a bit of a hopeful edge here and there and I think that is probably what is so key to why this graphic novel works. The beauty of Guatemala and the vibrancy of the clothes of the Mayan people don't go anywhere just because there's a genocide happening. The difficult choices we make when we feel we have no other option don't mean there isn't a chance for hope later.
Content warning for depictions of child murder, homophobia, racism, genocide, and mentions of sexual assault
I would recommend this to readers of graphic novels who want to learn more about the recent history of Central America and readers of YA who getting passionate about social justice
July 31, 2026
Buku ini familiar banget dengan tragedi 1965 di Indonesia.
Developed country/third world country tend to have a dark genocide history.
Developed country/third world country tend to have a dark genocide history.
November 4, 2025
In his author's note for Silenced Voices: Reclaiming Memories from the Guatemalan Genocide, Pablo Leon dedicates his latest graphic novel to those who died in Guatemala's decades-long civil war, those who survived, those displaced, and—most tellingly—"the first- and second-generation kids dealing with their parent's trauma and left with more questions than answers." This dedication illuminates the book's core purpose: bridging the silence between generations haunted by history.
The story opens in contemporary Maryland, where brothers José and Charlie have grown up largely disconnected from their mother Clara's Guatemalan past. When José's teacher mentions the ongoing genocide trials in Guatemala, specifically the prosecution of Efraín Ríos Montt, it sparks something in the young man. He shows his mother a news segment about the trials, hoping these glimpses of her homeland might finally unlock the stories she's kept buried.
Clara's initial resistance gives way to revelation. For the first time, she tells her sons about their aunt Elena—a sister they never knew existed. What unfolds is Clara's harrowing account of growing up in Petén, Guatemala, in a rural Q'eqchi' Maya village that government soldiers would ultimately destroy. Through Clara's memories, we witness the implementation of the scorched-earth policy that defined the civil war's brutality: the killings, the narrow escapes, and the devastating separation of two sisters who each assumed the other had perished.
While the characters are fictional, Leon's work rests on a foundation of meticulous journalism and historical research. He conducted extensive interviews with civil war survivors both in Guatemala and throughout the diaspora. This approach mirrors his earlier animated short, Remember Us, which brought to life stories from El Salvador's civil war. In both works, Leon employs fictional characters as vessels for real experiences, making incomprehensible trauma accessible to new audiences.
This book is evidence that there is value in learning about the past, searching for answers, and confronting the darkness as a way to look forward. The narrative becomes increasingly urgent as José discovers the work of Archbishop Juan José Gerardi, murdered for his role in REHMI (The Recovery of Historical Memory) and its damning report Nunca Más, which documented military atrocities. This historical thread weaves through the family's personal story, connecting individual trauma to systematic violence.
Pablo's structural choices prove masterful. By alternating between two timelines—the brothers in 2013 Maryland and the sisters in 1982 Petén—he creates a dialogue between past and present. Each chapter shifts perspective, gradually revealing how wartime separations continue to reverberate through generations.
Though aimed at young adult readers, the book doesn't sanitize history. Pablo handles the war's horrors—rape, murder, mass burnings—with careful consideration. Most atrocities occur off-panel, described through text rather than depicted graphically. One exception stands out: a haunting image of Clara's village in flames, accompanied by her memory: "When I woke up, my sister was holding me tightly while everything I knew was on fire. I can still hear faint screaming over the crackling of the fire."
This restraint makes the violence's psychological aftermath all the more powerful. Early in the book, Clara reacts viscerally to a sizzling steak at the restaurant where she works—a seemingly innocuous trigger that gains devastating context once we understand her history.
Pablo refuses easy villains or heroes. While unambiguous about atrocities committed by Guatemala's Kaibiles (elite counter-insurgency forces) and the Civil Defense Patrols (conscripted militias), the book acknowledges that guerrilla forces also brought suffering to civilians caught between opposing sides. Those forced to choose allegiances made decisions that haunted them long after the conflict ended.
Crucially, Pablo connects historical dots to contemporary crises. The book explicitly links today's Central American migration patterns to decades of U.S. intervention—CIA-backed coups, manipulated elections, and corporate interests like the United Fruit Company that prioritized profit over people.
Silenced Voices arrives at a critical moment. As Central America continues grappling with cycles of corruption, violence, and injustice rooted in historical trauma, Pablo's work opens essential conversations. The epilogue offers a glimpse of José's journey to Guatemala—a young man searching for roots while planting seeds for the future.
For the children of survivors—those second-generation kids dealing with inherited trauma and unanswered questions—this book serves as both mirror and map. It validates the confusion of growing up with parents whose silence speaks volumes, while demonstrating that confronting painful history can be an act of liberation.
The story opens in contemporary Maryland, where brothers José and Charlie have grown up largely disconnected from their mother Clara's Guatemalan past. When José's teacher mentions the ongoing genocide trials in Guatemala, specifically the prosecution of Efraín Ríos Montt, it sparks something in the young man. He shows his mother a news segment about the trials, hoping these glimpses of her homeland might finally unlock the stories she's kept buried.
Clara's initial resistance gives way to revelation. For the first time, she tells her sons about their aunt Elena—a sister they never knew existed. What unfolds is Clara's harrowing account of growing up in Petén, Guatemala, in a rural Q'eqchi' Maya village that government soldiers would ultimately destroy. Through Clara's memories, we witness the implementation of the scorched-earth policy that defined the civil war's brutality: the killings, the narrow escapes, and the devastating separation of two sisters who each assumed the other had perished.
While the characters are fictional, Leon's work rests on a foundation of meticulous journalism and historical research. He conducted extensive interviews with civil war survivors both in Guatemala and throughout the diaspora. This approach mirrors his earlier animated short, Remember Us, which brought to life stories from El Salvador's civil war. In both works, Leon employs fictional characters as vessels for real experiences, making incomprehensible trauma accessible to new audiences.
This book is evidence that there is value in learning about the past, searching for answers, and confronting the darkness as a way to look forward. The narrative becomes increasingly urgent as José discovers the work of Archbishop Juan José Gerardi, murdered for his role in REHMI (The Recovery of Historical Memory) and its damning report Nunca Más, which documented military atrocities. This historical thread weaves through the family's personal story, connecting individual trauma to systematic violence.
Pablo's structural choices prove masterful. By alternating between two timelines—the brothers in 2013 Maryland and the sisters in 1982 Petén—he creates a dialogue between past and present. Each chapter shifts perspective, gradually revealing how wartime separations continue to reverberate through generations.
Though aimed at young adult readers, the book doesn't sanitize history. Pablo handles the war's horrors—rape, murder, mass burnings—with careful consideration. Most atrocities occur off-panel, described through text rather than depicted graphically. One exception stands out: a haunting image of Clara's village in flames, accompanied by her memory: "When I woke up, my sister was holding me tightly while everything I knew was on fire. I can still hear faint screaming over the crackling of the fire."
This restraint makes the violence's psychological aftermath all the more powerful. Early in the book, Clara reacts viscerally to a sizzling steak at the restaurant where she works—a seemingly innocuous trigger that gains devastating context once we understand her history.
Pablo refuses easy villains or heroes. While unambiguous about atrocities committed by Guatemala's Kaibiles (elite counter-insurgency forces) and the Civil Defense Patrols (conscripted militias), the book acknowledges that guerrilla forces also brought suffering to civilians caught between opposing sides. Those forced to choose allegiances made decisions that haunted them long after the conflict ended.
Crucially, Pablo connects historical dots to contemporary crises. The book explicitly links today's Central American migration patterns to decades of U.S. intervention—CIA-backed coups, manipulated elections, and corporate interests like the United Fruit Company that prioritized profit over people.
Silenced Voices arrives at a critical moment. As Central America continues grappling with cycles of corruption, violence, and injustice rooted in historical trauma, Pablo's work opens essential conversations. The epilogue offers a glimpse of José's journey to Guatemala—a young man searching for roots while planting seeds for the future.
For the children of survivors—those second-generation kids dealing with inherited trauma and unanswered questions—this book serves as both mirror and map. It validates the confusion of growing up with parents whose silence speaks volumes, while demonstrating that confronting painful history can be an act of liberation.
January 10, 2026
Silenced Voices is a generational tale that is fictional, but based on true events. Beginning in present day, Young José knows nothing of his mother’s childhood and past. But one day in 2013, he gets curious when he learns about the genocide trial of former Guatemalan president, Efrain Rios Montt. The trial triggers his mother, Clara, into deeper silence at first, but eventually serves as an opportunity for Clara to begin opening up to her sons about her childhood in Guatemala.
Guatemala in 1982
The story then flashbacks to to his mother's memories in 1982 Guatemala. Sisters Clara and Elena live in a village that is a Q’eqchi’ Maya Community in northern Petén, Guatemala. When the fighting comes to their doorstep, you discover that the villagers are caught between the Guatemalan army and the guerillas fighting against the regime.
The acts of the army are cruel and disgusting and the villagers are not protected by either side. The army sees them as potential guerillas due to their location near the mountains. They also have violent anti-Indigenous beliefs, which meant they never intend for survivors, including children, in their raids. If you are not ready to read about this type of violence, please proceed with caution. The sisters are forced to separate in order to escape the massacre alive. As the story follows Clara, you learn about the anti-Indigenous racism that she faces both from the Guatemalan army and as a refugee. You also learn about her journey to the United States and how she establishes a new life and family. Clara’s story as a younger girl is fast-paced. It is a survival story that transitions from physical survival to emotional survival.
Present- Day Maryland - Painful Memories Resurface
The trial brings up fear and anger amongst those who survived the war and who lost family members. Jose’s brother Charlie, is interviewed on TV after the results of the trial and he angrily says, “The bare minimum you can ask from a society is justice. Justice for the silenced…to honor those who can’t speak for themselves.” It’s a quote that will make readers reflect and ponder and will definitely generate discussion in a classroom.
“It’s taken years, but Elena and I — we speak of those painful memories, because talking about the past restores our sense of dignity.” This quote made me think of how books can be used as therapy. How it’s important to share our stories even when it may take a reader time before they can discuss it with others. Sometimes it is important to give them the space to begin their own healing.
Check out the full review on my blog, www.cocoawithbooks.com
Guatemala in 1982
The story then flashbacks to to his mother's memories in 1982 Guatemala. Sisters Clara and Elena live in a village that is a Q’eqchi’ Maya Community in northern Petén, Guatemala. When the fighting comes to their doorstep, you discover that the villagers are caught between the Guatemalan army and the guerillas fighting against the regime.
The acts of the army are cruel and disgusting and the villagers are not protected by either side. The army sees them as potential guerillas due to their location near the mountains. They also have violent anti-Indigenous beliefs, which meant they never intend for survivors, including children, in their raids. If you are not ready to read about this type of violence, please proceed with caution. The sisters are forced to separate in order to escape the massacre alive. As the story follows Clara, you learn about the anti-Indigenous racism that she faces both from the Guatemalan army and as a refugee. You also learn about her journey to the United States and how she establishes a new life and family. Clara’s story as a younger girl is fast-paced. It is a survival story that transitions from physical survival to emotional survival.
Present- Day Maryland - Painful Memories Resurface
The trial brings up fear and anger amongst those who survived the war and who lost family members. Jose’s brother Charlie, is interviewed on TV after the results of the trial and he angrily says, “The bare minimum you can ask from a society is justice. Justice for the silenced…to honor those who can’t speak for themselves.” It’s a quote that will make readers reflect and ponder and will definitely generate discussion in a classroom.
“It’s taken years, but Elena and I — we speak of those painful memories, because talking about the past restores our sense of dignity.” This quote made me think of how books can be used as therapy. How it’s important to share our stories even when it may take a reader time before they can discuss it with others. Sometimes it is important to give them the space to begin their own healing.
Check out the full review on my blog, www.cocoawithbooks.com
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