The Honorable Prison

Since few YA novels have addressed the political upheaval in South America, this gripping tale is especially welcome. Loosely based on the author's childhood experiences, Marta Maldonada's story begins as her journalist father continues to attack, in the pages of his newspaper, the country's dictator. As a result, Marta, her younger brother and her parents are jailed in a house in the Andestheir honorable prison. At first optimistic, Marta and her family try to make the best of their situation. But as the weather becomes colder, money and food scarcer, and her father's health worsens, Marta begins to give up hope that they'll ever be free. When help does come it is almost too late, but Marta has grown from a protected girl into a politically astute and sensitive young woman. An eloquent first novel. Ages 12-up. (January)