FICTION

Hear Ye Mortals

by Yamile Saied Méndez
Levine Querido. May 2026. 304p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781646146376. Gr 9 Up
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Gr 9 Up–Méndez tells the story of Argentina’s desaparecidos—the generation of people who were “disappeared” by the country’s military government. The story begins in 1976. Two dark-haired teenagers, brothers Daniel and Adrián Aguirre, have set up a band in the city of Rosario. The Aguirres and their friends have written a song, “Lágrimas de Marrano.” It’s a haunting thing, a challenge to the government that views art and culture as a challenge to its authority. State officials close in quickly and kidnap one of the band members, leaving the Aguirres to decide whether to continue making music at the risk of losing the people they love. ­Méndez adeptly draws readers into the lived experience of the people from this time ­period. She beautifully captures the ambience, ­including the factura pastries and beet salads, the floss silk trees and the slums around La Basurita. Not only that, but she also conveys the sense of terror that so many people felt and their desire for a more hopeful future.
VERDICT Recommended for readers who enjoy historical fiction that explores themes of authoritarianism and social upheaval with an ensemble cast of characters.
Reviewed by Talea Anderson , Mar 01, 2026

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