Eyes Open
Portugal, 1967. Sónia thinks she knows what her future holds. She’ll become a poet, and together she and her artist boyfriend, Zé Miguel, will rise above the government restrictions that shape their lives. The restrictions on what Sónia can do and where she can go without a man’s permission. The restrictions on what music she can enjoy, what books she can read, what questions she can ask.
But when Zé Miguel is arrested for anti-government activities and Sónia’s family’s restaurant is shut down, Sónia’s plans are upended. No longer part of the comfortable middle class, she’s forced to leave school and take a low-paying, grueling, dangerous job. She thought she understood the dark sides of her world, but now she sees suffering she never imagined.
Without the protection of her boyfriend or her family, can Sónia find a way to fight for justice? This poignant novel in verse follows a teen girl discovering how to resist tyranny and be true to herself.
| Format | Your Price | Add |
|---|---|---|
|
979-8-7656-1011-4
|
$14.99 | |
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979-8-7656-1177-7
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$24.99 |
| Interest Level | Grade 9 - Grade 12 |
|---|---|
| Reading Level | Grade 9 |
| Genre | Young Adult |
| Category | Diverse Books: Social Class, Diverse Books: Social Justice, Diversity, SEL: C Social Awareness, SEL: D Relationship Skills, SEL: E Responsible Decision-Making, Social Emotional Learning |
| Copyright | 2024 |
| Publisher | Lerner Publishing Group |
| Imprint | Carolrhoda Lab ® |
| Language | English |
| Number of Pages | 352 |
| Publication Date | 2024-05-07 |
Author: Lyn Miller-Lachmann
Lyn Miller-Lachmann is an author, educator, and editor. Her novels include Torch, winner of the 2023 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Young Adult Literature, Gringolandia, Rogue, Moonwalking, and Eyes Open. She earned a Masters in Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a Masters in Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and English, Lyn enjoys traveling to new places. She lives in New York City and lived part-time in Lisbon, Portugal, for many years.
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Eyes Open
Portugal, 1967. Sónia thinks she knows what her future holds. She’ll become a poet, and together she and her artist boyfriend, Zé Miguel, will rise above the government restrictions that shape their lives. The restrictions on what Sónia can do and where she can go without a man’s View available downloads →
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Thoroughly researched and resonant with our own times, Eyes Open is a historical novel in verse which follows on young woman’s coming of age during the Salazar dictatorship in 1960s Portugal. Sónia’s comfortable middle-class life is upended when her boyfriend is arrested for… View →
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Awards
- Booklist Top 10 Historical Fiction for Youth
- CYBILS Award Nominee
Reviews
Historical Novel Society
"Eyes Open tells the story of 1966-67 Portugal, an era and place that most history books skip. In this land, the Leader’s photo is alongside the Crucifix, emphasizing a not-to-be-debated hierarchy of obedience:
“God
Leader
Landowner
Boss
Father
Husband
. . . we, the foolish girls.”
When the story opens, Sónia Dias, 16, starts a poetry club at her Catholic school. Sónia’s free verse is in praise of her hero–her revolutionary printer/artist boyfriend Zé Miguel. She hides these poems from all but her best friend.
Zé Miguel’s arrest begins a cycle of loss for the whole Dias family. Increasingly Sónia’s certainty becomes uncertainty. “Who is a hero? Who deserves a poem?” Sónia asks herself and the reader. As the story moves her from Catholic schoolgirl, to working in a hotel laundry, she sees the world ever more clearly.
Told in free verse, Sónia has a growing awareness that true freedom means not only living without fear of the PIDE (police), but also living in equality with men, instead of being considered “one twenty-fourth of a man.” (A reference to the Bible story about how Eve was created from Adam’s rib.)
With graphic details, and the deep emotions of a teenager, this story realistically brings both Sónia and her patriarchal, authoritarian country to life. The free verse format, the true-to-life emotions, and Sónia’s grueling hardships make this a compelling read for anyone teenage or older."—Historical Novel Society
The Horn Book Magazine
“Miller-Lachmann’s free-verse poetry captures the exquisite and the harrowing . . . Both the verse format and the intensity of the protagonist’s lived experiences and choices make this story about the power of teenage resistance a page-turner.”—Horn Book Magazine
Publishers Weekly
“Employing tightly bound poems, Miller-Lachman weaves the perils of authoritarianism into the dynamics between Sónia and her family, and highlights Sónia’s activist awakening and the power of protest.”—Publishers Weekly
Kirkus Reviews
“The verse format allows Sónia’s poetic voice to shine, drawing readers into the stark reality she’s dealing with. . . Conveys harshness, beauty—and lingering hope.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews
Booklist
“Beautifully and fluidly written, Miller-Lachmann’s memorable verse novel captures the setting splendidly, dramatizing the abysmal condition of women under the dictatorship.”—starred, Booklist
Melanie Crowder
“A revealing, timely glimpse into Portugal’s frighteningly recent history and a passionate, authentically teen portrait of one young woman finding her voice, claiming her power, and writing her way to freedom.”—Melanie Crowder, author of Jumper
Betty G. Yee
“Deeply engrossing and moving. Miller-Lachmann is masterful in showing us the heart of a girl who’s finding her voice and the soul of a country in conflict with itself.” —Betty G. Yee, author of Gold Mountain
Ellen Hopkins
“Sensuous. Atmospheric. Compelling. You won’t want to put this one down.”—Ellen Hopkins, author of the Crank trilogy
Kip Wilson
“Beautifully-written verse perfectly captures this young poet standing up to injustice. A must read!”—Kip Wilson, YA author of White Rose and The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin