Silenced Voices, a graphic novel by Pablo Leon, is a great tool to use with teen readers to teach about the history of Guatemala while instilling empathy and starting important conversations about global politics. We asked librarian and educator Julia Torres to create a blog post to guide people using this book in their classrooms and libraries.
About the Book
Silenced Voices by Pablo Leon is powerful, emotionally moving graphic narrative about the power of love and family connections to heal intergenerational wounds. The story begins with two relatable young characters on a mission to discover their roots and to uncover some secrets from their family past pre-immigration to the United States. Leon takes readers back and forth between Petén, Guatemala, in 1982, where political corruption, xenophobia, and social unrest resulted in the genocide of hundreds of thousands of Indigenous Guatemalans, and modern-day Langley Park, Maryland, 2013.
Modern conversations about the legacy of colonization and genocide often assume that these are notions of the past. Through reading this graphic novel, it will be clear that referring to events as though they are past erases history and silences voices. Readers of all ages will have the opportunity to think and learn about global patterns of injustice, violence, and corruption that impact us all as we become an increasingly more interconnected global society. Additionally, young readers and those who serve them will find connection with the novel’s protagonists as each of them experiences events that will change their lives forever.
- José uses his technology skills and connections to try to uncover secrets and solve mysteries from his family’s past.
- Clara survived the unthinkable, and though in need of deep healing, she manages to preserve a strong sense of self and love for her family.
- Charles contemplates his identity and the importance of reconciling the past with the present in order to build a better future and seek justice for past wrongs.
- Elena has deep connections with those she loves because loyalty to family and community are what keep her grounded in her purpose.
Teaching Considerations
It has been said that we live in a post-colonial era, a time when the old patterns of colonization, which brought violence, subjugation, marginalization, and cultural erasure from the old world to the new, are no longer. Instead, we must learn to recognize what the “new colonization” looks like. It is a colonization of our thinking through mass media and in the way that humans create unnecessary borders between countries and cultures to separate ourselves from one another and so justify heinous dehumanizing practices. It is also a colonization of our behavior toward one another as we become more and more distant by banning or refusing to acknowledge and try to understand narratives of lived experiences that are different from our own. Those reading Silenced Voices with young people should be prepared to discuss terms like the ongoing genocide of native people throughout the Americas, dehumanization, xenophobia, prejudice, guerrilla warfare, trauma, and political corruption. These are heavy topics and it is important to recognize that though not every immigrant story includes these elements, many do. Use the following questions to guide your discussions. Happy reading!
Discussion Questions
- What is the main reason José decides to start digging into his family’s past? What do you think will be the results of his actions?
- What are some of the side effects Clara lives with after witnessing what she does? What personality traits does she have that help her survive?
- What does Charles come to understand about identity and the importance of righting past wrongs?
- How does Elena justify the choices she makes that some close to her don’t understand or agree with?
- What are the ways allies or accomplices can support healing and reparation from the mass genocide of native people that is ongoing throughout the Americas?
Julia E. Torres is a nationally recognized librarian and veteran language arts teacher in Denver, Colorado. She is a member of the YALSA Board of Directors, a Book Love Foundation and One Word at a Time board member, and the 2025-2026 chair of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.
About the Author
Pablo Leon is an author and artist from Guatemala, currently living in Los Angeles, California, and jumping between the TV animation and comics industries. His original comic, The Journey, an account of an unaccompanied child coming from Central America to the US, was a 2019 Eisner Award nominee, and he was the illustrator for the exciting middle grade graphic novel Miles Morales: Shock Waves and its follow-up, Stranger Tides. He’s worked with Disney, Warner Bros, and Nickelodeon, and when not working he enjoys cooking alongside his two helper cats, Agave and Moth.
Praise for Silenced Voices
“A stirring story about the power of familial bonds and historical recollection in the face of grief, fear, and hopelessness.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A beautiful, timely reminder that hope is never out of reach.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Close-up images of the characters’ faces and well-paced discoveries make for a gripping and unforgettable read. In every way, this title is hard to put down, difficult to forget, and unequivocally needed in all collections as buried stories of marginalized groups are brought to the forefront through the refreshingly accessible graphic novel format.”
— School Library Journal (starred review)
“A gripping tale across generations. Leon shows us all how the most harrowing memories should spark hope.”
— Sara Alfageeh, bestselling creator of Squire
“A monumental work of historical memory.”
— Julio Anta, Eisner nominated author of Frontera and Speak Up, Santiago!
“A powerful story that gives voice to millions of forgotten and displaced people from Central America.”
— Robin Ha, bestselling creator of Almost American Girl
“A heart wrenching tale of the brutality and healing that happens when we shed light on family trauma.”
— Victoria Ying, author and illustrator of Harvey Award-winner Hungry Ghost