Silver People

The history of the building of the Panama Canal comes vividly to life in this novel in prose by a Newbery Honor–winning author.

"Engle's extraordinary book is a tour de force of verisimilitude and beautifully realized verse that brings to empathetic life the silver people. . . . A superb book for both independent reading and classroom use." —Booklist (starred review)

Winner of the 2015 Américas Award

A Jane Addams Award Honor Book

One hundred years ago, the world celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal, which connected the world's two largest oceans and signaled America's emergence as a global superpower. It was a miracle, this path of water where a mountain had stood—and creating a miracle is no easy thing. Thousands lost their lives, and those who survived worked under the harshest conditions for only a few silver coins a day.


From the young "silver people" whose back-breaking labor built the Canal to the denizens of the endangered rainforest itself, this is the story of one of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken, as only Newbery Honor–winning author Margarita Engle could tell it.

"A masterful command of language and space. . . . Engle blends the voices of her fictional characters, historical figures, and even the forest into a dynamic coming-of-age story not only of young adults but also a blustering and arrogant United States." —VOYA 5Q 5P (highest rating)

"This masterfully written novel in verse brings to life every bit of Panama, from the horrible working conditions of the islanders, forced to dig the canal for next-to-nothing wages, to the lush forest and wildlife. . . . [A] compelling story." —School Library Journal