Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fantasy series finale ramps up fear and intensity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
PAOLA SANTIAGO AND THE SANCTUARY OF SHADOWS picks up the story from the previous volumes during Paola's summer between seventh and eighth grades. Her father's home at last, and that's great, but it also takes some getting used to. It's been months since Dante went missing, and Paola's running out of patience waiting for the grown-ups to figure out what to do. When she finally sees a chance to get to a place out of state where she can enter the void, find Dante, and rescue him, she takes it. But to save Dante, she'll have overcome the paralyzing fear of El Cucuy's nightmarish projections, and fight herself in ways she never could have imagined.
Is It Any Good?
This intense fantasy series finale keeps the chills and thrills coming with a strong, resourceful Latina as the main character. It stands on its own pretty well, but reading the books in order will bring a deeper understanding of the characters and the impact of the events in Paola Santiago and the Sanctuary of Shadows. Paola's now 13 and going into eighth grade. Big kids and tweens will relate to her frustration at being held back, and her desire to prove she can handle things on her own. But the story ultimately encourages seeking help and emphasizing the strength of community.
The action, spooky atmospheres, and spine-tingling fantasy-folklore creatures are all back in full force, along with many familiar characters from the first books. There's also a good amount of humor to lighten things up now and then. Characters talk about important issues like privilege, power, and choosing to do good, providing food for thought without getting in the way of the story. Characters and events come full circle in a slightly bittersweet but ultimately satisfying ending.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the scary ghosts and folktale creatures, especially El Cucuy, in Paola Santiago and the Sanctuary of Shadows. Why do we sometimes have fun being scared? What do you do to feel better when things get too scary?
Why is it important to read books with diverse characters, or to see them in other media like TV, videos, games, etc.?
Did you read the other books in the series before you read this one? Which is your favorite? If you haven't read them yet, would you like to now?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Empathy , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Disney-Hyperion
- Publication date : August 2, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 352
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate