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Sanctuary
By Mandie Caroll,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Heart-wrenching dystopian tale of brave, undocumented teen.
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What's the Story?
SANCTUARY opens in the United States in 2032, where the president has won a third term, citizens are microchipped and scanned routinely, and non-citizens are arrested and deported regularly. Vali's immigrant family, living in relative safety in Vermont, watch a holographic live feed of a teen girl attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border in California as Border Patrol officers on top of the "Great Wall" aim their rifles and scream at her. Fifteen steps in, a land mind detonates, blowing the girl to bits. A massive protest ensues, California secedes to form a sanctuary, and the president implements more drastic and violent measures to expel any remaining undocumented immigrants. Vali's mother hatches a plan to get them all to California, but before they even get on a bus out of town, Vali's mother is detained by Deportation Forces, and Vali must carry on with Ernie alone. The two travel to New York City, where a nun secures a "coyote" to smuggle them to California. But the plan is botched and fails to deliver them anywhere near safety. Vali must take bigger and bigger risks as they close in on California, but whether they make it depends on luck as much as pluck.
Is It Any Good?
This gut-punch of a dystopian novel artfully connects readers to our most basic human desires -- safety, freedom, family, love -- to tell a familiar story in a fresh and compelling way. Sanctuary is a cautionary tale about a future we might want to prevent, with heart-wrenching scenes of loss and grief as well as strikingly tender moments of relief and even joy. The writing is clear, urgent, and often beautiful. Characters quickly endear themselves to the reader. Vali, in particular, is unforgettable in her bravery and dogged pursuit of sanctuary, though there are many characters to love. The action moves at a brisk, stay-up-all-night-reading kind of pace.
While the authors' political beliefs may be clear, Sanctuary doesn't have a preachy or too-obvious vibe. All readers can expect to be deeply moved by this powerful book, but representation matters, and teens who are either immigrants or from immigrant families are likely to feel seen and understood as they follow Vali and Ernie on their perilous trip across the country. Parents and caregivers may want to read this book too, so that they can discuss the themes, messages, and real-world connections with their teens. This is a timely, impactful story that readers are sure to remember long after the book is closed.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Vali's resourcefulness as she and Ernie are on the run in Sanctuary. How does she attend to Ernie's need for play and fun? How does she keep herself motivated after losing so much? How important are the allies she meets along the way?
Does the book's setting feel familiar to you? Why or why not? What about the politics of California and that of the "Other 49"? What do you think the authors want readers to understand by choosing this setting and political situation?
Surveillance technology plays a huge role in this story. Do you think that microchips for humans, find-and-capture drones, and other similar tech might ever be widely used or legally enforced in our country? Why or why not?
Book Details
- Authors: Paola Mendoza , Abby Sher
- Genre: Coming of Age
- Topics: Activism , Brothers and Sisters , Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
- Publication date: September 1, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 17
- Number of pages: 320
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: October 20, 2020
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