Man, this was a tough read. We’re 7 years from 2032–the year this book is based in and unfortunately what should be a dystopian plot seems more and more of a reality.

I don’t know to truly feel about this book. It’s horrific and more for those that “can’t imagine this happening”

Parts of this book made me sick to my stomach because of how plausible it could be. Vali is a strong character but still a young girl, and I liked reading from her perspective.

Immigrants are destroying the United States and there must be strong action to stop it. These immigrant criminals bring violence, danger, disease, and death wherever they go; set on destroying order and authority. This is the rhetoric Vali has been hearing her whole life, as an illegal immigrant. California has succeeded and declared itself an immigrant safe zone, can Vali make it there before she is capture? Sanctuary is a raw and honest depiction of the immigrant experience and the human urge to be safe. Mendoza and Sher perfectly render the dangerous journey an immigrant must travel to safety. Vali is a relatable character who wants to keep her mother and younger brother safe even when the government wants to destroy them. She is a force to be reckoned with but has to find her strength continually throughout the journey. Her unwavering love for her brother with pull at readers heartstrings and ache for the two children. Mendoza and Sher do not shy away from the current rhetoric of how immigrants are seen in the US, using this real life issue to fuel the near-future plot of Sanctuary. Right from the first page, the fast paced plot and heart pounding writing will leave readers breathless and tears in their eyes.

An advanced readers copy was given by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

YA debut in a near future dystopian where a young girl and her brother must escape a xenophobic government to find sanctuary.

It's 2032, and in this near-future America, all citizens are chipped and everyone is tracked--from buses to grocery stores. It's almost impossible to survive as an undocumented immigrant, but that's exactly what sixteen-year-old Vali is doing. She and her family have carved out a stable, happy life in small-town Vermont, but when Vali's mother's counterfeit chip starts malfunctioning and the Deportation Forces raid their town, they are forced to flee. 

Now on the run, Vali and her family are desperately trying to make it to her tía Luna's in California, a sanctuary state that is currently being walled off from the rest of the country. But when Vali's mother is detained before their journey even really begins, Vali must carry on with her younger brother across the country to make it to safety before it's too late. 

In a not-so-distant dystopian future, Vali and her family are forced to run from their home in a quest for Sanctuary when Deportation Forces start raiding in her small Vermont town. While they have always been at risk, things have gotten much worse.

With California being walled off from the rest of the states, it is vital that Vali find a way to get there safely.

Reminiscent of immigration stories from Mexico and Central America, this dystopian novel paints a terrifying picture of what could be. I was engaged in Vali's story from page one. I highly recommend this book!

This book both angered and intrigued me. Angered by the possibility of this as an actual future for this country, angry at the clearly left-winged bent laying it at the feet of white supremacy and all things racist and stereotyped. Intrigued by the journey, the determination and courage Vali displayed to find sanctuary. Anger at the fact such a thing as sanctuary had to exist in the first place. I can't speak to the authenticity of the experience since this is claimed by the authors as a "dystopian" novel though it seems it is only an election away from happening.

Heartbreaking.