Sanctuary

Sanctuary (2020) is a dystopian young adult novel by Paola Mendoza and Abby Sher. Set in the United States in 2032, Sanctuary follows the journey of a teenage girl, Vali, who is an undocumented immigrant. After her father is deported and murdered and her mother is arrested, Vali must grow up quickly and shepherd her younger brother Ernie to the sanctuary state of California, which has seceded from the US and welcomes undocumented immigrants and refugees. Sanctuary explores the human cost of xenophobia, the power of familial bonds, and the importance of resilience, hope, faith, and teamwork.

This guide refers to the paperback edition published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons in 2021.

Content Warning: Sanctuary and this guide refer to xenophobia, rape, murder, enslavement, other violence, and challenges faced by immigrants.

Plot Summary

In 2032, 16-year-old Vali, who is an undocumented immigrant girl living with her mami and eight-year-old brother Ernie in Vermont, watches a live feed from an independent news source on the dark web using her phone. The US government has enacted new censorship laws, and the only news source that people can watch without the dark web is the National News, which is propaganda and never says anything negative about the government.