by Diane Stanley

Imagine if the 9/11 terrorist attacks had just been the first in an ongoing war taking place on American soil. Diane Stanley has done just that, drawing parallels between the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and World War II. The main character is 13-year-old Sky, who lives with her family on a remote, self-sufficient New Mexico ranch. The family lives off the grid, generating solar power, growing their own food, and without TV or computers. Sky’s parents have successfully limited their contact with the outside world. But escalating anarchy erupts in the local community when the attacks leave people scrambling frantically for supplies. The latest attacks have targeted major power grids and refineries, leaving the country largely without electricity, oil or natural gas. When paranoid shoppers threaten a Middle Eastern family at the local Home Depot, Sky’s family intervenes. They learn that the government is detaining families of Middle Eastern descent at internment camps. When agents come to arrest a new boy in Sky’s school, Sky draws the line. Sky’s family rescues the boy and conceals him in their home. The plot strains belief at this point, but the characters are still very sympathetic. This book would be a good starting point for discussion at home or at school about civil disobedience.

grades 5-8

reviewed by Victoria