Saving Sky by Diane Stanley is an interesting book that takes place in the near future. Sky's family lives in New Mexico on a farm. Her mom is a nurse in Santa Fe, her dad is an artist but because of the war currently shoes horses. Sky also has a younger sister, Mouse. This family of four lives out in the country and lives very conservatively due to the fact that there is a war going on. They depend upon solar power to heat their water and provide electricity. They heat their home with a wood stove and rely on hand wound lamps and flashlights during the evenings. They do not have a television or a computer so internet is not an option they rely on their Aunt to call if there is any important news or wait until they go to school or work. Terrorists are continually attacking America therefore things are in high demand and anyone who is of suspicious origin or associations are being arrested. Sky's family decides to help Kareem whose father and cousin have been arrested. They bring him to their home and risk being caught helping a fugitive. Sky finds herself in several tight spots during the story as her family is trying to help Kareem and she learns that standing up for what you know is wrong is one of the most courageous things a person can do. I enjoyed the read but have to admit that it is kind of hard to believe that a group of people could go from blaming anyone of suspicious origin and throwing them into an internment camp to all of a sudden realizing how wrong they were and wanting to make a difference just because of one paper that a teenager reads at an essay contest awards ceremony. This futurist post-911 story is powerful and unbelievably realistic that you will want to stock up your shelves with food and water. For Sky, her family has always lived prepared but when they take in a Arab boy to shelter him from the National Agents that are arresting all suspicious individuals they are putting themselves in danger for the first time. Told by 14 year old White American Sky, her self- imposed mission is to save her new Arab friend. She is guilt driven and overwhelming protected by her parents this novel may be sending the wrong messages to our youth. Age 10 and up.
guck, dont read this Soph! i got like, two chapters into it and was done.
—sharon
I'd give this a 3.5. It was interesting, but not terrific.
—brandi721
good story for upper ele girl.
—Mattie
