Sanctuary

Seventeen-year-old Kenzie is a guard at a space prison for teens with super powers, but when some prisoners try to escape Kenzie is taken hostage. Her problems are compounded when aliens attack and Kenzie must work with the prisoners as they face many difficult physical and emotional challenges in order to survive, at the same time as she questions her identity, place in the world, and the system she grew up under. This fast-paced, Canadian novel presents complex issues of discrimination, justice, the value of life, tolerance, empathy, personal awareness, and the nature of privilege and power, and is suitable for independent reading or a literature circle. Social considerations noted.