Little Sanctuary is the story of children from the Global South living in a world that is falling apart, wracked by war. They are sent to a school serving as a refuge on a distant island by their affluent parents, where they harbour growing suspicions and grave concerns about the people caring for them. After teenaged Sabel and her siblings witness unexpected violence, they must rally the others rally the others and plot an escape.

Praise for Little Sanctuary

“A multilayered narrative that evokes the heartbreaking headlines today.” – Desi News, July 2024

“Little Sanctuary is a timeless story about good versus evil and seems especially poignant after enduring the Covid epidemic as well as hearing countless stories of war-torn countries and refugees on the daily news.” – CM Reviews, June 2024, Highly Recommended – 5 stars

“Boyagoda threads his novel with moments of great compassion that shine all the brighter within this unflinching portrayal of a world in turmoil. Fans of speculative fiction will find Little Sanctuary captivating and thought-provoking.” – Canadian Children’s Book News, Fall 2024 Issue

About the Author:

Randy Boyagoda is a novelist and professor of English at the University of Toronto. His novels, which include Original Prin and Dante’s Indiana, have been nominated for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, and the IMPAC Dublin Literary Prize. He lives in Toronto with his wife and four daughters. Little Sanctuary is his first novel for young readers.