Reviewer (text)
Hafsah K., Teen Board member
SANCTUARY BAY by Laura J. Burns is a novel that most definitely took me by surprise; it’s one of the best young adult novels I’ve read in a while.
SANCUTARY BAY follows Sara, a girl put in foster care after her parents’ death. Moving from house to house, she is never truly happy. But one day, she is offered a scholarship to one of the most prestigious schools. This school is located in almost the middle of nowhere, on an island in the ocean; the school claims it’s so isolated so students can focus on their studies. No one can leave until they graduate, and no one can enter. The school has its own phone system, and mail comes every few months. Nothing can be mailed back.
I could not put the book down until I had finished.
Sara is also more than meets the eye, as she has a special power where she can relive memories. When something reminds her of her past, Sara is sucked into her mind and loses focus on reality. If the memory is bad, it's like reliving a nightmare. If the memory is good, Sara becomes happier than she was before. Sara learns to manipulate this skill --- which she considers a curse --- to her favor.
Burns does a good job keeping readers interested in the story. I could not put the book down until I had finished. Sara finds that the world may not be what it seems. Her friends might not be her real friends, and her enemies might be better friends. I would recommend this book to any teen looking for a good read; it might just surprise you.
Teaser
When Sarah Merson receives the opportunity of a lifetime to attend the most elite prep school in the country --- Sanctuary Bay Academy --- it seems almost too good to be true. Swiftly thrown into a world of privilege and secrets, Sarah quickly realizes finding herself noticed by class charmer, Nate, as well as her roommate's dangerously attentive boyfriend, Ethan, are the least of her worries. When her roommate suddenly goes missing, she finds herself in a race against time, not only to find her, but to save herself and discover the dark truth behind Sanctuary Bay's glossy reputation.
Promo
When Sarah Merson receives the opportunity of a lifetime to attend the most elite prep school in the country --- Sanctuary Bay Academy --- it seems almost too good to be true. But, after years of bouncing from foster home to foster home, escaping to its tranquil setting, nestled deep in Swans Island, couldn't sound more appealing. Swiftly thrown into a world of privilege and secrets, Sarah quickly realizes finding herself noticed by class charmer, Nate, as well as her roommate's dangerously attentive boyfriend, Ethan, are the least of her worries. When her roommate suddenly goes missing, she finds herself in a race against time, not only to find her, but to save herself and discover the dark truth behind Sanctuary Bay's glossy reputation.
About the Book
When Sarah Merson receives the opportunity of a lifetime to attend the most elite prep school in the country --- Sanctuary Bay Academy --- it seems almost too good to be true. But, after years of bouncing from foster home to foster home, escaping to its tranquil setting, nestled deep in Swans Island, couldn't sound more appealing. Swiftly thrown into a world of privilege and secrets, Sarah quickly realizes finding herself noticed by class charmer, Nate, as well as her roommate's dangerously attentive boyfriend, Ethan, are the least of her worries. When her roommate suddenly goes missing, she finds herself in a race against time, not only to find her, but to save herself and discover the dark truth behind Sanctuary Bay's glossy reputation.
In this genre-bending YA thriller, Sanctuary Bay by Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz, Sarah's new school may seem like an idyllic temple of learning, but as she unearths years of terrifying history and manipulation, she discovers this "school" is something much more sinister.
