Sal is the story of two sisters who run away from a painful and abusive home. The older sister Sal has meticulously prepared for the adventure by learning about survival off the internet and in books. This is where the text really takes off. The character of Sal is a well-written and believable portrait of a young person on the spectrum.
The sisters escape to the Scottish wilderness to let the news of their running away blow over; they want to eventually go back to help their mother. In the meantime, they work together to find food, build shelter, and protect each other from the painful memories they share.
This is a quick read, but the topics and characters stay with you. I would recommend this to young adults and readers who are looking for a narrator who teaches you new ways of looking at the world.
4 out of 5 stars
Comes out on May 8th, 2018.
Thank you to Canongate Books, NetGalley, and the author for the advanced copy to review.
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