Deborah Ellis,
Sacred Leaf
Groundwood Books, 2007

Rating: E*

The second of Deborah Ellis’ Cocalero Novels, Sacred Leaf is the continuation of young Diego’s story from the previous book, I am a Taxi. In this volume, Diego escapes enslavement in a coca paste camp and is taken in by the Ricardos, a family of impoverished Coca farmers whose community eventually stage an anti-government protest in order to protect their way of life.

Ellis’ characters are rich and complex; they portray a broad range of human emotions and experiences with great honesty and sincerity. Whilst this series isn’t as exceptional as Ellis’ Breadwinner Trilogy, it is still an excellent addition to school or public libraries, and Ellis should be commended for her ability to continue to present stories of children in difficult situations that are informing yet engaging, without sugar-coating the issues for her audience.

Thematic Links: Bolivia; Cocaine; Children in the Drug Trade

Michelle Gowans
Vol. 13, number 2
December 2007

*Rating System:
E - Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!
G - Good, even great at times, generally useful!
A - Average, all right, has its applications.
P - Problematic, puzzling, poorly presented.