THE ANXIOUS EXILE OF SARA SALT

A young girl learns to express herself in this epistolary novel.

Ten-year-old Sara Salt has anxiety and selective mutism. Her baby brother, Oliver, was born premature and is still in the NICU, her mother is recovering from the birth and dealing with postpartum depression, and her stepfather is working to support them. Amid the chaos, Sara is sent to stay with her adult half sister, Abby, in Toronto. To grapple with her big feelings, Sara writes letters to Oliver. She begins to learn about the issues facing unhoused people as she helps Abby build a transitional housing community. Sara discovers that she doesn’t need to speak to make a difference as she starts writing letters, not only to her brother, but to the mayor, the police, the librarian, and her neighbors. This charming and engaging book has much to teach readers about anxiety disorders, homelessness, and family, but Sara’s narrative voice never feels didactic. Most of the lessons are cleverly worked into the story as she explains things to Oliver or processes them for herself, which makes the educational moments feel authentic. Many readers will relate to Sara, whether they share the same experiences or they just struggle to make themselves heard. Sara reads white; Abby’s maternal grandmother is Chinese.

A sweet, touching story of a young girl forging connections and coming into her own.