A review by starrysteph
Solis by Abby Sher, Paola Mendoza

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Whew. That hurt.

Solis is a bleak, devastating dystopian story following a group of prisoners (mostly undocumented immigrants & a lot of children) who are forced into dangerous labor and medical experiments by an extremist government.

It’s 2023, and the New American Republic is obsessed with mining toxic aqualinium in order to control the weather and tamper the impact of climate change. If America is the first to succeed with its aqualinium experiments, they’ll be the most powerful country in the world. 

The story is split between four narrators, most of them held in the horrific labor camp. The final narrator is training with the resistance (SOLIS) in California, which has seceded from the rest of the US. There’s a dangerous plan in motion to free the prisoners and destroy the aqualinium research and mine.

It is a really, really bleak and disturbing story. There’s a lot of child death and torture, and of course tons of xenophobia and racism and homophobia as well. I found this tough to read as an adult, and would definitely encourage parents/educators to take caution and make sure this book is the right fit for the teenager you know. 

There are sparks of revolution and sparks of hope - and compassion and strength from those going through the most horrific experiences  - but I wasn’t quite sure what to walk away with here. Perhaps that this is possible. This could happen anywhere. These are the ripple effects of welcoming hatred & bigotry, of dismissing our impact on each other & the earth, of corrupt politicians. You’re bearing witness to so much trauma as a reader. A lot of it is heightened, but some of it is indeed closer to our current reality (in the US and outside of the US). 

I appreciated the character development and do feel as though I got to know our narrators. The writing was very simple and very direct. 

I wished for a bit more resolution and framing at the end, especially because this is a young adult book. I wanted a smidge more hope or ferocity or empowerment. But the final sentences were quiet. 

CW: death (child/parent), murder, slavery, genocide, racism, torture, drug use, emotional abuse, gun violence, gore, suicide, vomit, excrement, police brutality, deportation, fire, confinement

Follow me on social media for book recommendations!

(I received a free copy of this book; this is my honest review.)