A review by timefliesaway
You Are a Sacred Place: Visual Poems for Living in Climate Crisis by Madeleine Jubilee Saito

emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

“People are places, and you are a sacred place.” 

 

A prayer/help call to the beings in power to let Mother Earth heal. 

A letter to those who are fighting depression and need some hope in their life. 

 

I’m not sure whether the poetry-like illustrations are paper-drawn or digital, but the watercolor/aquarelle(/-effect) does give a calming, traditionally drawn vibe. If it is drawn on paper, it would definitely enhance the message even more. (And inspiring to paint again, as an artist.) 

 

I do love how you can’t tell the genders of the 2 characters sleeping. Makes it easy to see oneself in the bed. 

 

A bit too much mentions of god, as for me the fact “mother earth is dying” can’t go hand in hand with the belief “god loves his creation”. However, on the other hand, I also get wanting to hold onto the tiny idea that god (or whatever you believe in) hasn’t yet given up on us. 

 

I’m not religious, rather agnostic, but I was raised catholic. This book basically feels like one of those lengthy prayers that you find in children’s religious books. Not the Bible-stans who force everyone into their cult, but the positive side of Christians – those that spread kindness and want to create a safe heaven on earth for children. 

Combined with fighting despair. And a pinch of melancholy. 

 

Let’s hope that god (or whatever higher being) hears this prayer. 

 

~ 

 

Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing on Netgalley for an eARC. 

 

-24.03.25