Sacred Leaf by Deborah Ellis

Sacred Leaf by Deborah Ellis

USBBY Oustanding International Books selection

After he finally manages to escape from being a virtual slave in an illegal cocaine operation, Diego is taken in by the Ricardo family -- poor coca farmers who provide a safe haven while he recovers from his ordeal in the jungle. But even that brief respite comes to an end when the army moves in and destroys the family's coca crop -- and their livelihood.

Diego eventually joins the cocaleros as they protest the destruction of their crops by barricading the roads, confronting the army head on. As tension between the cocaleros builds to a dramatic standoff, the wonders whether he will ever find a way to return to his family.

Deborah Ellis is best known for her Breadwinner series of novels, which have been translated into 25 languages and have generated over $1 million in royalties for charities such as Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan and Street Kids International. She has received numerous awards, including the Governor General's Award, the Ruth Schwartz Award, the University of California's Middle East Book Award, the Swedish Peter Pan Prize, the Jane Addams Children's Book Award, and the Vicky Metcalf Award for a Body of Work. She was recently appointed to the Order of Ontario and won the President's Award for Outstanding Achievement from the Ontario Library Association. Simcoe, Ontario is her home.