City of Cannibals

A parent would reach for this book when their child is beginning to ask questions about the complexities of home safety, the courage required to walk away from toxic situations, or the struggle to find a chosen family when their biological one has failed them. City of Cannibals follows young Dell as she escapes an abusive household and navigates the high stakes world of Tudor England. While set in the court of Henry VII, the story is deeply rooted in the universal emotional need for agency and belonging. Through Dell's eyes, readers explore themes of resilience, trust, and the definition of true strength. It is a sophisticated historical adventure that handles the heavy reality of domestic trauma with care, focusing on the protagonist's growth and survival rather than just the pain she left behind. Recommended for middle schoolers, this story provides a mirror for those who feel displaced and a window for those learning about the internal fortitude required to build a new life from scratch.