What is Lego sanctuary?

Mateo’s Lego home serves as a symbol of security, the same security he feels when he is actually at home. In Part 1 of the novel, the reader sees Mateo unable to leave his home for fear of the outside world. His home has been a security blanket for years, and building the Lego home symbolically brings a sense of security to him as he ventures into the world. When the lights go out on the train, Rufus encourages Mateo to build his Lego home, and this familiarity calms him down on the dark train. His “Lego sanctuary” also gives him a sense of calm when he visits his mother’s grave (210). Ultimately, the Lego home serves as a symbolic representation of Mateo’s actual home and the security that came with it.