Bound by Blood and Sand

Gr 9 Up—Jae and her brother Tal, orphaned twins, are Closest, slavelike citizens bound to tell the truth and obey any command given to them by the privileged Avowed. Any time they try to rebel, the pain in their mind becomes unbearable. Their world is experiencing severe drought, and the leader of the Avowed must determine whether to abandon the estate where they live and divert its diminishing water. If that happens, Jae fears the Closest will be left behind to die. Discovering her own magical ability, Jae embarks on a sometimes brutal but gripping journey of rebellion and an arduous trek to find a magic well that might mean salvation. Jae must endure heartbreak and make some agonizing decisions before the story concludes. Narrator January LaVoy uses her voice and emotional energy to lift the tale and keep listeners engaged, despite some complicated plotlines that might otherwise leave readers confused. The pacing slows a bit near the end. There are scenes of rape and violence.