Saturday, February 22, 2014

Crowder, Melanie. Parched.

Crowder, Melanie.  Parched.   Houghton Mifflin/Harcourt Brace  2013  154p  $15.99  ISBN 978-0-547-97651-8     ms/jr  Conflict  E-BN   

Held by a gang in shackles, Musa’s life is all but worthless unless he can find water under the desert as quickly as possible. However, there is no guarantee that the gang will keep him alive.  He must escape at all costs if he hopes to live.  Then the opportunity to escape presents itself, and with what little is left of his strength, Musa runs for his life.

In another corner of the desert there is a girl trying to stay alive with her dogs.
 Her family has been killed, but she was able to hide well and is the only one left.

Although he feels he can barely move any more, Musa heeds the call of water and makes himself move to the place where it flows.  As he reaches  the area, he collapses and is found by the girl, Sarel, and her dog Nandi.  Together they seek the source of the water that lies under them in the ground.  Their desire to live will be the source of their strength in fighting against all odds.
 
This is the chilling tale of a land and people dying due to the lack of water and the greed of those wanting to control what little bit of water may be found.

Summary: Musa’s gift is also a curse!  In a time of plenty, being able to detect and find water is helpful, but when there is an extreme drought it can cost you your life and that of your family.     

Drought
-Fiction, Deserts-Fiction                                  --Magna Diaz

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