The Callers
Quin comes from a long line of Callers—people who can conjure food, resources, and other things that the citizens of Elipsom desire or need. But Quin (presumed white) has never been able to Call a thing. His mother, head of the ruling Council, intervenes when the time for his Calling test arrives, and when Quin impresses the examiners, he knows it was a ruse: His sister did the Calling. In the aftermath, he discovers that much of what he’s been taught is a lie. Elipsom is on one side of a planet that is supposedly barren everywhere else. But on the other side of the planet is a place called Evantra. Through Allie, a girl who lives there, Quin learns that Calling isn’t conjuring, it’s stealing—from the people of Evantra. The Elipsom Council, led by his mother, is in charge of a system in which the people of Evantra are essentially enslaved to serve Elipsom by growing the food that is Called. Calling is not a typical gift among Evantrans, but Allie has the ability—it’s how Quin found himself there. And her ability has been a secret … until now. This satisfying fantasy offers a straightforward line of action and a clear line between good and evil. But it’s a line along which there’s plenty of tension, as Quin must choose between his family and everything he’s known, and what he knows is right. ©2022 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 8-10
Age Range:
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
Ethical/Moral Choices
Families
Fantasy
Politics and Political Systems
Secrets
Truth and Lies
Publisher:
Chronicle
Publish Year: 2022
Pages: 223
ISBN: 9781797210780
CCBC Location: Fiction, Thomas