Rebel of the Sands

Gr 8 Up—In a setting three-quarters Middle East and one quarter Wild West (if the Wild West had djinnis and magical beasts), Amani Al'Hiza has cast aside female convention and trained herself as a crack pistol shot. Her mother's death and her father's absence put her under her uncle's control, and he doesn't have this independent 16-year-old's best interests at heart. Her plans for escape to the capital city are cut short, and she finds herself on the run through the desert, accompanied by Jin, a mysterious young man her own age. Debut author Hamilton includes classic elements (such as iron weakening magical First Beings) along with factors unique to this story. Amani and Jin join a caravan to cross the desert but are left behind when Jin is injured. Near death, they are saved by a band of rebels, and Amani sees that she can no longer be a bystander in her country's political upheaval. The rebels must find and disable "the weapon" and unseat the cruel Sultan and end the Gallan army's violent rule. The ending points toward a sequel. The desert setting is unusual, while the character types have been seen before. Suggest to readers who enjoyed Alexandra Bracken's "The Darkest Minds" series (Disney-Hyperion) and Stacey Jay's stand-alone Princess of Thorns (Delacorte, 2014).