Drought

Bachorz (Candor) again carves out a compelling niche in the dystopian genre, tackling issues of faith, perseverance, and obligation in this bleak tale of an isolated community enslaved by the past. For 200 years, Ruby and other members of the Congregation have toiled, collecting life-sustaining (and life-prolonging) Water under hellish conditions, kept in line by Overseers and forced to satisfy demanding quotas. Only a select few know that Ruby's blood, like that of her long-missing father, Otto, is the catalyst that turns ordinary water into Water, a secret they keep at all costs. While the Congregants patiently wait for Otto, their savior and founder, to return and lead them to freedom, Ruby believes it's time to escape and seek him out. In defiance of custom and wisdom, Ruby falls for Ford, an Overseer, further pushing her toward a fateful decision. Though some of the intrinsic supernatural elements aren't fully explained, the tension between the Christian aspects of Ruby's faith (life-saving blood, an absent and awaited savior) and Ford's contemporary Christianity results in a complex, provocative exploration of loyalty, community, family, and belief. Ages 12–up. (Jan.)