The Wind Singer
Vol. I - The Wind on Fire

A Review by Devina

Imagine a world where your life was charted out for you, where you live, what clothes you wear, and every single thing depended on…exams.

A city called Aramanth is enclosed by high walls and divided into zones, the outer ones being the worst and inhabited by those who don't have enough 'points' to live in a better zone. Ratings are given to each person, and to each family, and those are what decides where the family lives, what privileges they would get etc. Rebelling is not an option. Kestrel Hath decides she's going to take that option, no matter that it doesn't exist. Her rebellion costs her family their points and they are subjected to harsh cruelties, and she realizes the only way to save her family and her zombie city is to make the wind singer sing again.
The wind singer is the only anomaly in the orderly city; the only eyesore that no one dares remove. A tall tower built ages ago, that legend has it could sing, but has remained silent for so long that no one even hopes that it will sing again. Myth has it that Aramanth will become happier and better if it does.
Kestrel, along with her twin brother Bowman and an unlikely ally, Mumpo set out on a dangerous journey to combat the evil force that has taken over Aramanth, and made it the harsh world it is.

The first of the trilogy created by William Nicholson, the 300+ page book is gripping, and filled with fantasy, yet manages to inject a subtle tone of reality that exists in our world. It shows the rigidity of a society and the need for a girls' mind to be free of the rules and restrictions and archaic thinking. This, I think, reflects our society as well, in the sense that there are certain rules and norms that we are expected to follow without question, about its use or origin. Those tired of mindlessly doing things without knowing why would definitely love this book.
The back cover has comments by many reviewers and it has been compared to Harry Potter and Star Wars. Truly, it is a fantasy tale just like the former two, but sets an identity of it's own through the powerful storytelling.

This book has also won the 2000 Smarties Prize Gold Award, and it deserves it. You can buy this book online over here and I suggest that you do pick up a copy of this book and read it. You might just identify with Kestrel's psyche; I know I did. I can't possibly divide this book into age categories; I think it can be read by anyone and everyone passionate for good books.

Magnificent reading, top marks to this one!

Author: William Nicholson
Number of Pages: 300+
Rating: 5/5
Age Recommendation: Anyone and Everyone Passionate for Good Books
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