QUEST FOR THE SINGING STONES

In Cloudwatcher’s YA novel, a group of teenage boys make an arduous trek across the desert, led by a young man with a secret mission.

Seventeen-year-old Hugumki will someday be chief of a Hohokam village in the Sonoran Desert, in what is now Arizona. First, he’ll lead a group of nine fellow teenagers on a challenge that will turn the so-called “wild boys” into men. They’ll traverse a desert with unpredictable terrain, including mountains, plateaus, mesas, and buttes. Only Hugumki knows that the journey’s other purpose is to find the magical singing stones, which may be able to save the villagers’ crops after an especially bad harvest. The 10 boys have a range of skills and personalities, from tiny, inquisitive Bird to Ah Ki Wami, who’s known in the village for his furious anger. They travel for many days under Father Sun’s relentless heat and must conserve the water they carry in deer bladders. There are all sorts of creatures they’ll likely encounter, not the least of which is a “mountain cat the size of a small bear.” Cloudwatcher’s taut story, despite all the peril the boys face, is spirited and uplifting in tone. Hugumki, the other teens, and even a dog who joins them on their quest are all likable characters, and it’s encouraging to watch the boys confront fears, overcome uncertainties, and realize that adulthood means they’ll have to mature and forgo “childish games.” (The latter is particularly relevant to the four youngest boys, which the narrative often groups together.) Hugumki doubts his leadership abilities, but his responsibility is great, as the test will be a failure if even one participant returns to the village hurt. The author’s depiction of the vibrant but perilous environment is sharp, such as when “the sky explodes into all the colors that pink has in its palette,” and when the group hears frightening sounds in the nighttime desert, including countless noises from animals they can’t see.

A diverting and sometimes-profound novel of teamwork and perseverance.