Children of the Stone City

A powerful novel by Carnegie Medal–winning author Beverley Naidoo that is in turns heart-wrenching, infuriating, and inspiring—and at its core, a call to readers to make a better world than they have found.

Adam and his sister, Leila, are Nons—second-class citizens, living under the Permitted ruling class. Though their life in the Stone City is filled with family, stories, and music, they must carefully follow the rules, have all paperwork on hand, and never, ever do anything to anger a Permitted. When their father unexpectedly dies, they are even restricted in how they are allowed to grieve.

Soon, Adam and Leila are back to school and practicing music again. But when Adam’s friend Zak plays a bold prank on a group of Permitted boys, and Adam is implicated in Zak’s “crime,” Adam knows their lives will never be the same again.

Not to be missed by any reader who was moved by Veera Hiranandani’s The Night Diary or Alan Gratz’s Refugee.

In a world built on injustice, how can one boy’s voice—or his violin—make a difference?

Social Injustice: Adam and Leila are "Nons," forced to live by unfair rules in a city that doesn’t see them as equals. A Moving Sibling Story: After the death of their father, violinist Adam and his sister Leila must rely on each other to navigate their grief and the dangers of the Stone City. Friendship and Loyalty: When his best friend Zak’s prank goes wrong, Adam is forced to make a choice that could put his entire family at risk. Hope in the Face of Oppression: A beautifully told allegorical story that explores how art, family, and courage can become powerful acts of resistance.