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story identification - Book trilogy about twins in a walled city where people are sorted by intelligence




I remember reading this great trilogy series about 10-15 years ago. It's about a family living in a dystopian walled city where people are sorted and classed by their intelligence.


The protagonists are twins, a boy and girl. They defy the system and are exiled from the city, along with another boy. They journey across a desert and have many adventures etc. This is only in the first book.


I remember the cover being a big 'S' shaped symbol. It had something to do with a wind chime that was central to the plot.


Edit: There is already another question with the same answer here. I did do a search on stackoverflow before I posted this question of course, but I feel I would never have know it's the same question just looking at the title. It's up to the community to close this question as a duplicate.



Answer



The Wind Singer


Book cover with symbol


(Emphasis is mine)




The Wind Singer is a young adult novel written by William Nicholson. It is the first book of the Wind On Fire Trilogy. It follows the quest of twins Kestrel and Bowman Hath, and their friend Mumpo to restore the "Voice of the Wind Singer" to their city and bring happiness to their cruel society.



....



The book begins in the walled city of Aramanth, an extreme meritocracy where endless exams and ratings are the only way to move forward to improved life stations; to be unsuccessful in this is seen as a great source of shame.



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Using an archaic map given to her by the Emperor [Kestrel] sets off, joined by her twin brother, Bowman, and their brave but pitiful new friend, Mumpo, who has an unshakeable affection for Kestrel. They meet a variety of tribes and individuals including the fearsome nomadic clans of Ombaraka and Omchaka.




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