SOLVED. Y/A Fantasy book from a early 2000s Scholastic Canada book order that takes place in a kind of open air mine/prison in an ancient/medieval-esque setting. [s]

[Jordan]

Spoilers below

I read this book around 2001-2003, when I was in Grade 6/7/8 (I'm thinking 7)? I bought this book from a Scholastic Canada book order or book fair.

The book was orange in colour (like a sunset I think) and had a spooky looking man with a black, medieval style bucket helmet. In my mind, I keep thinking about the word "mask" either in the title, or that's what they called the guards.

The story follows a young man who, I think, was captured at a young age and is forced to work in the open air mine/prison that is on the side of the ocean or a sea of some sort. It's a natural cove, with very high cliff walls that act as the prison gate/walls.

At one point the main character is punished and forced to spend a night in a cave on the sea side that fills up with water with the tide. At the end of the book, the characters "escape" the prison, but I think it was because the guards actually just left and abandoned them. I remember something about a larger threat looming

The guards were rarely seen within the prison, I think they mostly hung out on the walls or came down only to punish people.

I lent this book to a friend and he destroyed it. Foolish me.

Thanks for your help!

[Rainbowheart]

Escape the Mask

[Jordan]

THANK YOU!

[Rainbowheart]

Welcome, glad to help out!