SOLVED. Dystopia. Social class based on test scores. Different colour clothing for each class. Spoilers. [s]

[Smithy]

I read this book about 10 years ago when I was like 11 years old. I took it out in the school library and the story has marked me to this day.

The cover of the book : red background with a silver "S" pendant.


Main plot points : It is set in an alternate world, the social class of the residents are based on test scores and these classes all live in separate areas and wear different colored clothes. For example brown is low class, then it goes up in orange, blue, scarlet and white being the highest class. The city is built in a circular fashion with a huge horn built long ago by a different traveler nation in the center. You can move up and down in social class by getting or losing points. For example, the Protagonist's family are brown and and move up to orange and they get a bigger house and some other privileges. But it is a thing that takes time and an accumulation of generations work.

The protagonist's family goes to one of the test days, mother, father, sibling and him. The sibling has to remove his underwear to prove that he is potty trained and so that they don't lose points. For some reason, the father goes into a separate facility and he encourages the participants write in their tests about something that they are really passionate about instead of just responding the questions. One man describes how he loves the feeling before you dunk a biscuit in some tea. That you never know if it is going to break or come out the perfect texture.

Meanwhile, the protagonist has left the city and is now below where everyone is caked in mud (an even lower class than the brown color social class which existence is unknown to the rest of the city). This people live on "mud nuts" which they cultivate (in the mud). He meets a boy who stays with him on the journey, they leave the city, go to somewhere, get the "s" pendant and rush back home.

The S "emblem" is like a circular piece of metal which slots into something... (see ending). They get it from somewhere outside of the city and it has something to do with a girl (my memory on this bit is not the best so sorry for being vage).

There is an emperor/leader of the city who doesn't ever leave his tower in the white colored clothes neighbourhood.


SPOILERS/Ending :


(view spoiler)[ They put the pendant in a slot of the horn and it makes a sound that changes the attitude of everyone. Social classes are demolished and people start exchanging their clothes to have mix of colors. The head of the city confesses that the mud boy is his son. (hide spoiler)]

[Kat]

I don't know if any of these are your books, but there are a few other threads with questions about color-coded clothing. Maybe someone in one of those suggested (or is also looking for) your book:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Amber]

Could it be The Wind Singer by William Nicholson?

[Genesistrine]

Amber wrote: "Could it be The Wind Singer by William Nicholson?"

Certainly sounds like it. Here's the link: The Wind Singer

[Smithy]

Genesistrine wrote: "Amber wrote: "Could it be The Wind Singer by William Nicholson?"

Certainly sounds like it. Here's the link: The Wind Singer"


Yes it is !!! Thank you both so much, you don't know how much this means to me, I've been looking for this book for years !!

[Kris]

Glad you found your book, Smithy.

The Wind Singer (book 1) of the The Wind on Fire Trilogy" by William Nicholson - Amber's find.