Call of the Desert
Exile
A girl in chronic pain learns to stand up for herself and be honest with her friends in the warm novel Call of the Desert.
In A. A. Vogel’s compelling novel Call of the Desert, a science-loving girl undergoes the trials of friendship, first love, and scoliosis.
In the early 1970s in an expatriate camp in Saudi Arabia, Claire and her boyfriend, Luke, are excited to start sailing again. They are less excited to finish their final year at school, with questions remaining about whether they’ll be able to attend the same boarding school in the fall. A new girl, Beatrix, also tests their bond, aiming to separate Claire from Luke and her friends.
Then Claire receives a diagnosis of scoliosis and has to wear a brace to halt the further curving of her spine. The brace and the chronic pain that accompanies it sever Claire’s bond with Luke, her friends, and her spiritual guide, Amma Libua. She tells the doctors that it hurts; she gets sores, open wounds, and infections. Moving, hugging, and sailing become nigh impossible. She disassociates, chanting “Not my body, not my pain.”
Encompassing a school year with depth and efficiency, the story hits a climax around the midpoint of the year; there’s miscommunication and a breakup following manipulation on Beatrix’s part. Ample, fast-paced conversations between Luke and Claire, combined with Beatrix’s frequent insertion of herself into their private conversations, help to move the story along. A realization on Luke’s part is satisfying.
In this series-continuing novel, there are frequent references to previous books, but the direct, efficient prose includes clear context to help situate newcomers. In time, Claire learns to speak up and realizes that asking for help is not weak. She gains the confidence to address her friends about how she’s felt excluded, to mend her tenuous relationship with Luke, and to work with others.
Beatrix is a dimensionless foe, though. Her appearances are frequent but one-note; she excludes Claire from parties, inserts herself into activities including the Math Club, and demeans Claire on the bus, causing Claire to pull away from the group and distrust Luke. Her jealousy-fueled actions are her sole distinguishing factor; she’s reduced to inspiring conflicts and little more. In contrast, Amma Libua offers small bits of guidance throughout; her appearances tend to cut off the flow of the general conflict, but her presence leads to a heartening ending for Claire and Luke.
A complex, compelling novel about strength and trust, Call of the Desert tackles self-discovery, tested friendships, and the realities of scoliosis.
Reviewed by
Sterling Hooker
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
