• Age: 12 to 18
• Grade: 9 to 12

Seventeen-year-old Darius lives in the city of Zalmon, where every Life Event is predetermined in accordance with the Book of Zalmon: where you’ll work, who you’ll marry, and at the end of it all, when you’ll die. Natural Deaths are to be avoided at all costs. Why risk the pain of a random demise when you can live out your remaining days at the Quiet End where you’ll be released peacefully?

But when Darius learns that his little sister, Mahlah, will be assigned an imminent Death Date on her thirteenth birthday, he infiltrates the system to save her. The search for the truth behind her assigned demise leads Darius to uncover a conspiracy that goes to the heart of their city — and to learn about a life of dignity and autonomy that lies beyond what the Book of Zalmon dictates.

Sara de Waard is an author and screenwriter of Métis descent and is currently in the process of exploring her family’s heritage. She is an elementary school teacher and freelance social media manager with a love for film and a soft spot for rap and hip-hop music thanks to her two teenagers. Her writing is often inspired by her compassion for the trials and tribulations of today’s youth. After completing her BA in Radio and Television from Ryerson University and a stint in London, ON, de Waard returned to her hometown of Port Colborne, ON where she currently lives with her kids.

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“This is not your ordinary dystopian book that revolves around action, politics, revolution, a bizarre community and triumph. It really stands out. Defy really defied my views on the post-apocalyptic genre. … I highly recommend the book for all ages. Five out of five indeed.”

YA Dude Books

“The narrative beautifully combines dystopian elements with a moving story of love, grief, and defiance. The engaging, evocative writing builds suspense and develops characters in ways that will keep readers invested. … Compelling and thought-provoking.”

Kirkus Reviews