The Magician's Apprentice

The Magician's Apprentice by Banks, Kate. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780374347161.

Baz has always dreamed about following his two older brothers out of his dusty little town, so when a stranger comes to his familys home and asks him to be a weavers apprentice, Baz is eager to start his journey. But when he reaches the village of Kallah and starts his apprenticeship, Baz learns that his master is very cruel. And when the master trades Baz to a magician for a sword, Baz expects no better from his new owner. But as Baz travels with this kind-hearted and wise magician, their journey takes him across the desert, up a mountain, and into the depths of lifes meaning. He learns to re-examine his beliefs about people, the world, and himself, discovering that the whole world is connected and no person can ever be owned.