What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

"Does anyone remember the story of a young boy who lives in the desert with his mother. He has an amulet from his father that protects him from illness and injury.
He goes on a journey and comes to a village that is built on lily pads in a swamp ??"

Noeleen, around what year did you read this book?

Is his father alive?

The Iron Tree by Cecilia Dart-Thornton?

Google Books preview: https://books.google.com/books?id=BN0...

Google search of Goodreads:
site:goodreads.com "young adult" "fantasy" boy "desert" "father gives him an amulet" quest