Swanfall

Pip lives with his family at Keeper’s Cottage on the wetlands where his mum works on environmental conservation. He particularly enjoys the swanfall every autumn, when Arctic swans return home, and watches out for his three favourites who he has named Midnight, Silver and Moonshadow. This year, though, they don't appear.

At school, Pip is not so happy as he struggles to focus, but he enjoys their class visits to the Book Bus. When Mrs de Plume from the old manor house donates a trunk of old books, he finds himself drawn to an old book, one which Mrs de Plume seems determined to retrieve.

The mysterious book, the missing swans and Mrs de Pume's increasingly odd behaviour lead Pip and his friends into an adventure full of legend, mystery and magic.

The Children of Lir, which inspired Swanfall, is one of my favourite Irish legends so I was very keen to read this book and I was not disappointed. Sophie Kirtley has skilfully woven this ancient story into one of her own, creating a wonderfully atmospheric and gripping read. Pip is an extremely relatable young lad whose passion for the swans and the annual swanfall represents all those children with interests and hobbies that lie outside the boundaries of the traditional school curriculum. He feels cut off from the other children, except for his best friend, Tommo in whose non-judgmental, easy company Pip feels at ease. However, the inclusion of classmates, Erin and Hanif, into this friendship leaves Pip feeling threatened, particularly by Hanif who is popular and effortlessly amazing at everything.

As the story progresses, Pip learns that people are not always what they appear at first glance and he comes to value Erin and Hanif and their loyalty and courage, as much as he does Tommo, finding his flock to fly with just as the swans find theirs.

Hauntingly beautiful, evocative writing celebrates the beauties - and perils - of the natural world as well as the light and dark of human nature. Tense and intense in places, Swanfall is perfect for offering readers something special and different which might lead them to The Children of Lir and other Irish myths as well as sparking an interest in the Arctic swans so lovingly described in these pages. A fabulous read!

320 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 9+

Swanfall is a great adventure story that mixes mystery with folklore and ecology with friendship. It starts with the much-anticipated return of the winter flock of Arctic swans, the annual event beloved by the main character, Pip. Then together with best friend Tommo, and school friends Erin and Hanif, Pip sets out to uncover the mystery contained in a letter he found in a donated library book.

The disappearance of three children along with the arrival of Bird Flu becomes the friend's main focus and the adventure really begins. The inclusion of characters who enjoy reading is heartwarming for a school librarian reviewer as we approach the start of the National Year of Reading, and the book provides great role models for child readers. In addition, Sophie Kirtley, the author, uses the arrival of a mobile library at the character's school to introduce the mysterious letter; again, writing positively about children eager to browse the books during their library time is so refreshing to read.

Swanfall is written with descriptions of the wetlands and the natural world woven beautifully within the adventure story. Recommended for older students at primary school and younger secondary school students. A great addition to the school library.

320 pages / Reviewed by Ruth Cornish, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 9+