Voyage of the Sparrowhawk: Winner of the Costa Children's Book Award 2020

By Author / Illustrator

Natasha Farrant

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

Publisher

Faber & Faber

ISBN

9780571348763

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

03-09-2020

Synopsis

WINNER - COSTA CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARDTHE TIMES AND SUNDAY TIMES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR. The second sensational middle-grade standalone that follows an epic voyage from England to France in the aftermath of WW1, from the bestselling author of The Children of Castle Rock.

In the aftermath of World War One, everyone is trying to rebuild their lives. If Ben is to avoid being sent back to the orphanage, he needs to find his brother Sam, wounded in action and is now missing. Lotti's horrible aunt and uncle want to send her away to boarding-school (when she has just so successfully managed to get expelled from her last one!). And Clara, their young teacher, is waiting for news of her missing fiance . . .

Just as they think they've found their feet in the new order, disaster strikes, and Lotti and Ben must get away. And so they hatch a plan - to cross the Channel on Ben's narrowboat and find Sam. And there's something in France that Lotti is looking for, too . . . Buffeted by storms, chased by the police, Lotti, Ben, Clara and a growing number of dogs set out on an epic journey, on the search for lost loved ones and a place to call home.

'One of the most compelling, joyous, tear-jerking and delightful reads of the year.' The Sunday Times, Children's Book of the Week. 'Empowering, rollicking, wistful and joyful.' Hilary McKay, author of The Skylarks' War. 'Magnificent odyssey . . . a rich and rewarding read . . . it deserves prizes.' New Statesman. 'A wonderful adventure.' Piers Torday, author of The Frozen Sea.

View Extract

Reviews

I absolutely loved this book. It is one of those books that I simply couldn't put down. I felt I was on the adventure with Lotti, a feisty, determined and headstrong girl with a head of wild, red curls, who had lost her parents and was at the peril of her scandalous and wicked Uncle and Aunt; and Ben, an orphan, who had finally found his family in fellow orphan Sam and Nathan, who adopted them both and made a home on the Sparrowhawk (a narrow boat), only to face being orphaned once again as a result of the war.

When faced with the threat of another boarding school and being evicted from his home while waiting for his brother to return from war, Lotti and Ben set sail on a perilous journey of hope - to France - on a narrow boat, with two dogs: Elsie and Federico (a rescued chihuahua from a notorious criminal) for company. With a policeman and a furious uncle hot on their tail, will their sheer grit, determination and perseverance be enough to set them free?

A story filled with adventure, friendship, loss and courage, this book would elicit great discussion and is brimming with wonderful vocabulary to share with children. Fans of the Cogheart series by Peter Bunzl would enjoy this adventure.

368 pages / Reviewed by Kelly Buxton, teacher