The Weather Weaver

By Author / Illustrator

Tamsin Mori

Genre

Magical Realism

Age range(s)

Publisher

UCLan Publishing

ISBN

9781912979455

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

04-03-2021

Synopsis

What if the weather matched itself to your mood, whether you wanted it to, or not?

11-year-old Stella has returned home to Shetland to spend the summer with her Grandpa, but it's nothing like she remembers. Grandpa is lost in his grief for Gran, the island is bleak and Stella feels trapped, until she encounters an old woman, Tamar, who can spin rainbows and call hurricanes. With the help of Nimbus, a feisty young storm cloud, Stella begins to learn the craft of weather weaving. But when her cloud brain-fogs Grandpa and The Haken (a sea witch) starts to close in, she realises that magic comes with big responsibilities. It will take all her heart and courage to face the coming storm...

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Reviews

The Weather Weaver by debut author Tamsin Mori is a spectacular tale full of magic, myths, and legends. Set in the remote Scottish isles of Shetland this story is bursting with nature, the supernatural, and the importance of family and love.

The main character, 11-year-old Stella, is sent to spend her holidays with her Grandpa on the island when her dad is called away to work. Stella is elated; after spending many years moving from place to place with her parents, she longs for the comfort of the Island where she grew up. However, on returning she does not find the happy place she once knew; the death of her Grandma has cast a bleak cloud over the island and her Grandpa, as well as the house that he lives in.

Trapped, lonely and isolated, Stella one day confronts her Grandpa. This causes an almighty argument which ends with Stella leaving the house in a rage. Whilst exploring the island, Stella encounters an old lady - Tamar - and the most unusual things begin to happen. Stella discovers that she has a phenomenal power to control the weather and with the help of Tamar, she is soon able to capture clouds, whistles gales and see the true colours of the rainbow.

This magical tale sings beautiful words that allow the description to bring the story to life. Like every good story, it is laced with a darkness that needs to be fought - the Haken - a sea witch that haunts the shorelines of the Island capturing clouds to create an unwilling army. So, when the sacred stone in the broch is broken, the islands' protection against the Sea Witch disappears and a war of weather commences.

I just love how Stella grows in character and confidence throughout this story, and how her ability to seek love in all helps her to overcome her fears of nightmares she once had. This story allows you to think the unimaginable and yet seek confirmation in tales from long ago.

It would be an excellent narrative to study alongside any curriculum unit designed about weather in Key Stage 2. There are so many opportunities that would allow you to create independent writing. This story is bursting with themes of weather weaving, myths and legends, nature, love, grief, and family. It is such a magical tale, but it is so rooted in the everyday here and now.

I would highly recommend reading this magnificent book especially at story time, when a story needs to hold the imagination of its audience and captivate their thoughts.

310 pages /Ages 8+ / Reviewed by Hayley Summerfield, teacher