The River Spirit
A haunting journey of a young chimney sweep
Lucy Strange author Júlia Moscardó illustrator
Format:Paperback
Publisher:HarperCollins Publishers
Published:6th Jun '24
Should be back in stock very soon
In The River Spirit, young chimney sweep Tom discovers a supernatural world while yearning for freedom, leading to a haunting and transformative journey.
In The River Spirit, we follow young chimney sweep Tom, who is confined within the oppressive confines of the city's chimneys. His longing for fresh air and freedom is palpable, as he navigates the dark and haunting world of his daily life. Tom's existence is transformed when he begins to see extraordinary and supernatural beings, including fairies blooming by the river and a soot monster lurking in the shadows of the chimneys. These visions provide a glimpse of the magic hidden within his grim surroundings.
As Tom grapples with his newfound perceptions, he encounters the enigmatic river spirit, Elle. She becomes an integral part of his life, joining him and other children who are bound to the merciless master sweep, Mister Crow. Together, they navigate the treacherous and filthy chimneys of the town, but Tom cannot shake the ominous feeling that something more sinister lies ahead. Elle's magical presence hints at a deeper connection to Tom's fate.
The story builds to a climax when Tom faces his most perilous job yet, revealing the true reason behind Elle's appearance and the significance of his visions. The River Spirit is a ghostly historical tale that captivates readers with its atmospheric storytelling and rich character development, showcasing the resilience of a young boy yearning for freedom amidst adversity.
"Combining fascinating and important history with the magical and supernatural, this captivating, beautiful and tragic story is sure to become essential reading for Upper Key Stage 2 children learning about the Industrial Revolution and the plight of those involved in child labour." – Kate Heap, Scope for Imagination
"The plight of young chimney sweeps in Victorian Britain springs to vivid life in a ghostly and stunningly ethereal historical tale … Juxtaposing the heartbreaking cruelty of a boy sweep’s ordeals with all the fairy-tale magic of Charles Kingsley’s classic book, The Water-Babies, Strange brings us a dazzling, tear-jerking story that resonates long after the last page has turned … succeeds in never losing sight of the shining light of hope, friendship and courage … Brought to life by the beautiful worldly and other-worldly illustration of Júlia Moscardó, this is another stunning piece of storytelling." – Lancashire Post
"The third in an historical trilogy for Barrington Stoke, all of which successfully blend myth and mystery with snippets of history and all reveal elements of the exploitation of child labour in the industrial revolution. As such they are a huge asset to the classroom for study of that period … More than that, they are atmospheric and mesmerising reads … An impactful and memorable read." – Books for Keeps
"A brilliant combination of the supernatural and historical fiction. Perfect for a history topic on the Industrial Revolution." – Father Teacher Reader
"This beautifully written book with equally beautiful illustrations had us immersed from the first page … We were really drawn to the kindness of the characters and the warm and happy ending of this beautiful, evocative book." – Bentley Heath PS Book Club
ISBN: 9781800903258
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 8mm
Weight: 140g
80 pages