The Children of Swallow Fell

by Julia Green

When war comes to the heart of the Italian city where Isabella lives with her family, everything changes. She makes the long journey with her Dad to a safer place-the old house where he grew up in the north of England. Isabell must adapt to a completely different life. She must adapt for a new future.

Genres: Childrens

210 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Adam Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything changes. The premise of The Children of Swallow Fell by Julia Green reminded me of a high-concept dystopian-esque novel that felt closer to home (especially in the world we’re continuing to live at the moment) while continuing to be a fleshed-out moment of history.

Following the story of Isabella & her father who try seek to escape the war in Italy through a desperate train journey across Europe, Isabella’s father has not returned to England & his family’s stone house for years. Now it lies musty from neglect. It appears that during his absence, a lot has changed; primarily a brutal disease that shut everything down, so there is no sign of life. Once Isabella encounters two children, hidden from the authorities. Could these three team up, learn from each other, trade and grow & support each other? After an injury, it will be necessary & after that when Isabella’s father ventures out & does not return. 

The zigzagging of locations between Italy & England were very well-written & very well played out in terms of colour between gloomy England & the sunny Italy. It kind of echoes the diversity & mood of the story. We are witnessing the world for the first time as if we the reader were in the children’s shoes. The hopefulness from its setting, to the children’s actions & resolve, is just heartening to readers of all ages.

[Saja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speechless. (I still am)

I’m writing this review 4 years after I’ve read the book I never forgot this book because it’s not the type to be forgotten it will always live somewhere in my head. As I closed the last chapter of this book a new chapter began for me this book made me read and I am forever grateful for that.

[Caroline Fosse · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a special and different book, I'm surprised it's not talked about more to be honest.

[BookBairn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fascinating story and I haven't read anything like it for kids before! A dystopian back-to-nature book this certainly appealed to me and I found the characters incredibly engaging. I wish there had been a bit more exploration of 'what happened before' but I think that's often the way with dystopian reads and especially in a children's book. Also the 'illness' that spread and killed all the adults felt a bit too close to home at the moment! (Not a criticism there but perhaps a trigger for people although it's not explored in much depth thank goodness! That would be too close to home.) A really wonderful read!

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Possibly one of the nicest dystopian novels I've read. It focusses on the promise / hope for what comes after the fall of modern society. There are still some scary and disturbing bits but they feel age appropriate. There are moments of fear, sadness and loss..."I try to smile for her, but the tears keep coming."... however the overall tone of the book is hopeful.

I don't think it's immediately obvious that this is set at some undisclosed future date - if not for the mention of mobile phones it could almost be set during World War II.

The story begins as war breaks out in Italy where Isabella lives with her family. She and her father flee to the North of England, (through circumstances) leaving her mother and older sister behind. Once there they discover that some kind of sickness has devastated the local area. Isabella has to adapt to a new way of life - no shops, no electricity, no mobile phone. She meets two "wild" children - Rowan and Kelda - and slowly they build a new life.

The war and sickness are never fully explained. This fits with the loss of communication and isolation that occurs to the characters. I did wonder if the sickness was something to do with the lead mine that's located in the area as the water supplies to the houses are cut off. However, we are told that the spring water is still safe to drink so I think that was just me trying to solve a puzzle.

I love the two questions that frame the story. From the back cover - "What do we really need for a happy life?" and from the first page - "How do you begin life all over again?" I tried to keep these in mind whilst reading as I think they cut to the heart of the story.

I thought the beginning of the story was stronger than the end and illustrated how quickly normal can change to scary, unexpected and uncertain.

Once they arrive at Swallow Fell it's more a story of Isabella coming to terms with her new life and finding a way to live. Acknowledging that she has to let go of the past and that things are never going to be the same again.

The relationships in the story are interesting. Isabella has to take on more of an adult role as her father struggles to deal with what is happening. And her relationship with Rowan and Kelda is well drawn. Rowan is more cynical and distrusting, while Kelda is more hopeful and open. It's Rowan who opens Isabella's eyes to her new reality.

It didn't make me cry but there were a couple of moments where it came close. It's a story where I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen but I'm not sure it's a book I would read again.

Overall - I found it melancholy but hopeful.

[Ms Warner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first book of 2021! I’m determined to review each book this year as a way to help me remember them better. 2020 was a blur of books!

This is a simplistic story of Isabella and her father escaping their war-ravaged town in Italy and heading to his home town in north England which has been emptied due to a mysterious sickness gah swept the town years ago.

Isabella meets a few other children and learns to fend for herself while her father tries to get food and more supplies. I love the children in the wilderness idea and the focus really WAS the natural environment but there were just so many unanswered questions! What was the war? What was the sickness? Why couldn’t her mum and sister get through? Where did dad go? I really thought this was setting up for a sequel and I thought that could have been cool- kids surviving and eking out an existence in an abandoned country but nope. It all wrapped up really quickly and was done!

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

Surprisingly peaceful in tone for a dystopian story, but lacking in substance in my opinion. There's no real world building in terms of how the war that kicks off the story starts, or any real explanation of what has happened at their new home since Isabella's father left either. Isabella takes to her new back-to-nature life pretty much immediately and although she struggles with the loss of family and friends there isn't much of a sense of her being rocked by this suddenly very different life without technology, electricity or plumbing. The lack of significant struggle makes the end a bit lukewarm as there wasn't a great emotional or physical journey to get there, and Isabella seems so grown up as a character from the very beginning.

[Len · Rating 2 out of 5]

like a cozy cafe that you come across one day, you come in and try something on the menu, it was nice, but you already know that you won’t want to return in the future: the book is warm in tone, but it lacks the character, or substance, or whatever it takes for a book to be a really good one. if you’re looking for something more than a light read, find it somewhere else, but welcome to Swallow Fell for a nice walk through the forest. do you hear the stream?

[Sarah Driver · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, truthful, unflinching story that does justice to the resourcefulness and courage of the young. Sparely written, allowing the beauty of nature to sing from the page, this book is a masterclass in writing the wild. It is a beautiful portrayal of an intimate, reciprocal, healing relationship with place.

[sgh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting and unique children’s book, touching on themes of environmentalism, refugees and home. I was expecting something totally different (I thought it was about WW2 from the blurb!) but I enjoyed it a lot. Really fast paced and a great example of first person writing. My one qualm was that I didn’t love the ending, but it didn’t hinder my enjoyment too much!

[Jess Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good book about change, refuge, nature and happyness. I enjoyed it so much I did not want it to end. It felt like a living movie one where your living it but watching it too. It a fun and full of adventure and discovering the world.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have put this book 5 stars because I can't decide whether to do 4 or 5 stars. I think that it would probably be 4.5 or 4.6 so that is why I did 5. It is brilliant!

[Scarlett Officer]

Really great book, had me crying at the end. Very inspirational and fun to read, I was very sad when it ended. ☺️☺️

[Gracie:) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A captivating and enchanting tale following three children who survive in the wild, completely alone. Eye opening and breath taking.

[yam❀ · Rating 3 out of 5]

such an adorable and sweet light read

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked that they go to lots of different places and it is adventurous

[Kathryn Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb; strikingly good and unusual in recent publishing. Masterfully evoking a complex set of feelings throughout - the joy and pain of growth.

It reminded me in some ways of How I Live Now - a powerful mix of British apocalypse and fairytale.


Spoilers:


It barely falls short of a full five stars for me, by the end not quite seeming to answer the story that has been built. A full happy ending and the return of adults felt like it let the air out of the want/need character story a bit, and some of the wider ideas. I think I would have preferred an ambiguous ending, perhaps leaving off where Isabella is running to meet the car. But perhaps that would be a hard ending for younger readers.