The Golden Swift

The Silver Arrow #2

by Lev Grossman

A lot has changed for Kate in a year. She and Tom are now full-fledged conductors of the steam-powered, animal-saving Great Secret Intercontinental Railway. Life is good!

Or good-ish, anyway. Her uncle Herbert has gone missing, and the worsening climate means that there are more and more animals that need help all the time. How many times does Kate have to save the world before it stays saved? 

And her real life isn’t exactly perfect either. She flunked her audition for the junior high musical and got stuck in the chorus, while her archenemy Jag got a lead.

So, out of desperation, Kate breaks the rules and takes the Silver Arrow out on an unsanctioned mission, to find Uncle Herbert and bring back balance to the world. But she quickly discovers she’s not the only one on the Great Secret Intercontinental Railway. There’s a mysterious train called the Golden Swift out there too, with an agenda of its own. Is it an ally? A rival? An enemy? A bit of all three? 

The question will turn Kate’s world upside down, take her from the Scottish Highlands to the Australian outback to the bottom of the Bering Sea, and lead her straight on a collision course with the mysterious masters of the Great Secret Intercontinental Railway itself. Because when you're a human being fighting to save nature, are you the hero or are you the villain? There are no simple answers.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Animals, Audiobook, Adventure, Childrens, Trains

272 pages, Hardcover

First published May 3, 2022

About the author

Hi! I'm the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Magicians trilogy—The Magicians, The Magician King, and The Magician’s Land—which was adapted as a TV show that ran for five seasons on Syfy.

I've also written two novels for children: The Silver Arrow, which the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, People magazine, Apple and Amazon all put on their best-of-the-year lists, and its sequel The Golden Swift. I do some journalist and screenwriting too.

I grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts, the son of two English professors. My twin brother Austin is a writer and game designer, and my older sister Sheba is an artist. Sometimes I live in Brooklyn, New York, other times in Sydney, Australia, where my wife is from. I have three kids and a somehow steadily increasing number of cats.

Reviews

[kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply gorgeous. This is one of the best series/books for young readers exploring environmentalism, conservation and the impact of humans on the world I’ve come across. It’s thoughtful, sensitive and honest, whilst still being full of adventure and offering hope. I adored this just as much as book one and would happily continue to read and recommend this series if there’s ever another instalment. Superb.

[Skip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second in a series. Uncle Herbert has gone missing so Kate decides a rescue is needed, and convinces the Great Secret Intercontinental Railway’s dispatcher (a cassowary) and a grouchy wolverine to assist. In their search, they meet two other conductors from the Golden Swift train: Jag is a loner from her school and Wren, his little sister. They join forces to try to restore species to their original habitats to restore ecological equilibrium and to protect endangered species. Meanwhile, they have to battle enraged animals over the destruction caused by humans. The highlights were being introduced to many obscure animal or insect species and the unlikely friendship that develops between two loners (Kate and Jag), but the sequel lacked the magic of the first book, at least for me.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s some years after book one. Kate has been helping many animals and researching climates and animals under pressure from the effects of climate change.

Kate is feeling a little cranky about grown-ups’ apathy regarding climate change, and about not making the lead in her high school musical. And, her uncle has not been in contact for a while, so Kate and her reluctant brother Tom, and even more reluctant Silver Arrow, go rogue in search of Uncle Herbert. The trains’ dispatcher, a cassowary, join them on their quest.

They meet another conductor, Jag, who works with the Golden Swift, a different train, who is not only moving animals around the world, as Kate is doing, but is also attempting to return certain creatures to their original habitats. Interestingly, Jag also goes to Kate's school, and made the school musical, so Kate’s a little annoyed with him.
But, she is intrigued by his side quests, as she’s been wanting to do more, and decides to also do what Jag has been doing on the sly.

The attempts to return animals to where they originated does not go well, unsurprisingly, and there are consequences to the children as well as the animals and magical trains.


Kate and Tom are both older, and are finding they want more out of their lives, and are also growing into the people they'll eventually become. Consequently, there's a little conflict to their interactions this time, which keeps things interesting. Also, Kate’s feelings of inadequacy and frustration are handled well.

And, the author shows how restoring balance to the environment is complicated, and fraught with errors and danger. It's a disheartening thing for Kate and Jag to discover, but shows the book’s readers how restoring an environment is something that involves countless individuals and communities working together.

Though this was a little darker than its predecessor (and that book had plenty of sad moments) it's still got a hopeful , happy ending.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for this ARC in exchange for my review.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually expect Book II to fall short, not so with Lev Grossman. This is a perfect middle grade read. Any child with a curiosity for the natural world will devour this book. Grossman has found the perfect blend of fantasy and real life issues. When not traveling around the world on a magical, timeless steam train talking with animals, Kate is worried about where she fits in at school, if she is a good friend and sister, can she sing, and does she have a crush on Jag too?

Great conversation starter about conservation and what role humans have had and can play in helping our world. Even as a adult reader, you are going to learn stuff!

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun sequel to the first book, loved the description of the sibling & friend relationships, and the sprinkling in of science-environment awareness. A little more "complicated" than the first book, and I really liked that, i.e. there's not one easy solution that works with all the problems we have in the world. BUT, as humans, we can change, every day, we can decide to change, and I thought that was beautiful.

[♡Chloe♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book

[Chelka Posladek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two things you need to know about me for context:
1) I've been on a soapbox lately about how awesome middle-grade fiction is because of its hopeful nature. Middle-grade authors love to introduce kids to hard topics (racism, inequality, disability, mood disorders) in a way that leaves readers optimistic.
2) The state of the world has me avoiding sad things like the plague (or covid-19, haha). Everything around me causes such internal despair that I escape into fiction. Because of that, I obviously don't want to find despair in books--or at least not in large doses. Sidenote: most bookstore customers don't feel the same way, because we can't keep Hanya Yanagihara in stock.

Okay. So I loved The Silver Arrow and was a bit confused by the sequel. The ending was great, the message was wonderful, the mood was awesome. Why do we need more of Kate and Tom? However, I read Lev Grossman's Magicians and found that series only got better as it went (which was good, because I hated the first one). Perhaps this series will do the same...?

What I found was nuance, and I understand why Lev Grossman thought it was necessary. If Kate (and the railway) could save endangered species by moving them from place to place, why isn't the world fixed already? Because it's not that easy. He uses "The Golden Swift" to go deeper into the issues of environmental destruction, global warming, and animal endangerment. I resonated a lot with Kate when she realizes that as a human, she's inherently a "bad guy" even when she's doing "good guy" things. Even if we work to fix climate change, we're part of a system that's causing problems, simply by eating the food we eat and wearing the clothes we wear. I think that gray-area morality is important, and it could lead to some great conversations for young readers.

Still. It was much heavier than "The Silver Arrow," and I ended the book feeling more sad than hopeful. I'm hoping for a third installment with a little more magic.

Note: I listened to this one as an audibook. Simon Vance, the narrator, is fantastic and definitely swayed me to love this book even more.

[Leah (Jane Speare) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whereas the Silver Arrow introduced readers to basic endangered animal threats and conservation efforts, the Golden Swift brings more variables into the picture. Kate and Tom learn that the simple relocation of animals doesn't always solve problems, and sometimes small actions like this can even make things worse. It's a good reminder that relationships in the natural world are complex and rely on each other - nothing exists on its own and solutions need to be multidimensional. Sometimes efforts will be disheartening, as we humans often only do bad rather than good. But Kate learns it’s okay to make mistakes, small efforts are worth it, and we will all need the passion and confidence she has in order to save animals and reduce environmental harm even when all we have to show for it are unclear results. Also this one made me cry just like the first. But also hope. Hope with the tears.

[Barbara Boustead · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with the first book, it opened up some conversations about how we humans interact with the world/environment around us. Some of the topics were just a shade more mature than the Silver Arrow (revealing these would be spoilers, but you'll know when you get there) - it was OK for our 8-year-old but did give us reason to pause and discuss. Given the subject, I don't know if there can ever be a neatly tied "happy" ending, because humans are going to continue to have both negative and positive effects on our environment whether they do it with good intentions, bad intentions, or indifference. We'd happily read another in the series, if there ever is one. Kiddo wanted to binge read this one! It maintains its gorgeous language and sensory details while telling a compelling story.

[Heather]

Loved this book! And my students loved it too! I really hope this series will continue!

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl · Rating 3 out of 5]

The follow up to The Silver Arrow. The Golden Swift is good, but not as enjoyable as the first book. The Golden Swift has some heavier subject material - lots of information on the consequences of reintroducing animal species to their native habitats.

Favorite Passages:
There was an endangered dragonfly called a Hine's emerald that used to live in the area, and Kate's mom was hoping that if they rewilded their land enough, it would come back. Kate suspected that this was a high-minded scheme whereby her parents could congratulate themselves for not mowing the lawn . . .
______

HOW DO YOU EVEN KNOW HE NEEDS RESCUING

MAYBE HE'S JUST TAKING A WELL-DESERVED VACATION

"He doesn't deserve a vacation. He deserves a kick in the butt."
_______

The door swung open, and standing there in the lighted doorway was the closest thing to a velociraptor that Kate had ever seen in real life. It was an enormous bird, taller than she was, something like an ostrich but with a blue head, black feathers, and two huge, scaly gray feet.
She hadn't known what to expect, but this wasn't even on her bingo card.
________

It turns out that everything in nature is connected, and if you pull out one piece, it all starts falling apart.
________

"It can't be that simple," she said. "I mean, can you really just go . . . messing around with nature like that?"
"But that's just it! Nature's already been messed with! We're un-messing it!"
________

All she wanted was to save the world. Was that so much to ask?!
________

There was a famous example about bringing wolves back to Yellowstone Park. In the 1920s the wolves had been systematically eliminated by park rangers, but then in the 1990s they decided to bring them back, mostly because the local elk populations were getting out of hand.
The wolves helped with the elk problem, but there were all kinds of other consequences too. Just for example, elk eat young willows, so fewer elk mean that there were more willow trees in the park. Beavers like willows, so when the trees grew back that meant that beavers came back to Yellowstone, too. Which meant more wetlands, which meant more habitats for otters and minks and wading birds and even moose . . . It was a chain reaction. The consequences had consequences.
________

You cold almost feel it in the atmosphere: the absence of human beings. Nothing trimmed or cropped or sprayed or cleared or trampled or littered. This was how nature was when it was alone and could just be itself. They'd rewilded the whole landscape by accident.
"There's something ironic about this that I'm trying to put my finger on," Kate said.

MAYBE IT'S THAT SOMETIMES WAR FOR HUMANS
MEANS PEACE FOR ANIMALS?
________

Tiny gears in the vast sacred machinery of the natural world were starting to turn. As of tonight the universe was a very little bit less broken.
And she, a human being, had helped. She'd turned back the clock of human destruction just a tick. She wasn't honestly sure if she'd done it to help the world or to make herself feel better, but at the moment it didn't make that much difference to her. Maybe she did feel a little bit better, but was that so wrong? After all, she was part of the world, too.
________

"And this tree on which I am sitting," the condor said, "is a Great Basin bristlecone pine. Like most pine trees, they are both male and female, so we refer to them as they. They are about four thousand years old - they're not very precise about time. To put that number in perspective, this tree was a sapling around the time Stonehenge was being built. The ancient Egyptians were just inventing hieroglyphics. This tree witnessed the births of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and the reigns of all twenty-four kings of Israel and five hundred and fifty-nine emperors of China. They have outlived the Greek, Roman, British, Japanese, Abbasid, and Mongol empires."
________

"You can't fix nature if you don't understand it."
________

"It can take us a million years to evolve into something new. But it's different for humans. You can change quite quickly You do it in a single generation sometimes, not by changing your bodies but by changing your minds. In that sense every generation of humans has a chance to be a completely new kind of animal.
"So who knows, your generation could be the one that changes everything. Remember that, when you feel despair. It's not impossible. You could be the ones."

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

With each subsequent publication, Lev Grossman creeps ever closer to Neil Gaiman as not only one of my all-time favorite authors, but perhaps more importantly, one of the most reliable ones as well. I know that when I go to read anything with Lev Grossman's name on it, I will be instantly engulfed in excellent writing, funny asides, and smart characters. (There is one parenthetical aside, for example, detailing how three countries that are each islands off coasts of one another that ends with an enthusiastic declaration of admiration simply summed up as "Geography!" that was absolutely hilarious.) The Silver Arrow was a terrific Middle School read, and clearly was being set up to be the start of a series. The Golden Swift does not disappoint. It takes place a year after the first book ends. Kate is still a conductor but her brother Tom is not so keen on their adventures anymore, sort of how Lucy stays with Narnia as her older sister Susan does not (speaking of Gaiman, if you have not read his unforgettable short story that provides a unique and sympathetic view of Susan, provocatively entitled "The Problem of Susan", you deserve rain on your beach vacation). Add to it that Kate hasn't really made any new friends at school and was overlooked as the lead in the school play, relegating her to the Chorus of all things, and you have a young lady who is need of something new. Perhaps what is bothering her the most is that while she still enjoys helping all of these animals, she is upset that so much help is needed at all. That theme, along with a new cast of characters aboard The Golden Swift, is what makes this read just as entertaining as The Silver Arrow, and even more critical.

Grossman takes care to always keep his target audience in sight, so while this is an engaging read filled with terrific illustrations as before, it is a timely and relevant read too as it takes on all that humans are doing to endanger our planet and the many species that inhabit it, used to inhabit it, and may not soon inhabit it if more steps aren't taken. While that sounds like it makes for depressing reading it doesn't; it makes for informed and thought-provoking reading, which is exactly what Middle Schoolers could use more of.

Both of these books can help kids ask better questions and generate conversations with their parents and teachers. Entertaining as well as educational, The Golden Swift is more than simply wonderful--it is highly important too.

[whatbooknext · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a year now since Kate was given a magical steam train by her uncle Herbert for her 11th birthday. It isn't magical in a rainbows and unicorn kind of way. The Silver Arrow train run by the Great Secret Intercontinental Railway has a very important mission, and Kate has done her best to try and complete it. But saving animals from habitat loss and climate change is never ending.

Kate is beginning to feel overwhelmed, taking The Silver Arrow around the world and back again, trying to fix what humankind has wrecked by levelling forests, spraying pesticides or generally warming up the planet. And now Uncle Herbert has gone missing!

Things in the real world aren't much better for Kate. Becoming a conductor for the special railroad has changed her, and now at high school (Intermediate in NZ) her friend base has shrunk. Watching her younger brother Tom's confidence and ability to make friends is frustrating. Her attempt to do so by auditioning for the school play implodes and she's still stinging from the embarrassment.

Back on the railway, still wondering where Uncle Herbert has gone, they have a close shave with another GSIR train. It's gold, and flashy and when she catches it, she discovers who the conductor is. He's not only someone from school, he is breaking the rules of the railway!

Kate boils over with all that she is dealing with. This golden train is called The Golden Swift, and it seems as if it is undoing all her hard work. But is it? Maybe there is another way?


I loved the blend of magic, animals, and climate change in episode one in this duology - The Silver Arrow. If only there was such a solution to help steady the wobbling climate systems of our planet, to ensure we don't lose any more of our amazing animal species, both big and small.

In this sequel The Golden Swift digs a little deeper, exploring the frustration and beginnings of despair of one girl who cannot imagine where and how any balance can actually be restored. Another young mind seems to have the answer, going back even further in history to when things changed.

Action, mystery and a fast-paced problem to try and tackle. This episode highlights that unfortunately there is no magic bullet - but we mustn't give up.

Enjoyable and thought provoking read for all young readers.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

On her 11th birthday, Kate's Uncle Herbert gifted her a train (no, not a model train, a REAL one!). She and her brother, Tom, had many adventures with their uncle in the first book of the series, The Silver Arrow. I encourage readers to begin with the first novel to fully understand the Great Secret Intercontinental Railroad before reading the sequel, The Golden Swift by Lev Goldman.

In this continuing adventure, Kate is trying to locate her Uncle Herbert who hasn't been heard from in quite some time. She travels to his latest known address in Chicago, without finding him. Kate takes matters into her own hands and persuades her brother to tag along to help find their uncle (he may be in danger!!). There is a parallel story of Kate's disappointments at school during recent drama tryouts. In some ways, her railway adventures offer a means of escaping the parts of her life where she doesn't quite feel like she fits in. In this installment, she learns that not everything is at it appears and it's best not to judge a book by its cover.

I liked that the author includes a lot of information about little-known animals in the world and often explains unique features about them as well as where they live in the world. In that respect, the book would offer a wonderful supplement to geography or zoological studies. Where I found the book less enjoyable was the conclusions drawn about climate change and the blame assigned to humans for what is assumed to be the catastrophic state of the world. I think climate and endangered species topics can be brought up without being so preachy and off-putting. And the preaching was not just from the characters but from anthropomorphized animals as well (as if they possessed higher intelligence than mere humans).

Goldman's premise is an interesting one with excitement and creative problem solving and definite maturing of the characters. I just wish readers were not also fed a particular notion of science and politics at the same time.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of The Golden Swift from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like with the first book, I also listened to this one mostly via audiobook and enjoyed the narration. I would recommend having the physical or e-copy on hand as there are illustrations, though.

I didn’t like this one quite as much as the first but I still enjoyed seeing Kate and Tom again. This one takes on a more serious tone while the first book focuses more on the magical aspects. The more mature conversations about animal endangerment and conservation are important, though. I liked how the author showed how complex these issues can be to solve. There’s a part involving a former animal character that brought tears to my eyes.

The newer animal companions weren’t nearly as endearing to me as the ones from the first book (especially The Fishing Cat!), though the wolverine has his moments. I liked Jag as a new character, but wished he had been developed even further. The scene with him and Kate fixing up his project was one of my favorites, though. I liked the idea of the Barracuda and would have loved to see it featured more than it was. I hope there will be at least one more book to finish this series off.

Overall, not as good as the first but still enjoyed it. 3.5 stars!


Favorite Quotes:

“This is a stupid plan.”
“You’re a stupid plan!”


“Is this one of those times when you know something I don’t, but you’re not just coming out and saying it?”
YES
“I hate those times.”
THEY’RE MY FAVORITE TIMES


“Well, okay,” Tom said. “But I’m sure their trampoline isn’t bad. Trampolines are innocent. They know nothing of good and evil.”


“And no”—Tom’s hand was up—“they’re not dinosaurs. Humans think everything was dinosaurs!”
“Everything should be dinosaurs,” Tom muttered.
“They died out sixty million years ago!” the tortoise snapped. “Get over it!”



“It can take us a million years to evolve into something new. But it’s different for humans. You can change quite quickly. You do it in a single generation sometimes, not by changing your bodies but by changing your minds. In that sense every generation of humans has a chance to be a completely new kind of animal.”

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this follow-up to The Silver Arrow. Kate and Tom have a bit of tension growing between them as they are each reaching ages where they want, and deserve, a bit more independence. Uncle Herbert is missing. A cassowary and a wolverine join in on the adventure, and we encounter new conductors and a new train.

My favorite character in the books remains the Silver Arrow itself. Its printouts add levity and humor to the story.

Like The Silver Arrow, The Golden Swift teaches young readers about different types of animals, geography, the impact humans have had on the environment, and climate change. I feel like The Golden Swift is easier to follow along with than The Silver Arrow, but you still need to read The Silver Arrow first to have the context for everything that is going on--especially when you reach the penultimate part of The Golden Swift.

I like that you get to see more of Kate's day-to-day life in between trips on the trains and that you see Kate and Tom interacting with other children. Kate is entering middle school, and I think her feelings about school and fitting in accurately reflect what many children feel at that age.

Whereas The Silver Arrow focuses on shuttling animals to safer locales, The Golden Swift is more focused on trying to find the right balance for the earth. Just like The Silver Arrow, The Golden Swift does tend to get a bit heavy-handed when discussing humans' impact on the earth, animals, and climate change.

As a parent, caregiver, or teacher, please be aware that this book discusses loss, and subjects such as Chernobyl, the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, the Red Zone in France, and Hitler are mentioned in this book.

Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Golden Swift is the sequel and second book in the Silver Arrow adventure series for middle grade readers by Lev Grossman. Released 3rd May 2022 by Hachette on their Little Brown & co.Young Readers imprint, it's 272 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback due out in second quarter 2023. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is an engaging and very well written adventure story for all ages. Protagonist Kate has been helping animals and restoring habitats as part of the Great Secret Intercontinental Railway, but this time she's off to try to find her Uncle Herbert who has gone missing. The book is full of interesting facts about habitats, ecology, and animals as well as a fair bit of sobering reflection on human impact on climate and the environment. The read is enhanced by line drawn illustrations throughout, rendered by Tracy Nishimura Bishop. They're whimsical and deceptively simple, with flowing lines and small details. I liked that there's quite a lot of humor written into the book, and Kate's pithy observations often surprised a chuckle out of me.

Four stars. This would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, bedtime reading, or even buddy read. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers through NetGalley.
The sequel to The Silver Arrow. Readers see the continued adventures of Kate and Tom as they continue their work to save endangered animals. Unfortunately, Uncle Herbert has gone missing so Kate decides to go rogue and take the Silver Arrow out to look for him. With help from the cassowary who runs the rail yard and a grouchy wolverine, Tom and Kate set out to follow some vague clues and locate Herbert. Along the way, they meet two other conductors their ages. Kate already knows Jag from school; Wren is a new friend that Tom connects with. Together, they set out to protect endangered species and reestablish animals in their former habitats. As readers would expect, some relocations are successful and some are not. The four are confronted with different animals who want to rid the world of humans and stop the work of the Great Secret Intercontinental Railway. Even the Board of Directors of the GSIR becomes involved.
Grossman spins a tale that weaves environmental awareness and protection with fantasy. Middle grade readers will learn about a wide variety of species and see how interconnected we all are.
This will be a terrific read aloud to blend with science and social studies units on the environment. Families can also share this together and discuss changes they could make to protect the planet.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

We meet Kate and Tom again on another adventure, one that blurs the lines of what's "right and wrong" or "good and evil", in the hope of tracking down a missing Uncle Herbert.

I am so torn on my rating...it's somewhere between a 4 and a 5, but I just can't put my finger on it. There was a lot to like - the magic system is so wonderful and the descriptions are something truly special. My personal favorite was when he described the new sleeping cars, with the coziest, fluffiest blankets and a crackling fireplace. So stinking cozy. Also, the descriptions of the animals and all of the fun facts are such a hoot (the immortal jellyfish really blew my mind).

There is an overwhelmingly clear Environmental message throughout the story (as with the first book) that is impactful, a little melancholy, but also full of hope. I think it really comes down to perspective. What you do with the information in this story is truly up to you and I think that's part of what makes the message so strong.

The one thing I didn't love as much was Kate's attitude - she had many a bratty preteen moment and I wasn't here for it. I found her somewhat unlikeable and wasn't thrilled to be hearing her inner monologue (I think that Tom or Wren's would have been much more fun). But, as with the last book, the setting, the character of the Silver Arrow itself, and the animals are really the star of the show. So I was able to look past Kate's stinker-ness to see all of the wonder this story has to offer.

[Rebecca Fung · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read The Silver Arrow. Then I read the first 2 books of The Magicians trilogy (very different). Now I've read the Golden Swift.

One thing I like about Lev Grossman is that he doesn't make things easy. While of course the Silver Arrow is a simpler set of books than The Magicians, it would have been easy to make the Golden Swift another simple fun adventure about rescuing very nice animals.

Instead, we go deeper into environmental and conservation questions. This does mean some of the adventure is left behind and while there are some good parts - the submarine being most notable - it does seem to take a side step from the growth of Kate (who grows a lot here and is clearly the main character, whereas in the first book she and Tom shared the stage more) and the more serious and complex questions of conservation and environmentalism and humans' place in the world.

I really did enjoy it and I think it is a great book for kids who really want to explore these questions while reading a fun story. Those really loving different animals and who are amazed by our natural world will love it.

Those who simply want a comfortable book and don't want to stretch their mind and just want their well-known animals to be cute and say familiar things that make them feel good, not so much.

[Kelli Trusedell · Rating 4 out of 5]

My seven-year-old son and I read The Silver Arrow together earlier this year and loved it, so when we found out there was a second book, we knew we had to read that one together too! This book introduced us to a new train, The Golden Swift, who is more fancy and modern, which my train-loving son was intrigued by. My son also loves animals, so he was happy that like the first book, this one was full of trains, animals, and humans working together to help endangered species and the earth in general. We were excited to learn about some animals we had never heard of before, like the immortal jellyfish. 🪼🤩 Our favorite quote from one of the animals in the book: “Do you know how long it takes animals to evolve? A long time. It can take us a million years to evolve into something new. But it's different for humans. You can change quite quickly. You do it in a single generation sometimes, not by changing your bodies but by changing your minds. In that sense every generation of humans has a chance to be a completely new kind of animal. So who knows, your generation could be the one that changes everything. Remember that, when you feel despair. It’s not impossible. You could be the ones.” So beautiful and so true! 🥰 My son and I both enjoyed this book and give it four very different, very caring, and very helpful friends working together to make the world a better place. 🚂🐆🦡🚶🏻

[Jasen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some awkward diction and phrasing in some parts made this not as good of a read-aloud as the first book. Not much happens in either plot or character development and the whole thing left me feeling meh.

“You have no idea how hard I have to work! I never know what to do, I’m just making it up all the time! And talk about easy--everything’s easy for you. You want to sing, you just sing. You want friends, you just make friends. You do whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it! Do you have any idea what I would give to be able to do that?” P.179

“Why would you be able to train in the first place? “ the elephant shot back.
Animal magic is powerful,” the condor said. “Animal sorcerers are much more powerful than human ones, though you wouldn’t n is that from books. But humans have created new kinds of problems, which our magics were never meant to solve. To address them we have been forced to use forms of human technology.” P.221

“Tell me, humans: What happens when you meet a wild animal in a field or a forest? What does that animal do?”
“It runs away,” Jag said glumly.
“The first lesson any wild animal learns from birth is to run when they see a human coming. Imagine that. There is no more terrible monster.” P.227

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this more than The Silver Arrow, mostly because the environmentalist theme was upfront, not added at the end as almost an afterthought. Grossman introduces new animal and human friends and a mystery. Saving endangered species is complicated with conflicting theories--I was surprised and impressed that Grossman decided to go there, questioning the morality and success of the various solutions in play in the real world. Children will learn a lot while also enjoying another outing with a magic train (that talks) and the addition of a submarine!

This would be a good read-aloud book, allowing a parent or educator to discuss some of the more complex issues if children have questions. I listened to the audiobook edition which was lovely and beautifully narrated; it really had the flavor of an early 20th-century book for children that was somebody like Burle Ives, proving once again that Grossman is a fan of vintage children's fantasy books (and television).

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't really expecting a second book so I was pleasantly surprised to see this one! There's another train! The Golden Swift -- only it's gone a bit rogue. And where is Kate's uncle? He seems to be missing. Are these two things related? Maybe! Oh - and there's also a submarine! So maybe book 3 will be more about the sub? If there's a book 3... One can only hope.
Speaking of hope - even though there is a bit of despair in the book, it is ultimately hopeful. "The one thing she [Kate] knew for certain was that whatever happened, they had to keep going. It wasn't enough to do nothing, it was too late for that. In her clumsy, stumbling human way, she had to keep trying to fix what was broken. In a world that was this out of balance, the biggest risk was not taking a risk." Doing something is better than doing nothing.
Also - I loved the illustration of Lev Grossman above his bio! I want to be a conductor, too.

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Golden Swift did not disappoint. Our family had loved The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman, and it was with excitement but some trepidation that we embarked on The Golden Swift.

“They may look scary, but wolverines are members of the mustelid family. In other words, this animal is just a very large weasel,” the cassowary said with authority. Everybody looked at the wolverine. His eyes blazed with a dark, unquenchable fury. “I hate you,” he said.

With some of the best wit I’ve read in kidlit, The Golden Swift (a magical train that rescues animals and delivers them safely to new homes around the world) brings us on a journey of Kate’s self-discovery. Could ‘rebalancing’ the ecosystem nonetheless tip it off-balance? Would her irrepressible desire to help wildlife morph into the misguided actions of an ill-researched do-gooder?

Such a good read, with beautiful descriptive passages, incredible humour and a truly meaningful storyline.

[Nevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid sequel, though I had a hard time enjoying it as much. My basic summary of the first book still holds true: This does a good job of addressing an impossible topic fairly for middle-grade kids. (If anyone knows a BETTER story about dealing with climate catastrophe for kids this age, I'd love to hear it.) While I felt the first one stayed a little too optimistic in its attempt to reach young children, this one DOES dive into the tricky no-win situations ahead of us. The heroes try to break with "the way things were always done", and the results are both good and bad.

I enjoyed the first half a lot, because it was a bold attempt to move the series forward and the subplots about the kids' personal lives are more interesting. But the second half let me down a bit, mainly because it falls back on simple words of encouragement at the end, which feel increasingly hollow next to the complexities that this book wrestles with.

[Laurie]

Eleven-year-old Kate is a conductor along with her younger brother Tom on a magical steam train called the Silver Arrow. While looking into the mysterious disappearance of their Uncle Herbert, who first connected them to the Great Secret Intercontinental Railway, the children discover another train also operating on the railway with young conductors of its own, seemingly engaged in undoing their work saving endangered animals. This sequel to the absorbing fantasy begun in The Silver Arrow offers a thought-provoking discussion of the damage humans have done to the earth and its non-human species, and what our options are going forward. Author Lev Grossman manages to teach a lot about various animal characteristics, world geography, and human social and emotional interaction all in the midst of telling his riveting tale. Highly recommended for middle grades 3-6.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the first book so was compelled to read the second once I saw it had been released. Seconded guessed that decision at one point but decided to push on through. Still not sure why. It is interesting learning about the animals they reason they are endangered but the humans are horrible element gets a little heavy handed even if their is a "humans save the day" moment. Having wrestled with some heavier non-fiction, I guess I just wanted something simple and distracting and this fit the bill at the time. Sadly, I think my kids are now too old for this series so can't get an age appropriate answer on whether this series is worth reading. It seems like good, not great, middle grade reading to me.

[Книжни Криле · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Златният бързолет“ на Лев Гросман, издаден от „Ентусиаст“, е завладяващото продължение на обичания детски роман „Сребърната стрела“. След впечатляващия дебют на Госман, предстои не по-малко пленителното завръщането в света на тайни железници и говорещи животни. Авторът отново пленява читателите и ги кара да се потопят в този едновременно реалистичен и вълшебния свят на магически влакове и екологични кризи, който оживява чрез илюстрациите на Трейси Нишимура Бишъп и пищната корица, дело на Брандън Дорман. Прочетете ревюто на „Книжни Криле“: https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...

[MsLyraGW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my gosh. It's so cute and funny!! 🥰

"Tiny gears in the vast sacred machinery of the natural world were starting to turn. As of tonight the universe was a very little bit less broken. And she, a human being, had helped. She'd turned back the clock of human destruction just a tick."

Something about Grossman's writing speaks to my soul, no matter what his books are about. This middle grade series is no exception. It's about magic and adventure and conservation efforts. I love that it doesn't talk down to children. It's smart, and profound but also really funny and adorable. And that train's got so much sass. Would definitely recommend!