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The Storm Swimmer
Summer was supposed to be Ginika's time for fun, friends and fairs. But instead she's been sent to live at the dead-end seaside boarding house her grandparents run. Even though her parents say it's just for a little while, she can't help feeling abandoned and heartbroken to be missing out on everything she loves back home.
And then she meets Peri. He leaps and dives through the water like a dolphin and he talks like a burst of bubbles. He's not exactly a mermaid, but he's definitely something Ginika's never seen before.
His family is far away too, but unlike Ginika, he loves his independence. As Ginika shows Peri her world, she starts to feel free as well. They don't need anyone else when they've got each other. But then the lights and noise of the human world start to change Peri. And when things spin out of control, Ginika must be the bravest she's ever been to face her fears and make the hardest decision of her life.
Join Ginika and Peri as they dive beneath the waves and walk the lands that will take them into each other's worlds on an adventure they will never forget and a life-changing friendship.
And then she meets Peri. He leaps and dives through the water like a dolphin and he talks like a burst of bubbles. He's not exactly a mermaid, but he's definitely something Ginika's never seen before.
His family is far away too, but unlike Ginika, he loves his independence. As Ginika shows Peri her world, she starts to feel free as well. They don't need anyone else when they've got each other. But then the lights and noise of the human world start to change Peri. And when things spin out of control, Ginika must be the bravest she's ever been to face her fears and make the hardest decision of her life.
Join Ginika and Peri as they dive beneath the waves and walk the lands that will take them into each other's worlds on an adventure they will never forget and a life-changing friendship.
- GenresMiddle GradeFantasy
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 19, 2023
5 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Clare Weze
13 books6 followersClare Weze (pronounced Way-Zay) writes novels, short stories and microfiction. Her children’s books have received numerous award nominations and shortlistings, including the CILIP Carnegie Medal, the Branford Boase Award, the Diverse Book Awards and several School Library Service awards.
Her short fiction has been widely anthologised and won her a Northern Writers’ Award in 2016. Her work can also be found in Best Microfiction 2019, The Conglomerate, Commonword, Riptide, The Lascaux Review and elsewhere.
Clare grew up between London and Yorkshire, and her background is in environmental and biological sciences. She is represented by DHH Literary Agency.
Her short fiction has been widely anthologised and won her a Northern Writers’ Award in 2016. Her work can also be found in Best Microfiction 2019, The Conglomerate, Commonword, Riptide, The Lascaux Review and elsewhere.
Clare grew up between London and Yorkshire, and her background is in environmental and biological sciences. She is represented by DHH Literary Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 25, 2023
Wow! We have The Lightning Catcher at school but I haven't yet read it. This came up on NetGalley and the cover and blurb appealed to me.I wasn't disappointed! The characters are well written and are easily identifiable in life.
Ginika lives in London with her parents near her friends and school. But something has gone wrong - her family have to move out of their home. Mum and Dad are going to live in the campervan, but they are going to send Ginika to her grandparents house, miles away by the sea. Ginika is unhappy, she doesn't think her parents are telling her everything. She is cross at being left with her grandparents. Loving them is one thing but being left here till, well she doesn't know when she will retur to London, her parents were very vague. At the beach she is laying on her stomach when Grandpa asks her to come back to the house for tea. She says she will and turns back to the surf but...that isn't a wave...it's a boy! A sea boy, but not a mermaid. Ginika finds out from her Grandfather that there are legends of sea people in their coastline. Ginika doesn't tell him why she is asking. Ginika though is encouraged by her grandma to become friends with Scarlet but is Scarlet nice? Ginika is not sure. Scarlet is determined though to find out where Ginika keeps disappearing too. Ginika does everything she can get away by herself. The sea boy, Peri, returns and he is interested in the town, the lights and the noise. Eventually Ginika realises that she needs help, Peri because of his determination to visit the town and see the lights is in trouble. How can they help him? A fabulous story of friendship, caring and family issues that can happen to us all.
Ginika lives in London with her parents near her friends and school. But something has gone wrong - her family have to move out of their home. Mum and Dad are going to live in the campervan, but they are going to send Ginika to her grandparents house, miles away by the sea. Ginika is unhappy, she doesn't think her parents are telling her everything. She is cross at being left with her grandparents. Loving them is one thing but being left here till, well she doesn't know when she will retur to London, her parents were very vague. At the beach she is laying on her stomach when Grandpa asks her to come back to the house for tea. She says she will and turns back to the surf but...that isn't a wave...it's a boy! A sea boy, but not a mermaid. Ginika finds out from her Grandfather that there are legends of sea people in their coastline. Ginika doesn't tell him why she is asking. Ginika though is encouraged by her grandma to become friends with Scarlet but is Scarlet nice? Ginika is not sure. Scarlet is determined though to find out where Ginika keeps disappearing too. Ginika does everything she can get away by herself. The sea boy, Peri, returns and he is interested in the town, the lights and the noise. Eventually Ginika realises that she needs help, Peri because of his determination to visit the town and see the lights is in trouble. How can they help him? A fabulous story of friendship, caring and family issues that can happen to us all.
January 19, 2023
It's Summer and Ginika was looking forward to spending time with her best friend Alisha and participate in their dance show. But the family is having a bad time - they've been evicted of Ginika's beloved flat near the railway and her parents don't explain fully why. Worst of all, she's being sent away to her grandparents' boarding house, far from Mum and Dad and her friends.
Then she meets Peri. Ginika is sure that he is one of the sea people her grandfather tells stories about. He is perfectly at home in the water, and so fast! And talks a strange language, with clicks, rolled letters you shouldn't be able to roll and multiple tones.
Ginika is fascinated by Peri's world and Peri is fascinated by Ginika's. Ginika wants to show Peris the lights and noise of the human world and things go well at first - they both get dizzy on freedom and fun. Until the human world proves too much for Peri and he starts getting very very poorly and in danger of being discovered. Ginika has to face her fear of water to save Peri and reunite him with his family.
This story sweeps you up far and high as sure as the biggest wave in a storm. 'The Storm Swimmer' is told form Ginika's point of view and you feel her grief for what her family has lost, her worry for what's to come, her feelings of abandonment and being left out as sure as if it was happening to you. And the world and character building of the sea people is fascinating and remarkably researched in a way that stimulates both the reader's imagination and mind (asking questions, like Ginika, about how different creatures live, how things work, how to help someone whose life we don't totally understand). I absolutely loved to read the Author's Note at the end, explaining about her research and why she made the choices she did for Peri's physical attributes or how he lives.
A heart and mind opening story <3
Then she meets Peri. Ginika is sure that he is one of the sea people her grandfather tells stories about. He is perfectly at home in the water, and so fast! And talks a strange language, with clicks, rolled letters you shouldn't be able to roll and multiple tones.
Ginika is fascinated by Peri's world and Peri is fascinated by Ginika's. Ginika wants to show Peris the lights and noise of the human world and things go well at first - they both get dizzy on freedom and fun. Until the human world proves too much for Peri and he starts getting very very poorly and in danger of being discovered. Ginika has to face her fear of water to save Peri and reunite him with his family.
This story sweeps you up far and high as sure as the biggest wave in a storm. 'The Storm Swimmer' is told form Ginika's point of view and you feel her grief for what her family has lost, her worry for what's to come, her feelings of abandonment and being left out as sure as if it was happening to you. And the world and character building of the sea people is fascinating and remarkably researched in a way that stimulates both the reader's imagination and mind (asking questions, like Ginika, about how different creatures live, how things work, how to help someone whose life we don't totally understand). I absolutely loved to read the Author's Note at the end, explaining about her research and why she made the choices she did for Peri's physical attributes or how he lives.
A heart and mind opening story <3
January 18, 2023
There is so much going on in this unusual and compelling book.
Ginika reluctantly moves to the seaside to live with her grandparents, after her parents are forced to give up their London rental and move into their battered camper van. While she’s there, she encounters a mysterious sea-dwelling boy, who she introduces to land life with dangerous consequences.
I love the representation of financial difficulty, which is all too relevant right now. Ginika’s parents fell victim to loan sharks, and the tension this creates — especially between her parents — is brilliantly written. It’s perfectly pitched for the age group. Ginika only partly understands what her parents are going through, but the exclusion and confusion of not having it explained to her is more painful and worrying than even the truth would be. The descriptions of her anxiety as she struggles with everything are all too real.
Enough for a brilliant book in itself!
BUT… then there’s Peri — one of a race of people adapted to stay hidden and live in the sea. There is a real imaginative beauty to the descriptions of Peri… original and believable and fascinating. I love how Ginika draws on her knowledge of other ocean-dwelling creatures to imagine how he may have evolved. Their adventures together, along with the tween friends she makes along the way, provide a perfect foil to the emotional turmoil and there is plenty of joy and fun to propel you happily though the story.
Ginika reluctantly moves to the seaside to live with her grandparents, after her parents are forced to give up their London rental and move into their battered camper van. While she’s there, she encounters a mysterious sea-dwelling boy, who she introduces to land life with dangerous consequences.
I love the representation of financial difficulty, which is all too relevant right now. Ginika’s parents fell victim to loan sharks, and the tension this creates — especially between her parents — is brilliantly written. It’s perfectly pitched for the age group. Ginika only partly understands what her parents are going through, but the exclusion and confusion of not having it explained to her is more painful and worrying than even the truth would be. The descriptions of her anxiety as she struggles with everything are all too real.
Enough for a brilliant book in itself!
BUT… then there’s Peri — one of a race of people adapted to stay hidden and live in the sea. There is a real imaginative beauty to the descriptions of Peri… original and believable and fascinating. I love how Ginika draws on her knowledge of other ocean-dwelling creatures to imagine how he may have evolved. Their adventures together, along with the tween friends she makes along the way, provide a perfect foil to the emotional turmoil and there is plenty of joy and fun to propel you happily though the story.
January 8, 2023
When Ginika’s parents have some financial trouble and lose their home, they think the best solution is for her to live with her grandparents over the summer while they get back in their feet. The only trouble is that her grandparents live by the sea in Cumbria, which feels a world away from Ginika’s life in central London.
When Ginika arrives in Cumbria, she fights against the changes in her life but is soon intrigued by a meeting with a strange sea person. She finds herself on the beach at every opportunity, hoping to catch another glimpse. As Ginika begins a tentative friendship with the creature from the sea, she initially pushes away all the people around her, until the realises that she needs their help if she is to save him.
Although I wasn’t totally sold on the premise of the story, I found myself strangely hooked by it. I was more invested in the relationships Ginika had with her parents, grandparents and the other children in the story than with Peri. A great story dealing with debt, loan sharks and sudden homelessness.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Ginika arrives in Cumbria, she fights against the changes in her life but is soon intrigued by a meeting with a strange sea person. She finds herself on the beach at every opportunity, hoping to catch another glimpse. As Ginika begins a tentative friendship with the creature from the sea, she initially pushes away all the people around her, until the realises that she needs their help if she is to save him.
Although I wasn’t totally sold on the premise of the story, I found myself strangely hooked by it. I was more invested in the relationships Ginika had with her parents, grandparents and the other children in the story than with Peri. A great story dealing with debt, loan sharks and sudden homelessness.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 8, 2023
For the most part I really liked this! But I also think it's geared so well to it's middle grade audience that it is harder for me to appreciate as an adult reader. Not a fault of the book at all, but a success of it!
I really liked how the sea boy was so alien to us. You can tell there's sicence behind how the author depicted him and I liked that it felt so realistic! It's not the standard portrayal of merpeople I see all the time. More unique.
There's a complex situation with the parents in here, and I liked how it showed how smart our main character was. And that it was on her parents for not communicating better.
It did a good job with the friendship depictions too. While the storyline was relatively straightforward for an adult and child reader, the air of discovery to the narrative should intrigue child readers a lot.
I really liked how the sea boy was so alien to us. You can tell there's sicence behind how the author depicted him and I liked that it felt so realistic! It's not the standard portrayal of merpeople I see all the time. More unique.
There's a complex situation with the parents in here, and I liked how it showed how smart our main character was. And that it was on her parents for not communicating better.
It did a good job with the friendship depictions too. While the storyline was relatively straightforward for an adult and child reader, the air of discovery to the narrative should intrigue child readers a lot.
January 8, 2023
Wow. The children were entranced by this beautiful book and enjoyed it as much as I did. It focuses on family and the love of friends. It started many conversations about how family life can be difficult and how dire financial straights can affect families. The children hear about this every day at every turn on the news and this book was just the right book at the right time. The conversations then led onto having friends who were a bit different from them and how diversity is such a good thing. This is a magical book but the conversations it starts are even more important. Loved it !
January 20, 2023
Complete review available: The Storm Swimmer
This was a strong, well-written and enjoyable MG read, offering both an engaging story and much food for thought. Not only does this book offer a story but there are many aspects that prove perfect conversation starters too. Weze addresses some important themes and ideas around families, their complexities and the struggles adults can face with external pressures (e.g. financial). Yet, the story doesn't become bogged down by these or try to handle them in a way unsuitable for the target demographic, but actually pitches the ideas in an accessible manner for the middle grade audience. Whether as an at-home read or story to explore as a school group, this book is bursting with points of discussion that are particularly relevant in the current world.
Throughout, Weze gauges and achieves the perfect balance of plot and character development, juggling smaller and larger plot points whilst crafting a cast of realistic and relatable characters. It's not quite the world we know, either, and yet Weze is clever in making us feel right at home with the unusual elements whilst still keeping things moving and making the magic believable.
N.B. With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in return for an honest review of the book.
This was a strong, well-written and enjoyable MG read, offering both an engaging story and much food for thought. Not only does this book offer a story but there are many aspects that prove perfect conversation starters too. Weze addresses some important themes and ideas around families, their complexities and the struggles adults can face with external pressures (e.g. financial). Yet, the story doesn't become bogged down by these or try to handle them in a way unsuitable for the target demographic, but actually pitches the ideas in an accessible manner for the middle grade audience. Whether as an at-home read or story to explore as a school group, this book is bursting with points of discussion that are particularly relevant in the current world.
Throughout, Weze gauges and achieves the perfect balance of plot and character development, juggling smaller and larger plot points whilst crafting a cast of realistic and relatable characters. It's not quite the world we know, either, and yet Weze is clever in making us feel right at home with the unusual elements whilst still keeping things moving and making the magic believable.
N.B. With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in return for an honest review of the book.
October 13, 2025
This is a beautiful book, read it you really won't forget it. It's more the characters than the plot they have stuck with me Ginika is gorgeous but I also love Ted and Scarlet (especially in the boat scene). Unfortunately we don't really get to know Peri as well but from what we see he is also a sweet character. The author has a very deep understanding of the characters and their motivations. I love how the author really zeroes in on the complexities of Ginikia's friendships and the people around her, it is very tender and lovely.
February 23, 2023
This is as tale full of tension and adventure. It would make an ideal holiday read as it is set in a typical British seaside town.
This is my favourite sort of fantasy: where the fantasy world impinges on the world we know.
The characters are believable and loveable, none of them perfect but none of them all bad.
This is a lovely story that is very well written
This is my favourite sort of fantasy: where the fantasy world impinges on the world we know.
The characters are believable and loveable, none of them perfect but none of them all bad.
This is a lovely story that is very well written
January 22, 2023
Interesting storyline blending themes of homelessness and communication with science based fantasy in a middle grade novel. You can read my full review here: http://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home....
February 10, 2024
It's a very vague book which is predictable from start to finish. Another young read where parents don't speak to their child about life issues.
Lots happen during the 300 pages but not much explanation in any of it.
Lots happen during the 300 pages but not much explanation in any of it.
June 10, 2024
3.5 stars
This is definitely a middle grade fantasy that will suit the age range but I don’t feel it has enough for an adult reader
This is definitely a middle grade fantasy that will suit the age range but I don’t feel it has enough for an adult reader
April 26, 2023
A great story with a perfect mix of reality and myth. Loved the small seaside town setting.
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June 9, 2023Magpies reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews