The Tale of Truthwater Lake: 'Absolutely gorgeous.' Hilary McKay

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Another great read from the queen of historical children's fiction, The Tale of Truthwater Lake is a timeslip story set partly ten years hence when the world is in crisis due to global warming, and partly in 1952. In the future, Polly and her brother go to stay with their aunt in the school hols to try to escape the stifling heat of the south coast. Their aunt lives near a large reservoir, created over a flooded village. When Polly sneaks out in the early hours of the morning determined to swim in the lake to try to cool down, she meets Nellie who is planning a daring escapade, and soon Polly herself becomes invested in Nellie's great adventure. For Polly, it’s the kind of heat that makes her do wild, out-of-character things just to cool down! So, when she and her brother are sent to their aunt’s eco house for the summer, Polly decides to face her fear of deep water and take a dip in the nearby Truthwater Lake. Whilst at the lake Polly accidentally ends up in 1952 – before the village under the lake was flooded to make the reservoir. She experiences the very different life of a village that no longer exists, the social mores of the time and the privations that existed in 1952 (being so close to WWII). Whilst she can’t talk to Joel about it, she learns a great deal about determination, friendship, and channel swimming! There is so much going on in this book. The first timeline is set in a disturbingly believable dystopian future where notifications tell you when the government has issued a daytime curfew to avoid the heat: the second timeline is an uber-cosy 1950s village life complete with work horses, luxury bars of chocolate and feisty friendships. Why did you decide to write this as a timeslip novel, bringing the past together with a near future?

It had a lot of potential, but... sigh. I loved Letters from the Lighthouse (or is it "to the Lighthouse"?), but as beautiful as my copy of this one is, I'm leaving it behind in England. It's not one I'll keep in my home library. This will not, however, keep me from reading more books by Carroll. It's the near-future and Britain is having yet another heatwave. Of course, the government have put in the normal curfews for this kind of weather, and shops are forced to shut again. For Polly, it's the sort of heat that makes her do wild, out-of-character things just to cool down. Like face her fear of deepwater. Essential when she and her brother have been sent to their aunt's eco lake-side house for the summer. Experts says that if temperatures continue to rise at the current rate, the Earth could be 5.4°C hotter by the year 2100. This someone is Nellie, taken in by an older couple when her mum passed away. Nellie is kept company by Lena who is recuperating in the country after tuberculosis. Nellie and Lena have become the very best of friends.Dive into this powerful time-travelling tale about a curious girl, a scorching heatwave and a lost village deep underwater… This is a time-slip novel with a difference. The portal is underwater and at a key time in the demise of an entire village. Progress after the 2nd World War demands more fresh water for towns and the best place for a reservoir means drowning this village. Also woven into the story is swimming of the English Channel, surprise family announcements in both timelines, along with friendship dilemmas too.

The past in the book is the 1950s, which is a fairly recent period. What stood out for you about this time and when you were researching it? Author Luke Palmer introduces his new book, Play (Firefly Press) about four boys growing up together, the challenges, the friendships, and what hap... I am really enjoying these more recent post-war historical stories. Like The Week at World’s End, The Tale of Truthwater Lake is within living memory. They are stories that can be shared across generations, encouraging children to learn from those whose lives reach further into the past than their own.Night Mayor Franklefink has vanished from the Transylvanian Express - and it's up to you to solve the case! Part of the Solve Your Own Mystery seri...

It's a really intriguing moment in history where things could've gone so badly wrong. It's also a very good example of diplomacy in action: Robert Kennedy and his Russian counterpart talked their way out of the conflict. Because of American airbases on British soil, we would've been drawn into any war with Russia, so the situation was perilous for us, too. The main surprise for me was how close we came to actual war. Some of the sources now made public would've been top secret at the time, and certainly make for chilling reading!" The Tale of Truthwater Lake is set between two times periods with two different sets of characters. I am a big fan of Emma Carroll’s books. I like the historical context of them and the hints of something otherworldly. It’s the near-future and Britain is having yet another heatwave. Of course, the government have put in the normal curfews for this kind of weather, and shops are forced to shut again. For Polly, it’s the sort of heat that makes her do wild, out-of-character things just to cool down.Hello Yellow - 80 Books to Help Children Nurture Good Mental Health and Support With Anxiety and Wellbeing -

Nellie lives in Syndercombe in the winter of 1952. She loves open water swimming and dreams of crossing the English Channel. When a champion swimmer visits her club, she realises she just might have a chance – unless a new boy and his family succeed in taking everything away from her. Nellie isn’t the only one with a dream. Each character in this powerful story longs for something more. Their actions reveal just how important it is to have dreams and not hesitate to pursue them.

Like face her fear of deepwater. Essential when she and her brother have been sent to their aunt’s eco lake-side house for the summer. In The Tale of Truthwater Lake, Britain is struggling with an on going heatwave which is considered to be a danger to life and so a curfew is in place. Polly and her brother Joel are sent to stay with their Aunt, who lives near the lake. One night Polly takes a dip in the lake and discovers the lost village. What follows is a mesmerising tale into the past with connections to the future. A thought provoking tale with an environmental message deeply rooted in its heart. Carroll has created believable characters and text that draws you in. Each chapter ending, leaving the reader wanting more. Essential when she and her brother have been sent to their aunt's eco lake-side house for the summer. But Truthwater Lake is beginning to dry up. As the water level diminishes, a lost village emerges. Swimming over the rooftops at midnight, Polly dives down and is suddenly able to breathe, to hear church bells and bird song . . . It's hot. So hot that it's unsafe to be out in the sun during the day, with the government imposing a law to keep people inside when over 42deg C. Siblings Joel and Polly are melting inside their flat in the summer school holidays. Learning that they are going to stay at their aunt Jessie's in the country comes as a relief.