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

Product Information

The section of the novel dealing with the Channel swim is beautifully written and very exciting, and the author concludes the story in a masterful fashion, letting us know what happens to each character so that the reader feels totally satisfied. Friendship is a strong theme of this book, particularly that of Nellie and Lena, and the bringing together of these two characters later in the novel is a masterstroke, and is very moving. Nellie is an excellent swimmer in her area, and with Lena at her side Nellie tries out for an amazing opportunity. A wealthy man is keen to sponsor and train a child to be the very first child to swim the Channel between England and France. Nellie is devastated when a boy she's never met before is chosen over her, and the disappointment just won't leave her. Again, with Lena by her side, another opportunity arises. The Tale of Truthwater Lake is a gripping time-slip adventure which blends the past and the near-future perfectly in a story of enduring friendship, courage and resilience.

Partly because it made sense to, in the context of a hot summer, a dried up reservoir, and a village emerging from the water. And partly because it's a reminder of the price we pay for progress. It's a very obvious example of how the world around us is constantly changing and impacting on the natural world as it does so. 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.

Polly's keen to swim in the lake, but it has shrunk so much that she can see the old town of Syndercombe, which was drowned to form the reservoir decades before. That night, to escape the heat, Polly goes swimming and finds herself being pulled down, down... into a sunny churchyard. Channel swimming became a real craze at this time, as did other outdoor pursuits. Gertrude Erderle, who my character Nellie idolises, was the first woman to swim the channel in 1926. Showing off your physical prowess was a Big Thing! The other swimmers mentioned in the story are figments of my imagination. Having the time to fully commit to it. There's much more to being an author than writing books: to be able to go to schools and festivals and meeting readers is one of my favourite things to do. Also, let's not underestimate the pleasures of working at home, in your pyjamas, surrounded by dogs and tea and toast... I've also been long fascinated by how whole villages were cleared to build reservoirs, and how, in dry summers, the ruins of these drowned villages can, rather spookily, emerge. Truthwater Lake is the result of trying to weave these inspirations together.

Willie Beech, a lonely and deprived child, is evacuated to a tiny English village just before the Second World War, and finds himself living with reclusive widower Thomas Oakley. 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. It’s the near-future and Britain is baking in the middle of yet another heatwave. Once again, the government has put curfews in place and the shops have been forced to shut. Probably that rationing was still in force, and that some homes, especially in the countryside, didn't have electricity or inside toilets.It took quite a bit of planning and editing, I can tell you! The two stories needed to work independently, but also echo each other in some way. The link is represented by the door handle and the act of swimming, both of which are big symbols in both stories.

Key themes are whether decisions made in the pursuit of progress are the best in the long run. There are fracturing friendships and miscommunications, parental expectations vs being yourself, and of course the result of 'progress' being global warming.

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. Whilst this is a story mostly set in the past, the part set in the near-future feels prescient, and will open up lots of opportunity for discussion about climate change.

Carroll has created believable characters and text that draws you in. Each chapter ending, leaving the reader wanting more.Your debut children's book, Frost Hollow Hall, was published by Faber Children's Books a decade ago. How does it feel to have reached this milestone as a children's writer? Having a lie-in ( I'm totally rubbish at getting up early!), walking my dogs, going to the seaside, visiting my mum and dad who live about 10 miles away. My husband is a brilliant cook, and like me, a lifelong vegetarian, so we'll often end the day with a big supper! The ending is very neat and tidy and one moment I was hoping it wouldn't be, then had a tear in my eye because it was wonderful. If you're coming to Coles by car, why not take advantage of the 2 hours free parking at Sainsbury's Pioneer Square - just follow the signs for Pioneer Square as you drive into Bicester and park in the multi-storey car park above the supermarket. Come down the travelators, exit Sainsbury's, turn right and follow the pedestrianised walkway to Crown Walk and turn right - and Coles will be right in front of you. You don't need to shop in Sainsbury's to get the free parking! Where to Find Us