The Tale of Truthwater Lake by Emma Carroll

Emma Carroll’s storytelling is consistently outstanding. Whenever I pick up one of her books, I know I can count on becoming completely lost in a wonderful adventure – the kind of reading experience that takes you away from everything else, shutting out the world and all its worries entirely. The Tale of Truthwater Lake is no exception. From the first page, I sank deep into the water with Polly and Nellie, living their story with them right to the very end. I read this book in a day, being drawn back to it whenever I could. Every time I read one of Emma’s books, I’m sure it’s her best – and then I read another.

In this wonderfully woven time-slip adventure, we meet two girls. Polly is in 2032, in the middle of a heatwave. Environmental damage is taking a serious toll on the country. It is fascinating and frightening to see hints of our current time in this not-too-distant future. The reference to a “killer virus” resulting in lockdowns when Polly was a baby sounds very sci-fi (and then we remember it’s real). Polly and her older brother, Joel, are sent to stay with their Aunt Jessie for the summer. Due to the drought, the water level of Truthwater Lake is low, revealing Syndercombe – a town flooded to create a reservoir 50 years ago. Polly is drawn to the lake and wonders about the inhabitants of the town that was sacrificed. Unable to sleep in the heat, Polly ventures out to the lake. What seems like a simple cool water dip turns into a mysterious journey through time.

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.

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.

The Tale of Truthwater Lake is sure to join my list of most recommended books for Key Stage Two classrooms and for families to share at home.

Thank you to Faber & Faber and NetGalleyUK for this wonderful early read!

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