June 2024
Lucy Strange has become not only a must-read author for me, but a “must-read right away” author. When The River Spirit arrived yesterday, I knew that was an hour of my afternoon sorted! Combining fascinating and important history with the magical and supernatural, this captivating, beautiful and tragic story is sure to become essential reading for Upper Key Stage 2 children learning about the Industrial Revolution and the plight of those involved in child labour.
12-year-old Tom Waterman was the son of a ferryman and felt such a strong connection to the river. After his father died, Tom wanted more than anything to remember where he came from. Determined to not forget his name or his past, he pushed against nasty, violent Mr Crow who “owned” him, forcing him to sweep chimneys day after day. As Tom grew, the chimneys seemed become smaller and smaller but there was no escape from the harsh life that was better than the Poor House but not by much.
Every Sunday, the children went down to the river for their weekly wash. When an ethereal girl appeared from among the reeds, they didn’t know what to make of her. Was she real? Or was she some sort of river spirit? Elle followed them everywhere, choosing to work in the chimneys and help them where she could. Little did Tom know this mysterious girl would change everything.
There’s no romanticism in the life of a child chimney sweep. Despite laws changing to state that only those over 21 could climb the chimneys, small children were forced into tight spaces. The risked their health and even death at the merciless hands of those who preyed on the vulnerable and used them only to make more money for themselves. These children really did need a guardian angel – a spirit to watch over them and eventually take them safely to the life they really deserved.
The River Spirit is based on real figures from history. The historical note at the end of the book teaches readers about the tragic story of 12-year-old George Brewster and the master sweep who owned him. They’ll discover how child labour laws started to change in the 1800s and how some people worked to get children out of the chimneys and into school.
A huge thank you to Barrington Stoke for a copy of this wonderful story!
Don’t miss these other fantastic books by Lucy Strange:
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Order Fiction & Poetry and Non-fiction for Year Two on the links below:
Books for Years 3 -6:
Scope for Imagination 