Swallow's Dance
“Both a fascinating account of a real but forgotten society and an exploration of a young woman’s resilience and courage in the face of adversity, this is a highly recommended novel for nine- to twelve-year-old readers.”
Winnipeg Free Press
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2018 for Middle-Graders
A 2019 Canadian Children’s Book Centre Pick for Kids and Teens
A USBBY Outstanding International Book for Grades 6 to 8
A CBC Pick for Fall
Leira's family flee to the island of Crete just before a huge volcanic eruption destroys their island and sends a tsunami to where they thought they had found safety.
I wonder if the first day of Learning is always like this - do the girls on the hill always feel the ground tremble under their feet?
Leira is about to start her initiation as a priestess when her world is turned upside down. A violent earthquake leaves her home - and her family - in pieces.
And the goddess hasn't finished with the island yet.
With her family, Leira flees across the sea to Crete, expecting sanctuary. But a volcanic eruption throws the entire world into darkness. After the resulting tsunami, society descends into chaos; the status and privilege of being noble-born reduced to nothing. With her injured mother and elderly nurse, Leira has only the strength and resourcefulness within herself to find safety. A thrilling Bronze Age survival story from the acclaimed author of Dragonfly Song.
Praise