LoveReading4Kids Says
LoveReading4Kids Says
There’s nothing eleven-year-old Kate likes more than climbing into the cab of her (talking) train the Silver Arrow and heading out on a journey to rescue animals and transport them, magically, to new, safe homes somewhere across the world. But lately, things have changed. Her little brother Tom is more interested in his martial arts than in the Silver Arrow, it’s a struggle balancing school and non-school life, and no matter how many animals Kate helps, it’s never enough. Plus, her uncle Herbert, eccentric billionaire and owner of the magic train, has gone missing.
Desperate to find him, Kate takes the Silver Arrow out on her own in defiance of the rules. To her surprise, she finds another train, the Golden Swift, and discovers it’s driven by one of her classmates, Jag. His approach to saving animals is more radical, he’s putting nature right by unilaterally rewilding areas. But the children learn that ‘un-messing’ the chaos humans have caused is complicated. Nonetheless, there’s lots in Kate and Jag’s adventures to cheer readers up, and no shortage of thrills and spills either as the children make friends, take risks, and push the trains as far as they’ll go.
The mix of fun, friendship, magic adventures, and eco-activism is a winning one, and this second outing for the Silver Arrow is as rewarding, stimulating and entertaining as the first.
Andrea Reece
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About
The Golden Swift Synopsis
In this thrilling adventure in the New York Times bestselling Silver Arrow series, Kate and Tom must confront the limits of what even magic can do-all while trying to bring balance back to the world.
A lot has changed for Kate in a year. She and Tom are now full-fledged conductors of the steam-powered, animal-saving Great Secret Intercontinental Railway. Life is good!
Or good-ish, anyway. Her uncle Herbert has gone missing, and the worsening climate means that there are more and more animals that need help all the time. How many times does Kate have to save the world before it stays saved?
And her real life isn't exactly perfect either. She flunked her audition for the junior high musical and got stuck in the chorus, while her archenemy Jag got a lead.
So, out of desperation, Kate breaks the rules and takes the Silver Arrow out on an unsanctioned mission, to find Uncle Herbert and bring back balance to the world. But she quickly discovers she's not the only one on the Great Secret Intercontinental Railway. There's a mysterious train called the Golden Swift out there too, with an agenda of its own. Is it an ally? A rival? An enemy? A bit of all three?
The question will turn Kate's world upside down, take her from the Scottish Highlands to the Australian outback to the bottom of the Bering Sea, and lead her straight on a collision course with the mysterious masters of the Great Secret Intercontinental Railway itself. Because when you're a human being fighting to save nature, are you the hero or are you the villain? There are no simple answers.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9780316283649 |
| Publication date: |
2nd May 2023 |
| Author: |
Lev Grossman |
| Publisher: |
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
272 pages |
| Series: |
The Silver Arrow |
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Press Reviews
Lev Grossman Press Reviews
Praise for The Silver Arrow;
'Brimming with imagination and hope for the future' - Catherine Doyle, bestselling author of The Storm Keeper's Island
'There's nothing so rare as a fantasy that elicits genuine wonder and that uses marvelous things to enrich a child's appreciation of ordinary ones. So Lev Grossman's novel The Silver Arrow is something special. Here is an adventure story for 8- to 12-year-olds that's bursting with life and real feeling, told in a sparkling, informal style that parents will find effortless to read aloud' - Wall Street Journal
'I loved every page. This is middle grade fiction at its best' - Ann Patchett
'Both cozy and inspiring, this eco-fable conveys both grim truths and a defiant call to action' - Kirkus
'This gentle introduction to the complexities of life on this planet is a critical reminder not to despair over the enormity of human responsibility but to face it with joy and marvel at the magic that the world holds. It's a kind and clear message that all children-and their grownups-should take to heart' - Booklist
Author
About Lev Grossman
Lev Grossman is the bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Magicians trilogy, which has also become a successful TV series. Previously an award-winning journalist who interviewed the likes of Neil Gaiman and J.K. Rowling, this is his first foray into the world of children's literature. He lives in New York City with his wife and three children.
Photo credit: Mathieu Bourgois
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