The River Thief

The year is 1604 and England is in the middle of a drought that is affecting everyone, from the poorest to the wealthiest in the land.  Adderley lives with her family in their flour mill on the river Lyde in Hampshire and her daily task is to make sure that the water wheel is clear of any refuse that might affect the condition of the flour.  Her one friend is Lewes, the nephew of the lord of the manor, but he finds it difficult to understand the desperation of the poor villagers.  One day, when clearing the water race, Adderley sees a face in the water; this turns out to be a water fae called Ef, who is able to communicate that a great ‘treasure’ has been stolen and it needs to be returned to the sea, in order that the rain can come again.  Thus begins a quest to find the stone and together with Ef and Lewes, to follow the route of the rivers Lodden and Thames in order to right the wrong.  But this is an England that is full of superstition and fear and the children face many dangers along the way, including a mysterious man who appears to be following them.  The question is whether they will achieve their goal and will the drought be broken?

The author has managed to blend history and magic, so that we really believe in the characters and are drawn into the story.  Having lived in that part of Hampshire for several years, I found it fascinating to follow the route in my mind, and then to check on the map at the beginning of the book; it really did stir the imagination.  In the relationship between the two children, we get to see and hopefully understand the great gap that really existed between the different layers of society (and still does), but we also see how friendship can overcome many of these differences.  The story gives the impression of a leisurely journey down the river, but we know that this is not really the case and that it is the heat and drought that is slowing everything down.  This is a truly magical tale that will appeal to many young readers.