This is an extraordinarily
good tale. Tragedy strikes, there is confusion over twins and what seems like loss
actually leads to some rediscovering some old treasures. The various strands of
the plot are skilfully woven together and we are kept guessing throughout.
As a teacher of
creative writing I could potentially quibble with some of the narrative techniques
Berlie Doherty uses. At times the point of view shifts a little too swiftly and
a little too often. I’m not sure the voice is always right for the teen reader.
Yet she maintains that appropriate balance of dialogue, action, description and
exposition.
The story takes place
over several years with a concentration on the years in which the new reservoir
is constructed and the village and valley are drowned. It’s all left a little open-ended
at the end with the protagonist actually absent.
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