Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

There's a lot going on in this book, with four major characters, but it never becomes overwhelming. It helps that the individual sections are not overly complex or carrying a strong narrative. Each chapter is really more of a vignette or snapshot of life than a scene in an ongoing story. Add in secondary and tertiary characters with charm and individuality and we have a realistic story that can almost be described as gentle, even as it talks about war, death, and destruction. It is a story of characters rather than events.

Unfortunately I didn't care for this book. I felt as if it dragged on and it had multiple characters you were meant to follow but I found them hard to distinguish from one another so it just made everything sort of confusing. I'm sure plenty of kids who like history would be fans of this book I just wasn't.

Yes, The Swallows' Flight is a book about WWII and, yes, it is a companion to the WWI novel The Skylarks' War (Love to Everyone in the US) that told the story of siblings Clarissa (Clarry) and Peter Penrose and their friends, and whose children play a part in this novel. In fact, this novel revolves around 5 children whose lives eventually come together - Erik and Hans in Berlin, Kate Penrose in Oxford, Ruby in Plymouth, and a scrapyard dog in London, though for the most part, the timeline isn't linear.
In 1931 Berlin, ten-year-olds Erik and Hans are best friends with big plans for the future - Erik plans to become head zookeeper at the Berlin Zoo and Hans plans to open a kiosk outside the zoo and sell strudel. But right now, Erik is collecting flies to feed the young swallows he has just rescued. Hans has an Uncle Karl who introduces the boys to flying, which they love, and eventually causes them to become Luftwaffe pilots even though they never supported Hitler and the Nazis.

Although she comes from a family where the girls are all named after flower, in 1927 Plymouth, England, Violet decides to name her daughter Ruby Amaryllis. Not only does Ruby have a different name, but she is born with red birthmarks scattered over her face, causing her feel self-conscious and to shy away from people as she gets older. As if birthmarks aren't bad enough, older brother Will, 8, has no use for his new sister, and as children, he never lets her forget that. Ruby's mother Violet's best friend is Clarry Penrose from Oxford, who is given the honest of becoming Ruby's godmother.

Peter Penrose, now a doctor has married Vanessa and they have six children, including Kate, born in 1928 and who is their youngest. As it happened, Clarry is also Kate's godmother. Into this mix is unofficial cousin Rupert, who is as exciting and interesting to the Penrose children as is Han's Uncle Karl to him and Erik. But Kate is the only one who doesn't get to experience any adventures with Rupert. Kate is a sickly child, with lung problems and a constant cough, and by the time she would have been old enough, WWII had begun. But she is also inquisitive and a keen observer, and begins to keep a diary of everything that happens to everyone else.

Dog lives in East London and no one knows just how old he is. He is kept chained up in the scrapyard, and is supposed to bark away potential thieves, but dreams of running free. The only kindness he experiences is the scrapyard girl who at least acknowledges him with an occasional "hello, dog" and who, at the start of the war, attaches a luggage tag to his collar with the name Pax burned into it. Not long after, Pax is released to fend for himself, but luckily meets the kindhearted Rupert.

The story that unfolds is told in alternating chapters that recounts how the war impacts the lives of each of these five character until their lives converge. It's an unusual format, but one the works beautifully and the non-linear timeline is not at all confusing. Don't worry if you haven't read the first book. While it is well worth reading, The Swallows' Flight stands alone and there is a even brief family tree for each of the human characters.

McKay's writing is just beautiful and she has skillfully created a heartwarming, inspiration novel that includes appealing character's with distinct characteristics and personalities. There is just enough information about what is going on in the world, especially Germany, to give historical context to the individual stories. There is a glossary in the back matter as well as some historical background.

The Swallows' Flight is available now in the UK and will be available in the US on October 19, 2021

This book is recommended for readers age 9+

The Swallows' Flight
by Hilary McKay
Pub Date 19 Oct 2021 |
Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Margaret K. McElderry Books
Children's Fiction



I am reviewing a copy of The Swallow’s Flight through Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Margaret K. McElderry Books and Netgalley:




Ruby who is in England Ruby has no friends because of the speckled blotches on her face that kids say look like dirt. And Kate is sickly all the time, her older siblings each taking turns looking after her. When Ruby and Kate first meet it’s nearly disastrous, but it isn’t long before the two lonely girls strike a friendship. Their connection becomes all the more important when England joins the war against Germany and the blitz begins overhead.






Erik and Hans are best friends in Germany, they are both filled with plans for the future and Hans serving pastries right outside the gates. Neither one of them expected to be forced to join the national service, training as pilots and tasked with hurting people.


In London a dog who had been mistreated wanders the streets in search of a handout and a friend.



All the lives will cross in the most surprising ways in this heart-rending tale of war and compassion, and hope that can be found in even the most unexpected friendships.




I give The Swallows Flight five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

The Swallow's Flight is a look into WWII from the perspective of four children - two from Germany and two from England. Getting into this story was difficult - had a hard time tracking the characters and their relationships to one another. So many names to remember! Kate's family was huge and I got lost in trying to remember each one. As I continued to read I did enjoy the characters but it was a hard story to stay with as each chapter isolated one character's events. I wish it had been a smoother experience because in the end I felt like things came together. Not sure if middle grade students could find their way through this one. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a sweet book. The book takes place during WWII and follows Ruby, Kate, Erik & Hans. They all have struggles which will eventually put them together. The only problem with the story it is hard to get into and keep track, because each chapter is a different character(s).

I really wanted to like this story, but could not get into it at all. It just...doesn't flow and isn't really appealing to the reader. I almost never do this, but cut my losses at 45%. As the teacher, if I couldn't make it through, I won't expect my students to either. It has an interesting premise, but just didn't work for me.