Staying with her aunt near Truthwater Lake in 2032, Polly is mesmerised by swirling patterns under the water and is transported back in time to 1952 as a girl named Nellie, recently orphaned and a strong, keen swimmer about to face selection for a gruelling challenge. She is not selected, and although disappointed, she helps to train the chosen swimmer Nate, aided by her Punjabi friend Lena.
There is great historical detail in the story: Commonwealth citizens recruited to work in Britain, the end of the traditional way of life in villages flooded for reservoirs to provide water to a growing population and the craze for swimming the English Channel feature heavily and are central to the plot. For both sections of the story, the themes of friendship, loyalty and being true to yourself are the motivation for the actions of the characters, and the two stories are deftly linked through Aunt Jessie’s work as a district nurse.
This is a poignant and heart-warming novel and I enjoyed it immensely.

I always love an Emma Carroll novel: the queen of historical fiction knows how to create relatable characters in a fascinating historical context and often, create cool links to some of her other much-loved books. With The Tale of Truthwater Lake, Emma has cleverly created a memorable time travel story with a thought-provoking eco message. Set in the future, we can see the isolation people are facing as it’s too hot to be outside and a curfew is in place. As Polly’s parents are working to keep their business afloat, she notices her brother is hiding something. She decides to find out more when they are sent to their aunt’s house. Nearby, Polly notices Truthwater Lake is drying up and during a late night swim, she discovers the lost village beneath the surface. How is she able to go back in time and learn about the life of one of the residents, Nellie?

No spoilers here but I honestly couldn’t put this down. Both Polly and Nellie has such fascinating stories to tell and what I loved was the reveal of different secrets linked to the past and future. Both characters share so many qualities and I wondered how their stories would relate: the payoff is extremely satisfying with the most beautiful of endings. There were little clues littered throughout which makes you question where the story is going and then when there’s a twist, you go, ‘YES!’ Emma leaves the reader deep in thought about our past and present relating to global warming and how our actions will come at a price. How will the future be impacted? This is definitely a title which will promote lots of conversations in the classroom about the state of our world. Another fantastic story weaving past, present and future so cleverly.

There is so much going on in this book. The first timeline is set in a disturbingly believable dystopian future where notifications tell you when the government has issued a daytime curfew to avoid the heat: the second timeline is an uber-cosy 1950s village life complete with work horses, luxury bars of chocolate and feisty friendships. It’s amazing they come together, but they do. And happily, the dangers of the future aren’t magicked away and the echos of future problems are already present in the 50s timeline. There is much to love, including an understated and uplifting LGBTQ+ strand and a genuinely exciting channel swim, but I really love it for the simple reminder to kids that the older people in their lives were once children too.

Emma Carroll has long been considered the Queen of Historical Children's Fiction and in The Tale of Truthwater Lake, it is clear to see why. Once again Emma transports you back in time and seamlessly weaves a wondrous tale of English Channel swimmers, the abandonment of a village for the sake of a reservoir, friendship, betrayal, jealousy, self discovery and the power of belief all set within a back drop of a key environmental message. Although set in the future - 2032, this tale could be the tale of now; the unpredictability of the weather, the long hot summer with weather warnings and unbearable heat and the uncovering of forgotten settlements from the past.
In The Tale of Truthwater Lake, Britain is struggling with an on going heatwave which is considered to be a danger to life and so a curfew is in place. Polly and her brother Joel are sent to stay with their Aunt, who lives near the lake. One night Polly takes a dip in the lake and discovers the lost village. What follows is a mesmerising tale into the past with connections to the future. A thought provoking tale with an environmental message deeply rooted in its heart.
A triumphant 5 star read. Huge thank you to NetGalley and Faber & Faber for this early read.
#ThisIsNotJustHistoricalFictionThisIsEmmaVarrollHistoricalFiction

A perfect time-slip adventure with lots to say about climate change and the importance of water. In 2032, Polly is trapped inside most days by the excessive heat, but manages to go on holiday to her aunt’s house, where she ends up swimming in the local reservoir. She is transported back 80 years and relives Nelly’s story, a brave young girl who loves swimming so much she wants to be the first child to swim the channel. Interleaved in the story is the background to how the reservoir was formed, displacing Nelly’s village and drowning her beautifully described home, as well as problems Polly’s older brother is having with bullying and an amazing friendship Nellie forms with Lena, an immigrant girl who has been sent to the coast for TB treatment. The threads all come together beautifully in an amazing satisfying conclusion.
It was a stUnning experience reading this story in August 2022 as the headlines were arriving about record breaking heat and reservoirs around the UK drying up, and old buildings emerging from the water. There was so much to think about, and I would not hesitate to recommend this book to any children over 8, or adults! It would be a wonderful class novel for year 5/6/7.

The Tale of Truthwater Lake is a gripping time-slip adventure which blends the past and the near-future perfectly in a story of enduring friendship, courage and resilience.

It’s summer 2032 and 12-year-old Polly is living with the consequences of climate change where temperatures regularly exceed 42 degrees leading to a curfew where she and her older brother, Joel are stuck inside their small flat in Brighton. Unable to sleep due to the heat, she discovers her brother going for a night swim and, although she is not a confident swimmer, she goes too, leading to a situation which both of them are keen to escape from … and escape they do … to their Aunt Jessie’s eco-house in Exmoor which looks on to Truthwater Lake.

Due to the excessive heat, Truthwater Lake is drying up, revealing the remains of the old village of Syndercombe which was flooded in the early 1950s to make a reservoir to supply water. Drawn to the sight of the old church under the water, Polly swims towards it, her feet touching the roof tiles … and finds herself in a past time where she is Nellie Foster.

Nellie, unlike Polly, is an avid swimmer and dreams of swimming the English Channel. She is also going to have to leave her village as it is being flooded to make a reservoir. Can Nellie fulfil her dream before her village is lost? I loved being swept into Nellie’s exciting challenge, as she, her best friend Lena and new friend, Nate work together to make history.

This is such a brilliant, timely and thought-provoking story that completely absorbed me as I followed the friends plans for their Channel swimming challenge, the drowning of a village, and Polly’s discoveries in her present … such incredible secrets revealed … and the most wonderful heart-warming ending.

Whilst this is a story mostly set in the past, the part set in the near-future feels prescient, and will open up lots of opportunity for discussion about climate change.

This is a mesmerising tale, masterfully told: a tale of truth, friendship and change.

Having read and loved several of Emma Carroll's previous books I was really excited to read this one. I quickly got lost in the story and the descriptive narrative built a picture of rhe characters in my head. A sure sign of a great read in my opionion!

Set between two time periods 1952 and 2032 the story is built around the characters of Polly in 2032 and Nellie in 1952. Poignantly in 2032 there are regular extremes of temperature and the Government imposes lockdowns when the temperature rises too high. Polly and her brother go to stay at their Aunties and whilst swimming in the lake to cool off Polly transports to the life of Nellie in 1952. Nellie is staying with family friends following the death of her mother. She loves to swim and dreams of fulfilling her mothers wish of never being ordinary.

I think readers aged 9 and up will love this book and it would make an excellent class novel. I found myself routing for all the characters and found the themes of friendship, care of our world and climate change thought provoking. Emma Carroll has done it again. Storytelling at its finest.

Sublime storytelling by Emma Carroll with carefully crafted characters who you genuinely care about. She seamlessly weaves together the two periods of time to create a truly extraordinary and remarkable story. I read the last pages through tears, just loved it!!

Emma Carroll’s storytelling is consistently outstanding. Whenever I pick up one of her books, I know I can count on becoming completely lost in a wonderful adventure – the kind of reading experience that takes you away from everything else, shutting out the world and all its worries entirely. The Tale of Truthwater Lake is no exception. From the first page, I sank deep into the water with Polly and Nellie, living their story with them right to the very end. I read this book in a day, being drawn back to it whenever I could. Every time I read one of Emma’s books, I’m sure it’s her best – and then I read another.

In this wonderfully woven time-slip adventure, we meet two girls. Polly is in 2032, in the middle of a heatwave. Environmental damage is taking a serious toll on the country. It is fascinating and frightening to see hints of our current time in this not-too-distant future. The reference to a “killer virus” resulting in lockdowns when Polly was a baby sounds very sci-fi (and then we remember it’s real). Polly and her older brother, Joel, are sent to stay with their Aunt Jessie for the summer. Due to the drought, the water level of Truthwater Lake is low, revealing Syndercombe – a town flooded to create a reservoir 50 years ago. Polly is drawn to the lake and wonders about the inhabitants of the town that was sacrificed. Unable to sleep in the heat, Polly ventures out to the lake. What seems like a simple cool water dip turns into a mysterious journey through time.

Nellie lives in Syndercombe in the winter of 1952. She loves open water swimming and dreams of crossing the English Channel. When a champion swimmer visits her club, she realises she just might have a chance – unless a new boy and his family succeed in taking everything away from her. Nellie isn’t the only one with a dream. Each character in this powerful story longs for something more. Their actions reveal just how important it is to have dreams and not hesitate to pursue them.

I am really enjoying these more recent post-war historical stories. Like The Week at World’s End, The Tale of Truthwater Lake is within living memory. They are stories that can be shared across generations, encouraging children to learn from those whose lives reach further into the past than their own.

The Tale of Truthwater Lake is sure to join my list of most recommended books for Key Stage Two classrooms and for families to share at home.

Emma Carroll can do no wrong in our house. The older children have read many of her books and the youngest loved this too. We had a lively discussion over climate change and how things are changing. The children have been following the current discussions on this topic so this was very timely.

The Tale of Truthwater Lake is set between two times periods with two different sets of characters.
2032 - Polly and her brother leave blistering Brighton which is battling another heatwave. The government declares everyone has to be inside when the temperature passes 40 degrees. Polly and her brother gain some respite from the heat by staying with their aunt who has a garden that leads to a lake. Polly has just started to learn to swim so the idea of escaping her flat sounds like heave.
Whilst on holiday, Polly notices that the water in the lake has evaporated and her aunt tells her that the lake is covering a lost village.
It's during an illicit swim in the lake that Poilly finds a door handle that transports her to another time period - the 1930s where she becomes Nellie - who dreams of swimming the English Channel. It's through Nellie's eyes that we learn about her friends Nate and Lena and just what happened to the village that Nellie calls home.
Carroll has created believable characters and text that draws you in. Each chapter ending, leaving the reader wanting more.
A novel that discusses climate change, and friendship and has a lovely twist at the end.

Emma Carroll truly is the queen of historical fiction for young people. The balance of Polly's story in Britain in 2032 and Nellie's story in 1952 is just right. Unusually, the story begins 10 years in the future where the impact of climate change is putting a strain on the planet. Polly and her brother leave their hometown to escape the heat and stay with their aunt for a few days by the lake. It is here that our portal story truly begins when Polly goes for a late night swim and ends up in a lost village, in 1952, as Nellie. A Channel swimming challenge, true friendship, a brother that is acting strange and a very hot summer are all themes running through Emma's new brilliant novel that children in Year 5 and 6 will enjoy. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers Faber and Faber Ltd for an ARC of this book.

“The Tale of Truthwater Lake” is a captivating story about two young girls separated in time but both learning how to make their own mark in the world, to be loved and accepted by those around them.

It’s Summer 2032, a heatwave so intense there is an emergency law stating people must stay indoors when the temperature is over 42. Polly and her brother are sent to stay with their Aunt who lives beside a lake, which they hope means a cooler air temperature. When they arrive they find the lake has begun to dry up and some secrets of the past are revealed where the valley is exposed, it’s only at the deepest part that some water remains. Polly is afraid of swimming and what others think of her when she splashes around. However, she finds herself drawn to the lake late at night because she longs to cool down. Once in the water she dives down and wakes up a different person in a different time. In 1952 Polly as Nellie is a competent swimmer. She longs to be chosen to be the first child to swim the English channel. Together her and her friends cook up a plan to make it happen.

Nellie’s tale is the main story in the book. It is a fascinating insight into a different time but one where the importance of good friendships and a sense of belonging match those of children today and indeed in 2032.

I am a big fan of Emma Carroll’s books. I like the historical context of them and the hints of something otherworldly.
This book starts very differently- 10 years in the future. This is a future where climate change has led to scorching summers and shortages. It is a very timely book after the heatwave we have had this summer, which makes the scenario so much more believable.
When Polly and her brother are sent to stay with their aunt for a few days we get to more familiar ground, as a late night swim leads to Polly visiting the past. This part of the story is set in the 1950s with a village about to be submerged to make a reservoir and a young girl’s attempt to swim the Channel. The historical section is fascinating and well researched and contrasts nicely with the future. Who knew Channel swimming could be so readable? The only flaw in the story is the ending, it is too neat for me with everything turning out perfectly for everyone.

Fantastic insight into our current lifestyle and the 1960s. Seeing the way of life in the past compared to the ‘current climate’ we explore the change and effects of our past. A brilliant story by Emma Carroll which my 12 yr old son loved. He is now reading Emma’s back catalogue

I will be buying this to read to my class when it is published.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review

This is the first book of @emmac2603 that I've read, although I've heard all good things and have a few on my wishlist. It gripped me from beginning to end, with key messages about climate change, responsibility and friendship threaded throughout. A stunning read.
@NetGalley

Emma Carroll once again doing a brilliant job of doing historical fiction for kids! This one has a little fantasy element to it too and I loved it! Whizzed through it and can’t wait to read her best. Loveable bunch of characters and a brilliant mystery will keep you turning the pages way after bedtime…!

Another cracking book from Emma Carroll who manages to strike the perfect balance between modern day and historical events. The relationship between the characters is skillfully developed throughout the story and you are willing Polly towards solving the mystery of Truthwater Lake. Highly recommended for KS2 readers.

I am a huge Emma Carroll fan and thus approached The Tale of Truthwater Lake with real excitement; I was delighted to find that it met - and surpassed - my expectations! Carroll is truly a unique voice in children’s literature and her writing repertoire never fails to amaze me. Her latest offering holds all the hallmarks of a Emma Carroll special, whilst also being totally different to anything she’s written previously. I love how it linked to many modern issues, such as climate change, whilst also looking at lessons learned in the past. It’s an entirely unpredictable read with a fantastic band of characters and an interesting and intriguing setting. I cannot wait to add it to my Year 5 bookshelf. I will also be pairing it with The Dam picture book as I think they will compliment each other beautifully. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Emma Carroll is certainly one of the leading lights in contemporary children’s fiction combining historical situations within unique voices that entertain, excite and inform readers. This new book combines future and past and tells the story of Polly in 2032; a time when summer temperatures exceed 40 c and the Government orders curfews from the heat. The story evolves around the summer period when Polly and her brother go to stay with their aunt and discover the tale of a newarby village that was immersed underwater in the 1950s and the creation of a reservoir. Polly swims in the reservoir as the village is exposed following a drought and magically finds a “ portal” to the past where she learns the truth behind the flooding and the discovers the lives of the inhabitants in particular Nellie, Lena and Nate and the tale to be the first child to swim the English Channel. This is a wonderful story with vibrant and determined characters that will enthrall readers and pull them into the worlds of Polly and Nellie - casting an eye to the future and the repercussions of global warming and also looking back to a timie where water was already sparse and the implications to create reservoir on people’s lives. The ,a gauge of the 1950s and essence of life then is beautifully captured. Emma Carroll has written another winning tale that is highly recommended to readers of 9-12 and certainly will recommended to my colleagues in Ks 2 teaching .A delight .