The River Spirit

In the atmospheric and ghostly tale "Tom," young chimney sweep Tom longs for fresh air and freedom from the oppressive warrens of the city's chimneys. He encounters supernatural creatures such as fairies, a soot monster, and the mysterious river spirit Elle. When he faces his most dangerous job, he discovers the reason for Elle's magical appearance.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 80 pages
Publication date: 06 June 2024
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

In the oppressive warrens of the city's chimneys, young sweeper Tom yearns for fresh air and freedom in this atmospheric and ghostly tale from Lucy Strange. Young chimney sweep Tom has started seeing strange, supernatural things – fairies in the flowers by the river, a soot monster crouching in the darkness of a chimney, and then the mysterious river spirit Elle. Elle joins Tom and the other children apprenticed to cruel master sweep Mister Crow. Together, they shimmy up the town's narrow, filthy chimneys. But Tom has an ominous feeling in his bones, and when he faces his most dangerous job of all, the reason for Elle's magical appearance becomes clear.

Tom and Elle are two young orphans living in a small village on the banks of a river. They are both skilled at climbing and have a deep love for the natural world. One day, while exploring the riverbank, they come across a mysterious stone that glows with an otherworldly light.

Tom and Elle decide to take the stone back to their village and show it to their friends and family. However, as they are carrying the stone, they are ambushed by a group of bandits who want to steal it for their own evil purposes. Tom and Elle manage to escape, but the bandits follow them to the village.

The bandits attack the village, and Tom and Elle are forced to flee. They come across a group of fairies who offer to help them. The fairies tell them that the stone is a powerful magical artifact that can grant them any wish they desire. However, they also warn them that the stone is dangerous and must be used with caution.

Tom and Elle decide to wish for a new home, away from the dangers of the village. The fairies grant their wish, and they are transported to a beautiful forest where they live in peace and harmony with the natural world.

Years pass, and Tom and Elle grow up to be strong and wise adults. They use the power of the stone to help their fellow villagers and protect the natural world from harm. They are known throughout the land as heroes, and their story is passed down from generation to generation.

In the end, Tom and Elle realize that the true power of the stone is not in its ability to grant wishes, but in its ability to bring people together and inspire them to be their best selves. They use the stone to create a better world for themselves and for future generations, and their legacy lives on long after they are gone.

Weight: 138g
Dimension: 130 x 197 x 8 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800903258