And Now We Run
Nicola Penfold
Little Tiger

During a Year 7 outward bound school residential trip to a woodland area of West Yorkshire two children, Jelly, who is not at all keen on being on the trip and the much more enthusiastic Lincoln, who has visited the region before with his brothers, find themselves separated from the rest of the group. It is from their viewpoints that the story is told. Interwoven with their narratives is the occasional voice of a red kite that circles above them watching the disaster unfold.

Extreme weather conditions result in a reservoir bursting its banks and the dam in danger of collapse. The subsequent flooding leaves the pair stranded; but the power of nature and their own safety isn’t the only issue they have to contend with.

As always, Nicola Penfold’s descriptions of the natural world – its awesomeness and its dangers – are superb in this latest fast-paced story. With themes of global warming, friendship, courageousness it’s one that will have readers gripped from the outset: I read it in a single sitting.

A must have for upper primary class collections and individual readers from lower KS3 and would make an excellent book to share with a year 5 or year 6 class. It’s sure to generate lots of discussion.

If ever there was a timely reminder of why we should all do out upmost to protect our natural world, this is it.