The Skylarks' War was one of my favourite reads of recent years, so when I discovered that a companion novel was coming out, I was very excited. Let me start by saying you don't have to have read the previous book in order to enjoy this one. It can be read as a stand alone novel. However, I think that part of it's charm is seeing how the characters that we met in the first book have grown up. The story begins just before the outbreak of the Second World War and concerns the lives of Erik and Hans in Germany and the Penrose family and their friends in England as world events begin to have an impact on their lives. It is beautifully written, sometimes sad but always heart-warming. The characters are so well written, I could almost believe they were real. I am totally in love with this book!

Described as a companion novel to Hilary McKay's astounding book, The Skylark's War, The Swallows' Flight follows the lives of 4 children in the run up to, and during WWII

Ruby Amaryllis and Kate are English girls preparing to see their older brothers leave for war, while Hanz and Erik are best friends and glider enthusiasts living in Berlin, Germany. All of them have their own big dreams and grand ambitions. When war breaks out and fate makes the four cross paths, they each have sacrifices to make and decisions to take that will effect their lives forever.

I was already a massive fan of The Skylarks' War, so when I spotted this on Netgalley, I knew I had to request an ARC. I actually squealed with delight when it was approved! Hilary McKay has a remarkable knack of tackling some very emotional and traumatic events in a compassionate and thoughtful way. The reality of war is by no means downplayed, McKay makes it easily digestible, though no less powerful, for a middle grade reader.

It's very slow paced and character driven, but it's all the better for it. The characters are well developed and very likeable, and the settings are described with intricate detail that absorbs you into the scene.

Like it's predecessor, The Swallows' Flight also reads so beautifully for adults. With themes of friendship, family, love resilience and compassion, it makes for a moving and poignant novel that it would be hard not to fall head over heels in love with.

Also, I really want a sherbet dab now!

A massive thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review

An amazing sequel to The Skylarks' War, The Swallows' Flight lets us meet the characters of Clarry, Peter and Rupert again, now years later and grown up. However, although we see their familiar characters from the First World War story shine through, this story is told through the eyes of a new set of children during the Second World War: Erik and Hans, Ruby and Kate (and dog).

This story would be a super accompaniment to a study of World War 2 in the classroom, or as an additional book to supplement whole class teaching. Its unique insight into both sides of the war will allow children to empathise and understand whilst also becoming engaged in a wonderful emotional journey.

I had no idea how Hilary would follow it the magnificence of Skylarks’ , which is one of my most favourite ever reads. Truthfully, I was a bit nervous as I started to read Swallows’ Flight. However of course there was no need. It is simply superb. It is beautifully written and is so subtle that you can almost learn more from what is not said than what is. The plot switches between viewpoints and is engaging although reassuringly slow paced. Another triumph of a novel from the legendary Hilary McKay.

Such a perfect companion to The Skylarks’ War. I was so looking forward to reading this and it has not disappointed. Hilary has a wonderful way of summing up characters in very few words but is still able to communicate a whole host of emotions. It was wonderful to learn what happened next to some characters from Skylarks’; I was especially touched by old Mr Penrose’s story. Hilary has thought of everything here. Just perfect. Buy lots.

Beautifully written but as I hadn't read the previous book, all of the characters were new to me and it got just a bit confusing. Too many names too soon! This made it hard to follow and I had to keep flicking back. Overall though, a beautiful story and I loved the opening with the little boy buying flies to feed his baby swallows.

Simply gorgeous, and I’d actually say even better than the first one. You’re invested in the lives of all the new characters from the very beginning of the book, and at the same time it’s such a nice feeling to have the characters from the previous book back for more!

My only complaint is that I would have wanted even more, and it feels like the last 20% of the book could have made a whole other book as a part 3.

Just another brilliant story, adventurous, comforting, beautiful.

I enjoyed Skylarks War, so was worried I may not enjoy this one, but why did I doubt Hilary McKay! It is fabulous

I absolutely LOVED this book!
I have recently read The Skylarks' War, and after finishing that, really wanted to know what happened to all the characters such as Clarry and Rupert.
The Swallows' Flight follows the next generation of characters, and was just as interesting and gripping as the first book.
The book focuses on Hans and Erik, two German boys who grow up to be Luftwaffe pilots in WWII; Kate, the youngest daughter of Peter; and Ruby, the daughter of Clarry's friend.
I enjoyed how the author threaded the strands of their stories together. I really felt a connection with each of the characters and their stories. Like the first book, I didn't want the story to end! One strand that I particularly liked was the relationship that Kate develops with her grandfather, the frosty and unloving presence in The Skylarks' War. It was really heart warming to see how they interacted with each other, and to develop an understanding for some of his quirks that were very present in the first book.

Such magnificent story telling and superb writing! I will definitely be recommending it to others.

This is a pleasant book with some lovely nostalgic passages and sentiments, but I found it slightly disappointing. Perhaps that’s just because The Skylark’s War is so incredible that the sequel could never live up to it. The Swallows’ Flight is an enjoyable read, but rather disjointed in places and largely lacking the magic of Skylarks. The character of Dog is truly lovely, as is Grandfather, and the friendship between Hans and Erik is very well written, but I found the other characters slightly two dimensional. An enjoyable book, but no comparison to Skylarks.

I am currently reading this book, the format that it is available as on my device is proving rather tricky to negotiate, it shows as a double page but the writing is too small to read unless I am zoomed in to 1/4 page showing meaning I am constantly scrolling and moving side to side. I am thoroughly enjoying the story so far and will be back to adjust feedback once I've finished.

Hilary McKay’s The Skylarks’ War shot into my favourite books ever when I read it back in 2018, so I was incredibly excited to hear there’d be a follow up, and even more thrilled to be able to read an advance copy.

Let me tell you now – it has more than earned a place alongside Skylarks in my all time faves, being every bit as wonderful, and has cemented my opinion of Hilary McKay as one of my most highly-rated writers for children today.

So much of my feelings about Swallows echo those I had about Skylarks, with much of what I wrote there standing true for this book also.

And, somewhat inevitably, there will be many comparisons and parallels drawn between the two as I write this review as I loved the way the books link and follow on from each other.

Written as a companion novel to Skylarks, The Swallows’ Flight could easily be read without having read the former. However, I’d urge anyone planning to read Swallows to first read Skylarks; not only because it’s an absolutely outstanding book, but also because it really does add to Swallows to have read it.

It’s in the little references to past events, in the clever parallels and symbolism in the writing and, of course, in the characters.

We see several familiar characters return (later in life) alongside their families and I absolutely loved being able to rejoin some of the characters who I felt I’d got to know so well and who brought me so much joy to read in Skylarks.

I don’t know how much of a spoiler it is to say who reappears, so I’ll keep my lips tightly sealed other than to say that Grandfather in particular was the absolute star of the show here for me. His dry wit, stubbornness and, yes, his penchant for a drink allow for some wonderful comic moments (if these books ever became films and he wasn’t played by Richard E Grant it’d be an outrage).

But he also made for a very thought-provoking character, as I reflected on Skylarks as I read. And interestingly, it was him that helped other characters develop in some ways too, notably Kate, one of the new faces in the family and another of my favourite characters.

There’s a feel of I Capture the Castle’s Cassandra as she quietly notes down all her family and friends’ comings and goings, seemingly from the sidelines, as she is repeatedly overlooked and underestimated. But she’s stronger than she seems and I loved seeing her blossom in this.

I also loved her younger brother Charlie and new friend Ruby Amaryllis (and the story behind her birth and naming which was pitch-perfect for what we know of her mum already and for what we see of Ruby herself as she grows).

In fact it’s safe to say that all of the characters are an absolute joy to read; Hilary McKay is a writer who understands family dynamics and can bring her characters to life like no other. As in Skylarks, it is their depth and credibility their relationships and growth and our investment in them that really makes the book.

With Skylarks set around the First World War, Swallows takes us to a Europe on the brink of war once more, as World War Two approaches.

And this leads us to two more new characters I loved – Hans and Erik. They are an absolutely adorable double act, best friends with grand plans to run the zoo and nearby coffee stall. They are a delight to read – warm and loving and with that true spirit of carefree youth – and they complement the rest of the cast of characters superbly.

And, of course, they’re German.

I love the way that Swallows not only uses the multiple perspectives Skylarks does, but also the way it switches between Hans and Erik in Berlin and the families in England.

It created such tension and really added something to the way we see the war, encouraging the reader to consider it from all angles and helped us to learn more about its effects on ‘both sides’, with everyone just ‘doing what they can’.

As with Skylarks, this at no point shies away from the uncertainties and tragedies of war, nor its staggering, inconceivable scenes and events (Dunkirk for example), but they are always written about with such incredible deftness and sensitivity; its almost understated in its approach and hits so much harder because of it.

Quietly powerful, perceptive, funny and full of heart, this is a book to savour and to treasure.

As soon as its out (27th May – get it ordered!) it will be joining Skylarks on my shelf as a book that I will turn to for comfort, for escape…and for a chance to spend time once more with characters who now feel like old friends.

I was delighted to receive a proof of “The Swallows’ Flight” as I absolutely loved “The Skylarks’ War” and had wondered what could happen to the characters, particularly the lovely Clary and Rupert.

The story concerns the next generation, growing up before and during world War 2. Kate, Clary’s niece in Oxford, Ruby in Plymouth and Hans and Eric in Berlin. They all have hopes and dream, and difficulties – Kate is “delicate”, Ruby and her brother have a difficult relationship, and both Hans and Eric’s families have suffered the results of their country losing WW1. What drives the story is how they grow and develop. I especially liked the characters of Hans and Eric, who become Luftwaffe pilots but do not agree with Hitler’s views.

I absolutely could not put this book down. Obviously I knew the historical background of the story, but seeing the events through the eyes of children really brings them to life. This book sits alongside “The Silver Sword” (Ian Serraillier) and “Carrie’s War” (Nina Bawden) as “great WW2 fiction for children”. When it comes out I will be pressing it into customers’ hands.
Thanks to Panmacmillan and Netgalley for the proof.

The Swallows’ Flight is described as a companion novel to Hilary McKay’s 2018 novel, The Skylarks’ War. Having not read The Skylarks’ War, I did wonder whether that would effect my understanding and enjoyment of The Swallows’ Flight, but it did not matter at all; this book can be read with no knowledge of the companion book.

The book starts in 1931 and, in separate chapters, we are introduced to: Erik and Hans, schoolboys from Berlin; Ruby, who lives with her family in Plymouth; Kate, from Oxford; and Dog, who lives in a scrapyard in East London. Each chapter is dedicated to a particular character and their lives.

The early chapters of the book show how the children go about their daily lives but the impending threat of war looms over them all. For Ruby and Kate, they have brothers who start to prepare for their roles in the conflict. For Erik and Hans, we see how they become drawn in to training as pilots for the Luftwaffe.

As the war starts, the lives of the children - now teenagers - all change in different ways and eventually become intertwined, along with Dog. The realities of war are not downplayed; readers are shown the impact of the war on residents of Berlin as well as on the families in Britain.

Family ties are a strong theme throughout. As the war tears families apart, we see how the strength of family can also bring people together.

This is a relatively slow-moving story - there isn’t lots of action and adventure - but it gives you a chance to absorb everything that is happening. The characters are well-created and family life is depicted in a realistic way.

This would be a great book to use alongside a World War Two topic, showing the impact of war on different groups of people.

As Hilary McKay's brilliant novel The Skylarks' War is one of my favourite books of all time, this companion novel was my most anticipated book of 2021. I wondered, often, if it was possible for Swallows' to live up to the instant and future classic of Skylarks'. When I was approved to read and review the book in advance of its release by NetGalley, I jumped at the chance, but in the back of my mind was the worry that it wouldn't be what I wanted - no, needed - it to be.

I needn't have worried. McKay has done it again, blending history (in this case, World War Two) with heart and warmth and love. She is unfailingly able to get me invested in her characters from the get go - Ruby, with her temper; observant Kate with her writing; Erik and Hans, the dreamers; and of course the familiar faces from Skylarks', all grown up now. There was not one moment in this novel that didn't make me feel, whether it was anger or joy or grief or any other point on the emotional spectrum. Spanning years and time and space, The Swallows' Flight is as perfect a novel as there could be, and another that will forever be ensconced in my heart.

The Skylark’s War was a superb award winning book focussing on the lives of children and their families before and during World War I. The Swallow’s Flight is in many ways the companion novel as it focuses on the next generation linked to the families of The Skylark’ s Tale. This new book by Hilary McKay had me hooked from the first few pages. It is written for a readership of age 10 plus but as a reader of great books and a literature educator to children and teachers I was hooked. What makes this book special is that, like it’s predecessor, it doesn’t shy away from the realities of war and assume children can’t understand. The characters are fully rounded and empathy towards each of them strengthens across the novel. The episodic approach to chapters alternating between the three main character groups ( and the dog) allows the reader to see the build up, arrival and impact of war from differing perspectives. The characters of Hans and Felix are important and provide readers with the the understanding that not all Germans supported the Nazi / Hitler’s path; in a current world where media is becoming polarised and right wing groups are rising , the book should help open young people’s minds and discussions that not all people in every country believe in extremism and many fight against it. The character of Ruby is a delight as she struggles with anger and frustration in her younger years to the realisation as to what she can achieve in her teens. Similarly, the character of Kate becomes a strength within her family after the frailty and ailments in her younger years( her relationship with the grandfather is really endearing).
Many of the key events of World War II are woven within the plot and this would definitely support a class teacher exploring lives within World War II with learners. There are many ways through which stories centring around World War II could be approached and I am sure there will be many more in the future but at this moment Hilary McKay had produced another excellent book that not only is exciting but will further broaden the understanding with young readers regarding the futility of war and the compassion that all humans can have for each other when barriers and borders are removed.
I only wish is that the book could have been longer or even written over two volumes as post 1940 was quite a rapid movement within the book and the characters could have been further explored .This is not a negative but a sign as to how much I was enjoying the book. This is a classic in the making and should be recognised as much as the previous award winner.

Nearly three years ago I reviewed The Skylarks War, the companion novel to The Swallow's Flight and I said: 'Occasionally, very occasionally, you read a book that slips so perfectly into the canon that it seems as if it was always there. That you read it as a child, reread it over and over, until it forms part of you along with Anne Shirley and Jo March, the Fossil sisters, Jo Bettany and Veronica Weston and Nicola Marlowe... the Skylarks' War is such a book.' Which made me equally nervous and excited to read the new novel by Hilary McKay, set twenty years later on the cusp of World War Two. I needn't have worried. Every word I wrote above applies just as much here in this beautiful, thoughtful book.

Kate is the youngest daughter of Vanessa and Peter, niece to Clarry, old friends from Skylarks. She lives in a loving, busy, slightly chaotic home in Oxford where due to constant illness she is the cossetted baby of the family. Ruby has grown up over a shop in Plymouth, locked in a mutually antipathetic relationship with her brother Will, and painfully shy thanks to the birthmarks on her face. Meanwhile over in Berlin Erik dreams of one day running Berlin zoo, his best friend Hans of owning a food cart outside. But for boys in Berlin in 1936 dreams are a luxury and as they grow up reality will shadow their lives and the lives of everyone they love.

Spanning a decade The Swallow's Flight takes us through these three different lives as the children grow up under first the threat of war and then war itself. It's perfectly pitched, with moments of true horror, sadness and humour peopled by all too human characters who have to work out who they are and what they stand for in a dark difficult world. Hilary McKay is a superlative writer at the height of her powers. I was moved to tears more than once by this absorbing and clever book. A book I know that, like its prequel, I will reread over and over.

The Swallows’ Flight is a breathtakingly beautiful book. From the first word to the last, it commanded my attention and I devoured it in one sitting, completely unable to put it down.

The story follows the lives of four ordinary children growing up before, during and after the chaos of World War Two. It is told from the perspective of several different narrators and thus gives a well-rounded and unbiased view of events.

The Swallows’ Flight is historical fiction at its finest: it’s immersive, thought-provoking and it offers a fresh perspective on WW2. Although it’s a children’s book, it does not shy away from the harrowing truth of war. McKay strikes the perfect balance of being gritty, but not gruesome. Having multiple narrators helps to humanise all factions, enabling the reader to empathise with the different plights on each side of the conflict.

Hilary McKay has created something truly special. It’s a rare occurrence that a book leaves me speechless, but The Swallows’ Flight did just that. It’s only February and yet I feel that I may have already found my book of the year for 2021.

I have not read the prequel, The Skylarks’ War and so can say with absolute certainty that The Swallows’ Flight works as a standalone story. Having said that, I have just ordered a copy as I am desperate to immerse myself once again in McKay’s wonderfully vivid and poignant writing. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC; I will not only be adding this to my classroom bookshelf, but will also add it to the reading curriculum. I feel we would be robbing our children if we denied them the opportunity to read - and learn from - this incredible book.

The Skylarks' War from a few years ago has become one of my favourite books as well as one my mum & sister love too. I'd heard there was a sequel coming and I was both nervous & excited to read this.
I really needn't have worried McKay is a genius and this book had me swept up from page one. I loved meeting the characters from the first book along with the new ones and as ever it was the little details that had me hooked. My one complaint? I wanted it to be twice as long - mainly because I wanted to spend a lot more time with the characters - surely a sign of a great book. I definitely think this will be in my top reads of the year come December.

This book is destined to become a modern classic. It is written with such
an awareness of the period and manages to incorporate so much history of world war 2 within its pages. The way the author moves from different places and different characters with such ease is breathtaking and she does not shy away from the realities of war. Telling the story of characters from England and Germany is so powerful and one which will make this book a wonderful resource for discussion and learning. I read it one sitting with my elderly Mum who lived through the war and she was utterly gripped throughout. This clever, heartwarming and brave children's book will stay with me for s long time and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

My enormous thanks go to the publishers and Netgalley for a thoughtprovoking and totally engaging read.