Where the river takes us
By Lesley Parr
Published by Bloomsbury PLC

Another fabulous adventure from Lesley Parr who takes us on a journey of friendship, family values and trust.
It's February 1974 and the three day strike affects everyone. Loss of power, money and the miners strike. But for thirteen-year-old Jason and his older brother Richie, they feel the struggle more than most, ever since their parents died.
Richie is doing his best to be the man of the house, but since he can't make ends meet he's in with the wrong people.
So when the rumour of a wild cat roaming through the forest hits the village news Jason's friends convince him this is the answer to his money problems. A reward will make everything right. Or so they think.
And so the adventure starts. Where the river takes this group of mates, through tricky situations; tough and challenging decisions and dangerous positions. A quest like no other.
Another marvellous middle-grade page turner, with relatable teenage themes runs parallel with the historical fiction of the 1970’s.
Thank you Lesley Parr for a step back in time, growing up during these difficult times but a reminder of true loyalty and kindness “when the chips are down!”

Joanne Bardgett - Year 3 teacher of littlies, lover of children’s literature.
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A wonderful tale about loyalty, friendship and working through hardship. Immediately, you find yourself absorbed into Jason’s life and will him on, as he sets out on his adventure with his best friends. Their quest may seem small to some but the journey will lead to reflections and realisations that will impact them in to the future.

I am pleased to say that Lesley Parr has become one of my trusted authors who I would preorder their latest book without knowing a single thing about it but assured that I will love & savour it. What I especially loved with this novel is that I could ‘hear’ Lesley’s beautiful Welsh lilt of a voice reading it. As someone who grew up in the seventies, it took me straight back to my childhood & the reminder of those times in references to language, phrases, food, drink & magazines was a treat. The banter between the children was believable & evocative of the era. Can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!!

I really love Lesley's books. Perhaps it's because I can identify with so many of the places in them. This story is no different, set in a village where everybody knows everyone's business in the 1970's. Nostalgia definitely played a role in my enjoyment of reading a book set in this era, when children like me (okay, the 80's was my childhood but close enough!) were able to roam free, making ramps for their bikes and exploring the surrounding countryside with few limits. However, you certainly don't need to be a child of the 70's or 80's to enjoy this book. Today's young readers will be absorbed by Parr's storytelling.

Jason and his older brother Richie are faced with coping with life in a time of the three day week after the tragic loss of their parents. Richie has to grow up fast and the challenges of all that being a grown up in such a time of austerity brings becomes too much. Jason's devoted group of friends rally together on a quest to find a mysterious beast of a cat to raise money for Jase & Richie' plight and what follows is a tale of adventure and determination. The group of friends truly are the type of friends you want to keep for life. I enjoyed the humour among this friendship group and the way their bond grew and they stuck together no matter what challenges they faced all in the name of friendship. I really recommend Where The River Takes Us, along with all of Lesley's books. Sensitive, touching, heartwarming.

It's 1974 and Jason and his older bother, Richie, are trying desperately to make ends meet since the death of their parents. Money is tight due to the enforced three day week, and the power cuts don't help things either. Then Jason discovers that Richie is behind on the mortgage payments and has got himself involved in some dodgy business as a result. Determined to help him, Jason and his friends decide that the reward for a picture of the legendary big cat that roams the countryside is the perfect way to make some money. With £100 on offer to the person who takes the first picture, they grab some supplies and set off on their expedition. However, with others also after the reward, can the friends get their in time?
I am a child of the 70s so I was both horrified and thrilled at the prospect of reading Where The River Takes Us: horrified that I'm old enough to be reading a historical novel set during my own lifetime, and thrilled that I was getting to read Lesley's new book months in advance of its publication date (I've adored her other books and she has quickly become an author whose books I get very excited about reading).

Set in the 1970s, I was quickly transported back to my childhood and Lesley has definitely captured the feel of the time authentically with talk of slices of white bread and butter with tea, R. Whites lemonade, newspapers on sale for 3p, the fact the the 1/2p piece was in circulation ... I could go on but it's safe to say that I felt incredibly nostalgic. As well as this, Lesley really captured the essence of the time: children spending time playing on the streets or creating ramps for their bikes instead of being inside on electronics. However, things were tough with the miners out on strike and a three day week had been enforced; as a result, power cuts were a regular thing and money was tight (as I type this, I realise that there is a definite similarity between this and the times in which we currently live). It's no wonder that Richie, still only a teenager, is finding it difficult to make the mortgage payments. He's had to grow up incredibly quickly, not only having to deal with the death of both of his parents, but also taking on the responsibility for his younger brother, Jason. It's clear from the start that he is doing his best, but it just isn't enough in such difficult times - I really felt for him.

Then we have Jason (who I just wanted to reach into the book and cwtsh). The sudden death of both parents has turned his life upside down and, as the book progresses, we really see the effects of this. The story highlights the fact that grief can manifest itself in many different ways and at different times, and I think any child going through anything similar will appreciate seeing how Jason is coping.

I have to also mention Catrin who is such a strong female character. At a time when women and girls were still seen as the weaker sex, she is independent and proves she is as strong as the boys. Lesley has captured the essence of the 1970s perfectly within each of the characters, both in the way they act as well as the way they speak, and this will show readers how far we have come since then,

Where The River Takes Us is a wonderful tale of family, friendship and grief that will captivate readers young and old. Due for release on the 16th March, this is a book that will warm your heart on those cold winter days so I highly recommend jumping on your Chopper and peddling to your nearest book store to pre-order it.

There's just one thing though, Lesley: I've had the biggest ear-worm since reading the book and now can't stop hearing 'Oh you'll never get to heaven ...' Ah the memories that song brought back!

Whether you're a child who wants to dive into a heart-warming adventure, or a grown-up of a 'certain' age who wants to relive their childhood, Where The River Takes Us is the book for you.

Lesley Parr’s new book takes place in the 1970s, when Welsh families were contending with power blackouts and miner strikes. Jase and Richie are finding life harder than most, after the death of their parents, with big brother Richie struggling to pay the mortgage. So when Jase spots a reward in the local paper for a photo of an elusive big cat that is said to haunt a nearby village, his 3 best friends accompany him on a camping adventure to try and win the reward money. This is a story of friendship and grief. The dynamic between the children is really well written and the dangers and set-backs they run into keep the pages turning. I love the relationship between Jase and Richie.

Lesley Parr is fast becoming, in my humble opinion Wales' historical queen of fiction and I know that her penned words will entertain, inform and delight and Where The River Takes Us doesn't disappoint. The amount of research that is clearly undertaken in each book adds to its depth and in this tale set in 1970s Wales, we are taken back to the days of the Miner's strike and the impact of a three-day week as well as the nostalgia of the Raleigh Chopper,  the milk float, the idea of a quarter of sweets, Shandy Bass and the days of Trumpton. This is a book that will be enjoyed by readers aged 9 plus but savoured by those readers old enough to remember the 70s. As a child growing up in the 70s, this book took me back to those halcyon days of adventures; out exploring the wilderness of Dorset with friends and savouring the delights of a crisp sandwich.
Where The River Takes Us is more than a tale of searching for the elusive Beast of Blaengarw; it  is a story of the indomitable nature of the human spirit, the joy of friendship, and the uniqueness of family. As we journey with Jason,Tam, Jinx and Catrin we cannot help but will them to succeed in their quest. Lesley Parr has written characters worthy of our time and empathy and as they grow so too does our connection with them. We learn as much about them as they do of themselves. There are moments along the way when I laughed, chuckled, joined in with the songs and wept.
Lesley Parr has penned a heartburst of a story.
It is a triumphant nostalgic read.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the early read.

A fantastic story set in Wales which is essentially all about the power of friendship and family. Set against the backdrop of the 3 day working week in the 1970s, this story feels like a step back in time and place - you feel like you are there and in Wales, from the language, to the description of the landscape. Struggles with money after the death of parents and with older brother Richie in trouble, Jason and his friends set off on a quest to get a picture of the mysterious big cat that had been spotted for some reward money. Battling bulls and bullies aling the way, they learn a lot about thenselves and each other and what family and friendship is all about.

I love the title Where The River Takes Us as it’s a beautiful metaphor for the (sometimes turbulent) journey that the characters take in Lesley’s latest novel. I adored The Valley of Lost Secrets and When The War Came Home so I’m very thankful to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for this early read - once again, Lesley has created unforgettable characters, this time in a time period which isn’t regularly explored in children’s literature. At a time when strikes are happening, the cost of living is going up and there’s reports there could be power cuts again, this book has become more imperative reading.

Exploring February 1974 in Wales, the story follows some friends out to spot a big cat reportedly lurking in Blaengarw in order to claim the reward which could support Jason and his brother with paying for their house, which could be about to be repossessed by the bank. It’s an interesting analogy - searching for this beast when Jason, Catrin, Jinx and Tam are all searching for something themselves. Their friendships - and conflicts - are such a joy to read (like wrapping you in a cwtch!) and like Stand By Me, this journey will change all their lives. Jason provides the emotional heart of the story as he grapples with grief and trying to protect his older brother, who has had to take on a guardian role and lost what’s left of his childhood. There’s certainly points you’ll need a tissue!

Another captivating, sophiscated story, Where The River Takes Us sends us on the most beautiful journey and explores friendship and grief amidst the troubled economic and social backdrop in the 70s. If you’re a fan of Lesley’s stories, you’ll hopefully spot a clever nod to The Valley of Lost Secrets too! Also, who doesn’t love chapter titles about crisp sandwiches and fish finger sandwiches? No doubt this is one of the most anticipated reads of 2023!

The older I get, the more my view of what is history seems to differ from other people’s. To me, Lesley Parr’s wonderful The Valley of Lost Secrets and When the War Came Home both count as modern historical reads because when I learned about both World Wars at school that’s what they would have been classed as but in this, her third novel, I was a young child during the time she has chosen to write about.

Much as I might not be keen on my advancing years making those key events lose their modern title, for my own – adult – children and those I teach, the 1970s without doubt count as history and with very few recently published stories for children being set at this time (I can only think of one or two), as well as being a brilliant story this will give younger readers an insight as to what life was like for either their parents growing up – or, perhaps more likely – their grandparents.

In the small town of Blaengarw, however, such matters are of no interest whatsoever. For its few inhabitants, the biggest current news story is the possible sighting of a wild cat on the loose. For Jason though, who lives in nearby Ponty, this is of little interest compared to building bike ramps and perfecting wheelies on the local waste ground. Just as he loses control of his bike and lands on his side, best friend Catrin comes over the top of the hill where he is practising his manoeuvres and they briefly chat before Jason’s other friends Jinx and Tam appear and Jinx excitedly tells them that there has been another sighting. With the sky getting dark, Jason tells his friends it is time for him to go home, grateful that they do not try to persuade him to stay out later as they know he has tea to prepare.

With no electricity to power the lighting, or anything else, Jason chops the potatoes he and older brother Richie will be eating as best he can by candlelight before turning his attentions to the homework he has been set, reflecting on how much stricter his brother is than either of their late parents. This evening, Richie is late, attributing it to having to stay late at work to talk about things that Jason needn’t worry about. Aware of the difficulties his older brother is encountering as his guardian, Jason cannot help but worry and this is made far worse when their meal is interrupted by a visitor – a local low-life with whom Richie has got involved in the hopes of being able to improve the brothers’ finances.

With the very real threat of being separated from Richie if everything goes wrong for them, Jason considers how best he can make some money to help his brother. When a local newspaper offers a cash prize to anyone who can provide photographic evidence of the existence of the wild cat, Jason and his friends soon hatch a plan to walk to Blaengarw to win the money. As they follow the course of the local river to their destination, the four of them will face unexpected dangers and learn much about themselves and the real meaning of friendship. But can they be the first to photograph the beast, and if they can will it be enough to keep Jason and Richie together?

As with the author’s other stories, at the heart of this one are the themes of the importance of the love between friends and family and how the lines between the two are often blurred. When the four children leave to travel to Blaengarw to look for the cat, things are strained between Catrin and Jinx because he has never given her a chance – partly because she is a girl and partly because she attends a different school. As he gets to know her, he starts to learn what she is like and the importance of not only her friendship to Jason, but also the adult support that her parents give him – something that Richie has struggled with due to his youth and inexperience.

Not only does the story empathetically portray the difficulties that Richie faces in his role of unexpected guardian to Jason but it also reflects the differences in the way some individuals treat the bereaved. In Jason’s case, he is extremely upset both by the comments of a neighbour who offers what she considers to be good advice to him and the inability of one of his friends to talk to him about his late parents. These are both common experiences for those who have lost someone and some fantastic conversations could be had if this were to be used as a class reader to develop empathy towards the bereaved.

This would make a fabulous read for those in upper KS2. With lots of details that I remember from my childhood: the good such as halfpenny sweets and Look-In magazine and the bad, such as the blackouts, it will give many young readers a taste of what life was like not so long ago. I really enjoyed it and am enormously grateful to both publisher Bloomsbury and to Net Galley for my virtual advance read. Where The River Takes Us publishes March 16th.

Where The River Takes Us is the third book written by Lesley Parr and is set in 1970s Wales against the backdrop of the miners’ strikes. The story centres around Jason and his older brother Richie, whose parents have died, and their struggle to stay together. Jason and his very special gang of friends then join together on a quest to help him out financially by trekking to the mountains to get a photograph of a mysterious big cat that is prowling the landscape, for a reward of £100. The friends are so beautifully written, and whilst the story is set in the 1970s, the portrayal of how Jason & Richie deal with the loss of their parents, and the way Jason’s friends support him, will resonate with many children and adults who read this book. Catrin is a particular favourite of mine - resilient, bright, witty and unafraid! She reminds me of so many girls I have taught over the years and she is accepted into the ‘gang’ by showing Jinx and Tam that she is every bit as good as they are. The main thing I love about Lesley’s writing is that she uses the history of the period to enhance her characters and the story she is telling. The history is subtle but weaves through the story, so that by the end of it you feel as if you were there and lived through it too. Be warned though, it is emotional and you may need a hankie (just in case!) Another treasure trove of historical fiction and I loved it!

I adored this one.

An adventure full of heart and friendship set in post-war Wales,

It's 1974 and things are tough - 3 day week and rations - but for Richie and his brother Jason, things are even tougher as they try to survive together since the death of their parents. When Richie gets pulled into shady dealings to try and make ends meet Jason wants to help his older brother who is always looking out for both of them. Rumours of a wild cat, with a reward of £100 for an actual photo capture the imagination of Jason and his friends... and they're off.

What unfolds is an adventure filled with drama, friendship, brothers and healing.

Emma Perry