The Tale of Truthwater Lake cover art

The Tale of Truthwater Lake

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The Tale of Truthwater Lake

By: Emma Carroll
Narrated by: Eleanor Bennett
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About this listen

It’s 2032 and Britain is facing yet another heatwave. Temperatures are breaking all records, and now government curfews are in place to ensure people stay indoors out of the sun. But it’s also the school holidays and Polly Carraway is fed up.

When a late night beach swim goes horribly wrong, she’s relieved to be sent away, with her troubled brother Joel, to stay with their aunt, whose house is on the banks of a reservoir.

On arriving Polly’s shocked to see Truthwater Lake is drying up. As the water level drops, a lost village emerges. And even here, in the countryside, it’s still too hot to sleep. Swimming in the lake at midnight, Polly dives down and is suddenly able to breathe, to touch rooftops and see gravestones and hear bird song...

Has Polly found a gateway into the past?

2023, The Young Quills Awards, Long-listed

2024, The Carnegie Medal for Writing Outstanding book written in English for children and young people, Nominated

©2022 Emma Carroll (P)2022 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd Fiction Growing Up Growing Up & Facts of Life Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction Science Fiction & Fantasy Fantasy

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Critic reviews

'A superb feat of storytelling.' (Hilary McKay, author of The Skylarks' War)
All stars
Most relevant
This tale was full of suspense and heartfelt storytelling. The perfect listen for anyone who loves Emma Carroll like I do!

Amazing story!

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Very suspenseful and entertaining! Full of events and mystery’s! Great for 6-13 yr olds!

Great story!

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Themes of friendship and perseverance in this time travelling piece of historical fiction that flits between 1952 and 2032. The main plot twists and surprises were rather obvious to both me and my 9/11 year old daughters but it was still an enjoyable read and an interesting concept.

Time travelling historical fictions

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