Starred Review Leira is one of the Swallow Clan on the Minoan island of Thera in the Bronze Age, beginning her "learning," after which she will be a priestess, like other women in her clan. Her happy existence is cut short, however, when an earthquake devastates the whole island, severely injuring her mother and leaving them homeless. First they take refuge at a farm, but Leira's father, a merchant sea captain, interprets an oracle's message as a warning of more disaster to come. Leira and her family sail to the island of Crete, but after Leira's father and brother leave to gather goods, a volcano near Thera erupts (an actual event), a tsunami almost wipes out the city, and Leira is left to help her injured mother and their slave, Nunu, on a perilous journey to safety. As she faces the demands of sheer survival, Leira gradually realizes that the privileges afforded to her, thanks to her social status, are meaningless, and she starts taking on whatever unpleasant job she must to protect herself and her family. There are no miracles and no clear answers for Leira, but she learns to love what she has and that she can cope with anything.? Leira's lyrical first-person narrative advances the story along beautifully with a fitting sense of urgency, and free-verse songs clue readers in to her emotional development. Immersive historical fiction.

Spiritual and cultural beliefs blossom into a celebration of life—at least until the darkness of fear and ruthlessness of the earthmother rip apart a homeland and a cherished way of life.This mesmerizing, aching tale explores ancient beliefs in gods and nature and their impact on an Aegean island society in the Bronze Age. Told through the viewpoint of highborn maiden Leira as she prepares for the Learning—a rite of passage in which girls become women—Orr's prose paints delicate brush strokes to illustrate the beauty and brutality of coming-of-age and of losing yourself to find out who you really are. The Swallow Clan lives on a volcanic island in the Mediterranean, where they make offerings, even sacrifices, to gods and goddesses to show gratitude for life and bounty. But when the earth "belches" and the ground begins to shake, all the plans and anticipation Leira has for her future fracture, crumbling like the land beneath her feet. Orr nimbly shows Leira's imperiousness and her humanity alike as the girl witnesses the jarring shift in order when once-exalted priests and priestesses find themselves cast adrift. Her mixture of prose and free verse to tell Leira's story is lyrical and magnetic—and devastating.Not for readers searching for a simple or happy journey, this is a beautiful song of a book that shows that life isn't always fair, but change is always constant. (Historical fiction. 10-14)

Gr 5-8 Leira's sheltered life of privilege is all she has ever known. Her biggest concern is becoming a woman so she can start her priestess rites. Her people believe the earth goddess will protect them if the proper rituals and sacrifices are carried out, but an earthquake rocks their existence. Leira's mother is crushed inside their home and suffers severe brain damage, and eventually her family chooses to take their chances by boarding a boat to Crete. As tragedy upon tragedy befalls the sweet but naive Leira in this Bronze Ageset tale, readers will cheer for her to succeed, grow, and to find her way in this new world. Some chapters written in verse make the more emotional plot lines sing. An eye-opening look at how difficult it is when one's status changes in life, and how attitude can shape outcome. VERDICT Beautiful writing and a fast-moving plot will give young historical fiction fans much to love. Mandy Laferriere, Fowler Middle School, Frisco, TX

Spiritual and cultural beliefs blossom into a celebration of life—at least until the darkness of fear and ruthlessness of the earthmother rip apart a homeland and a cherished way of life.This mesmerizing, aching tale explores ancient beliefs in gods and nature and their impact on an Aegean island society in the Bronze Age. Told through the viewpoint of highborn maiden Leira as she prepares for the Learning—a rite of passage in which girls become women—Orr's prose paints delicate brush strokes to illustrate the beauty and brutality of coming-of-age and of losing yourself to find out who you really are. The Swallow Clan lives on a volcanic island in the Mediterranean, where they make offerings, even sacrifices, to gods and goddesses to show gratitude for life and bounty. But when the earth "belches" and the ground begins to shake, all the plans and anticipation Leira has for her future fracture, crumbling like the land beneath her feet. Orr nimbly shows Leira's imperiousness and her humanity alike as the girl witnesses the jarring shift in order when once-exalted priests and priestesses find themselves cast adrift. Her mixture of prose and free verse to tell Leira's story is lyrical and magnetic—and devastating.Not for readers searching for a simple or happy journey, this is a beautiful song of a book that shows that life isn't always fair, but change is always constant. (Historical fiction. 10-14)