Swallow's Dance

In the myth-rich culture of Bronze Age Crete, a volcano cuts short the coming-of-age training of a young priestess. When her world is shattered and her future appears lost, she must find the strength within herself to ensure the survival of her family.

Leira is about to start her initiation as a priestess when her world is turned upside down. A violent earthquake leaves her home--and her family--in pieces. And the earth goddess hasn't finished with the island yet.

With her family, Leira flees across the sea to Crete, expecting sanctuary. But a volcanic eruption throws the entire world into darkness. After the resulting tsunami, society descends into chaos; the status and privilege of being noble-born are reduced to nothing. With her injured mother and elderly nurse, Leira must find the strength and resourcefulness within herself to find safety.

A thrilling new Bronze Age survival story from the award-winning author of Dragonfly Song and Nim's Island.

Starred Review. 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) -- Kirkus Reviews