Letting Swift River Go

Simply outstanding book which perfectly captures the unbearably devastating situation. The author writes with simplicity and heart, easy enough for children to comprehend but also with the intelligence for adults. My family settled in the Swift River Valley and were raising their young children when Boston's attitude about "those people" destroyed their way of life. I grew up hearing stories about the life lost and, in... Read Full Review

Jane Yolen tells the story of a community 'drowned' by waters filling a new reservoir. The poetry of her telling somehow lessens the ache. You doubtless know of such a story - - of vast lakes covering YEARS OF FAMILY HISTORIES, and pre-history. Barbara Cooney has created realistic scenes to accompany Yolen's words. Together, the story makes a lasting impression: children playing among gravestones, listening at night to... Read Full Review

This book is for anyone - of any age - who has lost anything of beauty or anything they love. Children will love it, but don't keep it from the adults. I still can't read it without crying.

The best thing about this book is its refusal to play games with your child's mind. Rejecting the shameless tear-jerking of so much media aimed at children, this book embraces the grand tradition of children's books that takes children seriously. This is a book about dealing with loss about about letting go, but also a book that makes the reader reflect on what is good about life. Warts and all, life is sweet. As a historian,... Read Full Review

This is one of the best children's books I've read in a long time. The story of the building of the Quabbin Resevoir in western MA is not a wide told story, but it should be. This book is clearly written so children can understand what was happeneing. The illustrations are also wonderful and will keep the children engaged. If you're the grown up reader, don't count on getting through this with a dry eye. It's definatly... Read Full Review