• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Eleven-year-old Ruth’s friend and neighbor, Bea, has just died — an accidental drowning. Or so they say.

Ruth’s not so sure. Bea was sixty-four and knew the area better than anyone. She was much too careful to get swept away by the flooded Teeswater River. And now Bea’s godson, Saul, says his godmother had premonitions that she would be murdered. She even left behind a box of clues to help Ruth figure out what happened.

Accident or murder? That’s the case Ruth, Saul, and Ruth’s wayward pet chicken, Dorcas, have to crack.

Natalie Hyde writes fiction and non-fiction for middle-grade and young adult readers. Her fiction titles include Mine!, Saving Armpit, I Owe You One and Hockey Girl. She is also the author of over forty educational non-fiction books, as well as trade non-fiction titles: Cryptic Canada, Glow-in-the-Dark Creatures and Stay Strong: A Musician’s Journey from Congo to Canada. Her books have garnered award nominations in both Canada and the U.S. She lives in Flamborough, Ontario, with her family.

Natalie Hyde's profile page

• Nominated, Forest of Reading - Silver Birch Fiction Award
• Short-listed, IODE Violet Downey Book Award
• Nominated, Moonbeam Children's Book Award, Pre-Teen Fiction – Mystery, Gold

“Hyde pens an adventure with a timeless feel about a girl searching for her place in the world. While the chicken hilariously steals many scenes, Ruth emerges as a true protagonist as she breaks into buildings like the church, finding unlikely historical artifacts. Quirky characters and beautiful imagery make the village of Pinkerton feel alive, and hopefully the setting will lend itself to future books. Recommended for fans of summertime adventures, impossible puzzles, and lost histories.”

Booklist

“There are many elements of this fast-paced read to enjoy, including an easy-to-read writing style, subtle humour, clever observations, and identifiable, relatable child characters. Saul and Ruth are a good partnership, each having nicely drawn down-to-earth personalities. Similarly, personalities of local residents, some of whom are suspects, are captured deftly.” Highly Recommended.

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

“Swept Away is reminiscent of mysteries with classic girl sleuths and will be a fun read for all ages. Ruth is a great character and a headstrong young sleuth driven by her determination, similar to Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden.”

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