PERHAPS A GIFT VOUCHER FOR MUM?: MOTHER'S DAY
Hilary McKay won the Costa Children's Book Award for The Skylarks' War, the Guardian Fiction Prize for The Exiles, and the Smarties and the Whitbread Award for The Exiles in Love and Saffy's Angel respectively. She is also the author of Straw Into Gold, A Time of Green Magic and The Swallows' Flight, a companion novel to The Skylarks' War, among many critically-acclaimed titles. Hilary studied Botany and Zoology at the University of St Andrews, and worked as a biochemist before the draw of the pen became too strong and she decided to become a full-time writer. Hilary lives in Derbyshire with her family
Hilary McKay's The Swallows' Flight is a triumph. The beautiful clarity of her storytelling is masterful and she deserves every prize going. I admire it very much -- Philip Pullman 'An incredible, clever, compassionate story from one of our very finest writers' -- Emma Carroll Hilary McKay has the ability to create characters so real that they live with you long after the last page, having made you laugh, cry - and love them. The Swallows' Flight is no exception; it soars like the swallows of the title as it leads its characters through the WW2 years, and ends with a glorious feeling of hope. -- Vivian French A wonderful story full of big, wonderful characters - more than a book about war - a story about our common humanity, which feels like both a hug and a fierce warning. -- Natasha Farrant on <i>The Swallows' Flight</i> Heaven -- Anna Fargher Characters are what Hilary McKay does best and, as always, she delivers in spades -- Mary Hoffman A novel possibly even better than its predecessor: funny, poignant, wise and emotional -- Fiona Noble * The Bookseller * The sort of simple, humane storytelling we all need right now . . . a treat -- Sally Nicholls The Swallows' Flight is a complete delight . . . a generous, warm, honest, witty and wise novel. It's a gem -- Richard Lambert Warm and delicious and richly textured -- Katherine Rundell Hilary McKay writes characters so warm and real, you want to step into her books and be friends with them all. The Swallows' Flight is a heartbreakingly beautiful page-turner. * Lauren St John *
