On Silver Tides by Sylvia Bishop (12+) - Reading group guide

Full of heart, drama and beauty, this sweeping fantasy inspired by ancient folklore will draw you into a secret world within Britain’s waterways.

Kelda has always protected her little sister Isla from danger on the rivers, and from the suspicions of their community. For Isla cannot breathe underwater – and so her very existence is forbidden by silvermen’s Lore.
Now the rivers of England are growing sick: monstrous creatures are awakening and a fierce torrent of blame falls upon Kelda’s family. When betrayal comes, the sisters escape on a desperate journey upstream. Joining forces with a mysterious boy, Kelda discovers the darkest depths of her kind’s secret history. But to save both her sister and the very life of Britain’s waterways, Kelda will have to make a sacrifice – one that will change her life forever.

‘This book is a gift of rare imagination and luminous writing. A classic in the making’ – Katya Balen
‘I loved this book so much. It feels like a contemporary classic’ – Alice Winn
‘Bishop’s writing transforms Britain into a magical network of rivers, channels and lochs that will fill you with wonder’ – Ann Sei Lin