The Swallows' Flight

Hilary McKay

• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781665900928
• eBook ISBN: 9781665900935

"A triumph." —Philip Pullman, bestselling author of the His Dark Materials saga Four young lives are forever changed at the dawn of World War II in this "stirring and unforgettable" ( Kirkus Reviews, starred review) novel from award-winning author Hilary McKay. In England, Ruby has no friends because of the speckled blotches on her face that kids say look like dirt. And Kate is sickly all the time, her older siblings each taking turns looking after her. Ruby and Kate's first meeting is nearly disastrous, but the two lonely girls soon strike up a friendship. Their connection becomes all the more important when England joins the war against Germany and the blitz begins overhead.In Germany, Erik and Hans are best friends filled with plans for their future: Erik taking over their beloved local zoo, and Hans serving pastries right outside the gates. They never expected to be forced to join the national service, training as pilots and tasked with hurting people. And in London a mistreated dog roams the streets looking for handouts, and for a friend.All of these lives will cross in the most surprising ways in this heartrending tale of war and compassion, and hope that can be found in even the most unexpected friendships, brought to life by award-winning author Hilary McKay.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Dedication
• Chapter One: Erik and Hans
• Chapter Two: Ruby
• Chapter Three: Kate
• Chapter Four: Dog
• Chapter Five: Erik and Hans
• Chapter Six: Ruby
• Chapter Seven: Kate
• Chapter Eight: Dog
• Chapter Nine: Erik and Hans
• Chapter Ten: Ruby
• Chapter Eleven: Kate
• Chapter Twelve: Dog
• Chapter Thirteen: Erik and Hans
• Chapter Fourteen: Ruby
• Chapter Fifteen: Kate
• Chapter Sixteen: Dog
• Chapter Seventeen: Erik and Hans
• Chapter Eighteen: Ruby
• Chapter Nineteen: Kate
• Chapter Twenty: Dog
• Chapter Twenty-One: Erik and Hans
• Chapter Twenty-Two: Ruby
• Chapter Twenty-Three: Kate
• Chapter Twenty-Four: Erik and Hans
• Chapter Twenty-Five: Ruby
• Chapter Twenty-Six: Kate
• Chapter Twenty-Seven: Erik and Hans
• Chapter Twenty-Eight: Ruby
• Chapter Twenty-Nine: Kate
• Chapter Thirty: Erik and Hans
• Chapter Thirty-One: Ruby and Kate
• Chapter Thirty-Two: Erik and Hans
• Chapter Thirty-Three: Kate and Ruby
• Chapter Thirty-Four: Erik and Hans
• Chapter Thirty-Five: Kate, Ruby, Pax, Erik
• Chapter Thirty-Six: Kate
• Chapter Thirty-Seven: Ruby
• Chapter Thirty-Eight: Erik, Kate, Ruby
• Chapter Thirty-Nine: Erik
• Chapter Forty: Will
• Chapter Forty-One: Kate
• Chapter Forty-Two: Erik
• Acknowledgments
• About the Author
• Copyright