Emily Windsnap and the Falls of Forgotten Island

Liz Kessler's Emily Windsnap and the Falls of Forgotten Island is a holiday adventure for 10 year olds with a mystery hiding behind an enormous waterfall.

What happens

It opens hundreds of years ago, with a storm so fierce and so magical that it seems to be hunting for one person on one small island. When it's over, the island is walled in by cliffs, fog and a roaring waterfall. And then it's forgotten.

Back in the present, Emily is worn out. She's had one adventure after another. So she and Shona make a very solemn deal, hands up and everything. No adventures, risks or mysteries for a whole month. Bring on the boring!

How long do you think that lasts?

Millie decides Emily's mum needs some winter sun, and soon the whole family is off to Majesty Island, with Millie, Aaron and Shona too. Their rooms sit on stilts over the sea with caves underneath, so the merfolk can sleep in the water.

Then there's a boat trip to see the falls of Forgotten Island, which nobody even knew existed until the clouds round it cleared last year. Through all the spray, Emily is sure she sees a pair of dark eyes staring straight back at her.

Some of the best bits are the quieter ones. Emily is stuck between her boyfriend and her best friend, and Shona's smile doesn't always reach her eyes. If your reader has ever tried to keep two friends happy at the same time, they'll know exactly how that feels.

Worth knowing before you hand it over

A crew member on the boat tells Emily that a young man tried to swim through the falls last year and died. She's told about it early on (it doesn't happen in front of her).

There's also a tense moment when Emily slips off the boat and gets caught in the churning water by the falls. A reader who gets anxious about deep water might want you close by for that bit. One who loves a cliffhanger will be racing on to find out who's behind the falls.

This is the seventh Emily Windsnap book. Emily and Shona chat about her past adventures right at the start, which gives a fair bit away about the earlier books. Your best starting point is The Tail of Emily Windsnap.

What to read next

If your reader loves the idea of magic in the water, try The Mermaid's Sister next. Mia lives in a city of canals kept safe from floods by water magic, and every night she dreams of chasing mergirls she can never quite catch.