There seems to be a quiet movement of ecological themes unfurling in children's books. Only a few years ago, Nicky Singer was told there was no market for environmental themes in children's books when she sent 'Island' out on submission, and since then it's fast been emerging as an important theme in many of the children's books I've been reading in the last couple years. Jess Butterworth's previous two novels are also on my TBR, but having never read any of Jess Butterworth's books before, I wanted to jump into this one first because of its more focused climate change and conservation in the present day, and also because its setting is a place I've not read about in a children's book before.

Eliza, with her sister Avery and their parents, lives in the Bayou of the Gulf of Mexico, which is quickly feeling the impact of climate change, especially from storms and rising sea levels. Already they've had to raise their house up on fifteen-foot stilts and much of the land their community has lived on for generations is already underwater. On Eliza's twelfth birthday, her parents take her out shrimping for the first time, something she's aspired to join them in doing all her life. But when she sees how many other creatures have to die in order for them to catch the shrimp they need, she's no longer sure she wants to be a shrimper anymore and doesn't know how to tell her family. When a local mining company offers a payment to anyone who relocates and the community is divided about what to do, things start feeling even more hopeless. But then Eliza's younger sister discovers what might well be footprints of the legendary Loup-Garou, and the siblings and their two best friends think that if they can just find this creature and prove it exists, then the government will have to put more funding into protecting their home. But When Avery is lost in the swamp trying to find the creature and a storm sweeps into the Bayou, Eliza and her friends take a big risk to go out on their own searching for her to bring her home.

The story starts by introducing the family and establishing how important the Bayou is, not only for the livelihoods of the people who live there but for the close-knit community's history and culture. There were some few touching moments where either Eliza or someone she knew mentioned how much the village had changed in recent years, how the land had sunk, how much the sea level had risen, the weather becoming more erratic, and how their buildings and way of life has changed already. The stakes begin high and only keep climbing, with the family and protagonist's personal struggles fronted by the drowning of their land, brief snapshots of its effects on the animals who live there, and the damage caused by oil corporations. While a storm, as in the title, both metaphorically and really swells through this book, the characters take risks with their own lives to fight against it and do something to help, however small. For such a short book, which at its heart is a cry from the young to the old to protect what we have left, it packs a sharp punch in so many other topics too. Friendship, family, and loyalty weave through the story with gentle nods to growing up, having your dreams confronted by reality, and making meaningful changes in your life to reflect a changing world. I especially liked how Butterworth challenged some of the environmentally damaging fishing and working traditions, but with a touch that made adaption rather than abandonment of livelihoods emphasised. She doesn't tell anyone how they should be changing to help climate action, but she does show, with open minds and a wiliness to try new technologies and strategies, that it is still possible to continue but with less impact on your local environment. That small changes are just as important as the bigger changes needed by companies and corporations.

And through all of that, it's still a fast-paced adventure story, full of action, suspense, mystery, and kids making a difference in their little part of the world. My only issues with this book were how predictable it felt, and how untethered some of these ideas and subplots felt from the main story. It could have done with some more character depth, perhaps, as there I wanted to know more about some characters passions and motivations in more clarity. For example, Eliza and Avery's passion to become shrimpers, like their parents, didn't make much sense to me, especially when they seemed to know very little about it. How could they really not know about the kinds of nets used, and how they might catch other creatures too? Also, what about shrimping made them want to do it so much? Simply tradition and family values? It was never made particularly clear to me. But overall this is definitely more down to my own preferences for deeper understanding of characters, and it perhaps isn't necessary to still enjoy this story; I, for sure, definitely still enjoyed it. I really recommend this book for Y4+, as it's a great introduction to the realities of climate change on present-day people's lives, and while the hunt for a mythological creature is a strong narrative thread, the book still feels very rooted in reality.

Jess Butterworth’s debut middle grade book, Running on the Roof of the World, is one of my favourites of recent years and it never fails to enrapture children when they are reading it. It encapsulated a feeling of adventure and excitement that is infectious and makes you want to read more from this author.

This third book in quick succession is a very plausible story, that of a girl growing up in the swamps of Louisiana, on the estuary of the Gulf of Mexico. Eliza is old enough now to go shrimping with her parents and she looks forward to going out to help with the family business. The book opens with Eliza learning the ropes while her little sister Avery is left at home.

Both of the main characters here feel like real children you could meet growing up in this unique environment. They travel around in their motorboats up and down the river and explore the swamps. When Avery takes Eliza and their friends on a trip upstream to solve the mystery of the ‘loupgarou’ footprints, they find themselves caught in the middle of the eponymous storm and Avery goes missing.

Swimming Against the Storm is a joy to read, despite the perilous adventure that the main characters find themselves thrown into. There’s a bigger issue being discussed between the members of the community and shady corporations which is pretty accurate to real life. We learn that the swamps are disappearing at a rapid pace and communities are being destroyed with every new storm that brews up around them.

This is another novel with a sprinkle of real-life magic from Jess Butterworth. It’s a marvel to read a book that is almost entirely set outdoors, in a real-life environment that most of its readers would not be familiar with, but will definitely be enthralled by.

An exciting eco-conscious adventure from a wonderful author who writes to inspire and encourage her readers. I zipped through this and enjoyed it immensely.

Eliza and her sister Avery live in Louisiana, near the swamps and the local legend Loup-Garou.

Their family are shrimpers and live in a house on stilts near the water. Eliza and Avery know the swamp like the back of their hands, they know the animals, the land, water and how to be safe.

They have survived tornadoes and hurricanes and know the value of family and community.

When Avery goes missing, Eliza and her friends must go back to family and the community to ask for help. It becomes a fast paced, hugely exciting story to save Avery, who might have been taken by the Loup-Garou.

In order to find Avery, get home and save their community, Eliza, Huy and Grace must first survive a hurricane, encounters with alligators and flooding.

Jess Butterworth is an incredible writer- her stories involve such daring adventures and strong brilliant characters. It is a must read for adventurers aged 9 and above!