The Song of the Swan

Gr 4-8–Thirteen-year-old Olga and her companion, 18-year-old Pavel, both depicted as white in Hannuniemi’s stylized black-and-white illustrations, feature in Sutton’s Swan Lake–inspired Slavic tale. The story is divided into sections, each introduced by a male spider talking directly to readers and providing small clues. Olga is an orphan and a magical swindler who seeks a legendary gem, the Scarlet Heart, which seems like the answer to her hard-scrabble existence. Searching for it in the remote Sokolov Palace, Olga and Pavel encounter the genial Baron Sokolov who hosts nightly festivities for his guests. Conversations with the local talking spiders convince them to investigate further, as Olga is faced with an ethical conundrum—use her magic to try to break the palace’s enchantment, or act in her own self-interest. Sutton transforms the celebrated ballet into a children’s folk tale with some success. Olga is a refreshingly flawed individual whose bravery and initiative will appeal to readers. Lengthy descriptions of the foods at the Baron’s feasts are unilaterally mouth-watering. Turning a tragic ballet into a hopeful children’s tale creates some strained story threads which sit awkwardly alongside several of predictable plot twists. In the story’s conclusion, Sutton spends time telling readers what lessons they should learn rather than having Olga demonstrate them. Accompanying illustrations are by turns textured and soft with waves and fine lines, and an engaging author’s note sheds light on the book’s inspiration and sources.