Award-winning Hilary McKay brings the childhood of Victorian heroine Grace Darling to life in this heartfelt reimagining of her life up to and including the Forfarshire shipwreck. Despite her fear of boats, Grace Darling loves her life as the daughter of a lighthouse keeper and spends fun-filled childhood days with her three sisters, four brothers, numerous goats, chickens, cats and her beloved dog, Happy. The only shadows come from the many shipwrecks caused by the poor location of their lighthouse, a problem that seems to be fixed when a new one is built further out on the remote Longstone Rock.

But in September 1838, a steamship called the Forfarshire is wrecked on the dangerous Harcar Rock. Grace alerts her father to survivors, but can she find the courage to help him row out through the mountainous waves to rescue them? Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.

• Author: Hilary McKay
• Illustrator: Keith Robinson
• Publisher: Barrington Stoke
• ISBN: 978‑0‑00‑870052‑2
• Publication Date: 10 April 2025 (UK)
• Interest Age: 9+; Reading Age: approx. 8 years
• Setting: Northumberland coast, Victorian era, shipwrecks and lighthouse‑life.
• Accessible Features: Short chapters, generous spacing, dyslexia‑friendly typeface, age‑relevant story for older readers with lower reading ages.

FAQs

Q1. Is this book suitable for readers with dyslexia or reading difficulties?

Yes — it is published by Barrington Stoke, a publisher well known for accessible layouts and dyslexia‑friendly design, and clearly described as “particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8”.

Q2. What age group is this book aimed at?

The interest age is 9+ (upper primary / early secondary), while the reading age is approximately 8 years — ideal for children who read below their chronological age.

Q3. What is the story about?

It recounts the childhood of Grace Darling, daughter of a lighthouse keeper on the Northumberland coast, her life in remote lighthouse locations, her fear of the sea, and her courageous involvement in the 1838 Forfarshire shipwreck rescue.

Q4. Can it be used in schools for classroom libraries or reading‑intervention groups?

Absolutely. With a historically important figure, strong cross‑curriculum links (History, Local Study, Women’s History), accessible format and manageable length, it is an excellent addition to classroom libraries, reading‑for‑pleasure zones and inclusive reading programmes.

Q5. Will the story feel too “easy” for older readers?

No — while the reading age is lower, the story’s setting, themes and characters are age‑appropriate for 9+ years. It meets older children at their interest age, while supporting their reading confidence.