Tuesday Treasure
Strictly speaking The Swan's Gift is not a Tuesday Treasure because I started that series of posts to highlight treasures from my former school library and we didn't purchase this book when it was published in 1995 but since it is out of print and it is such a beautiful story I have decided to add it to my blog. I was lucky to find a mint condition copy at a recent charity sale.
The Swan's Gift is a modern fairy tale. Anton and Rubina have seven children. Times are very hard and now there is no food. Anton sets out to hunt hoping to find a bird or rabbit - something they can add to their cooking pot which now only contains water.
Anton walks on and on in the freezing conditions. Finally, empty handed, he turns for home. Just below him on the lake he sees a beautiful white swan.
"Suddenly the juices flowed into Anton's mouth. He could taste succulent roast swan and see his children's faced glowing as his family sat at the table eating again. He raised his gun ... "
The tension rises as Anton puts his finger on the trigger. He feels as though the swan is looking directly at him. It is a magnificent bird. Brenda Seabrooke uses words like "dazzling beauty" and "the most beautiful creature."
Anton drops to his knees. He speaks out loud "I can't do it." A voice "as soft as snow or feathers ruffling in the wind" asks "why not?" Anton knows if he kills this swan his family will have food for one or two meals but after a day or two they will all be hungry again. All of this beauty will be lost.
The swan lifts its wings and flies over the Anton who has now collapsed onto the snow. The water dripping from the swan's wings lands as frozen crystals. The crystals are harder than ice - they are diamonds. How will Anton use this treasure? What might other people do if they hear about this magical swan? What does the future hold for this family?
I would follow The Swan's Gift with The Paper Crane by Molly Bang.
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