Spindle River is set in New Lanark in 1819. Christina Sinclair has travelled from the north of Scotland with her children to seek employment in the cotton mills.

The story follows the children's triumphs and disasters as they struggle to settle to their new life.

The story has links to the wider curriculum especially in relation to the Industrial Revolution, children can look for historical clues and period references whilst reading.

Spindle River is one of eleven books that make up Extended Reading Level B, for children in Year 6/Primary 7.

This phase of Cambridge Reading has an increased provision of extended narratives and aims to develop children's knowledge about language, its vocabulary, forms, structures and styles.

The dialogue in this book is written in Scottish, offering opportunities language study.