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The Light in Everything

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The Light in Everything

By: Katya Balen
Narrated by: Louis Hill, Danielle Nott
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About this listen

Bloomsbury presents The Light in Everything by Katya Balen, read by Louis Hill and Danielle Nott.

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'Original, compulsive, uplifting: this is another triumph for Balen' – Alex O'Connell, The Times Children's Book of the Week

'Balen's best book yet: ambitious, funny, spirited, moving, heartfelt and bold all at once. She's a force to be reckoned with' – Ross Montgomery
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From the author of October, October, winner of the Yoto Carnegie Medal 2022, comes a life-affirming story about blended families and learning to find room in your heart for new life and new love.

Tom is still quiet and timid, even though his dad has been gone for nearly two years now.

Zofia is the opposite. Inside her there’s a raging storm that makes her want to fight the whole world until she gets what she wants.

And what she wants is for scaredy-cat Tom to get out of her life. Tom hates loud, unpredictable Zofia just as much, but he’s moving into Zofia’s house. Because his mum and Zofia’s dad are in love … and they’re having a baby.

Tom and Zofia both wish the stupid baby had never happened. But then Tom’s mum gets ill, and it begins to look horribly like their wish might come true …

A story of learning to trust, trying to let go and diving into the unknown with hope in your heart, with a stunning cover illustrated by CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal winner Sydney Smith.
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©2022 Katya Balen (P)2022 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Fiction Growing Up Growing Up & Facts of Life Literature & Fiction Blended family Heartfelt Health

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Critic reviews

"This is Balen's best book yet: ambitious, funny, spirited, moving, heartfelt and bold all at once. She's a force to be reckoned with." (Ross Montgomery)

"This story literally took me by storm. A brave heart-dive into the deep emotions of Tom and Zofia, it’s beautifully told with care and tenderness." (Jasbinder Bilan)

"I loved this book. The deftness with which Katya creates such passionate, funny, broken, brave characters. What an achievement. Katya Balen can break your heart and make you snort with laughter in the same sentence." (Natasha Farrant)

All stars
Most relevant  
I simply cannot wait to read this to my seven year old. I am going to read Zofia's section and Daddy (who is also called Tom) will read for Tom. We are reading October October at the moment and we are loving it. My son Alex has his own little Owl teddy who is now called Stig and sleeps with him every night. Thank you for your beautiful words Katya x

A stunningly beautiful read

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I didn't expect to like this as much as I did. From the first few pages, it's abundantly clear where the narrative is going, but by the end it didn't matter. Just as one can enjoy a walk one always takes, the predictability of the end point in no way detracted from the pleasure derived from reaching it. Well written and beautifully performed.

Predictable, but enjoyable notwithstanding

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Loved it as much if not more than October October 👏👏👏👏. The performance of the narrators chosen to read Tom and Zofia were very believable. I love how the author really tells the story from the children's perspective. Looking forward to the next one already!

Katya Balen does it again!

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Dual narration, told in equal turns by Tom and Zofia who are both around 11 years old. Both feel fear, but manifest in very different ways. Each are so believable and reflect the real difficult experiences of childhood that many today have. This is a touching story, and often very funny to hear the storm which is Zofia! The language is beautiful, so descriptive and perfectly crafted. On top of which, both narrators are brilliant!

Stunning!

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I enjoyed how Katya navigated through difficult themes and the blending of two very different families into one beautiful and diverse one. At first, just like Zofia and Tom, I had no hope that this was going to work at all..there's a special thing that happens when a common adversity brings unlikely characters together. This book made me understand things differently, especially in children with special educational needs (from my perspective as a primary school teacher). Well written and well performed!!

Absolutely loved this book!!

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What a fantastic book! The descriptive language made me feel like I was there. I can’t wait to share this book with my class. They loved October October and are waiting in anticipation.

Loved it!!

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my granddaughter reviewed this book and in her words she loved it, and her sister was born while we were reading it and had to have time in a plastic box .

Because Sofia is like Me

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