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As the children try to get used to their new lives, tragedy threatens to strike. Both Tom and Zofia are forced to reassess what is truly important – and what makes a family. Kayta Balen has a rare gift for understanding what it feels like to be a child and creating characters that reflect that that vividly. Did you think it was important to have a girl in one family and a boy in the other? Do you think there is a special dynamic to that sort of sibling relationship? And was it important for these characters to have non gender stereotypical characteristics?
From the author of October, October comes a life-affirming story about blended families and learning to find room in your heart for new life and new love. A very contemporary plotline forms the basis of a two-narrator story, with the 'lump in your throat' writing that doesn't happen a lot in children's books. The beach and the sea are Zofia’s favourite places, spending every hour she can down there with her friends from school or just she and Pablo. The water is cold most of the time, but Zofia is used to it and with her wetsuit on, she braves the waves when others wouldn’t dare. Bearn, Emily (26 January 2023). "The Light in Everything, review: Katya Balen skilfully handles hard-hitting issues for young readers". The Telegraph . Retrieved 15 June 2023.The Light in Everything is such a brilliant exploration of the way in which many children struggle to come to terms with a new blended family. Did you set out with the intention of helping children in that situation? She is brilliant at capturing the cadences of their language, toying with the reader’s sympathies by pitting Tom’s reticence against Zofia’s Jacobean appetite for drama: “He’s ruined my life and I was here first. These are my friends and this is my school and it’s my house and my dad and my dog and my life.” When complications arise in Fiona’s pregnancy, the children’s characters finally unravel – and this provoking, simply-told story reaches its uplifting close.
The Light in Everything is deep, honest and deeply moving. Showing that we are all different and yet we all get scared from time to time- no matter how brave we may seem on the outside. It also shows the importance of communication and community. We all deserve to feel safe and secure, we all deserve to be protected, heard and loved. Even those of us who were born in a storm. They are about to start living together and also to become half siblings to a new baby in a blended family that neither of them wants to be part of. Each tells their story in a series of contrasting short episodes that brilliantly capture their contrasting characters and their journey towards this enormous change in their lives. I've also just been introduced to the first two stunning children's books by Katya Balen, both published by Bloomsbury: T he Space We're In and October, October. If you have a middle-grader, or know one, or are one ... treat yourself -- Daniel Hahn - Books of the Year, The Spectator
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The Light in Everything is immersive and truly captivating. Written from the dual points of view of Tom and Zofia, the two find their respective parents come together to form a blended family. The differing personalities are revealed through Katya Balen’s delicate writing, and we journey with them as their family navigates new situations. It was a privilege to receive an advanced reader copy of this beautiful writing and I in turn have no hesitation in recommending it to others to read and will be doing this in my school staffroom as soon as possible. It was a pleasure to read this book and I cannot wait to hear what friends, colleagues and students think of this remarkable book. Using the voices of two children to explore themes of abandonment and grief, the book is a story of learning to trust, trying to let go and diving into the unknown with hope in your heart Fierce, loud, energetic and determined, Zofia loves her life by the sea with her Dad. She loves her friends and the trips to the beach after school, fearlessly diving into the waves. Tom moves in with Zofia and their parents beside the sea, trying to be brave but expecting more of what his dad dished out. Zofia can’t believe this boy who is supposed to be her age, but looks about seven, is so shy and jittery and frightened, all the time. No two children could be more different than Zofia and Tom. Noisy Zofia lives happily with her dad as her Mum died when she was born. She buzzes with a wild energy that makes her irresistible but also something of a handful. Quiet, anxious Tom lives with his mum. He is full of fears largely caused by his scarily violent father who is now in prison. He longs to be more outgoing but doesn’t know how to manage it.
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