This book is a dual timeline young adult read - telling the story of a boy and a girl whose parents get together and all the changes that they have to go through with this.

I really enjoyed this read and all the feelings that came with it. As a child my parents split and this is the sort of read that would have probably helped me to deal with step families. I loved how it was written and the feelings of the whole family were taken into account.

I also really loved the ending

Absolutely loved this story. Katya Balen is quickly becoming one of those authors whose books I preorder before publication.

Another brilliantly written book by Katya Balen! I loved the premise of this and how the narrative switched between the two children. Each character is so vividly written and their personalities captured perfectly. Touches upon some very pressing issues for children and definitely a book I could use in class with my pupils.

Zofia lives on the coast with her dad, and her stormy temper often mirrors the tempestuous sea. Tom, a quiet child plagued by worry, lives with his mum in London. When their parents meet and fall in love, both their lives are turned upside down. Can they learn to live as a family or will it all go wrong? The Light in Everything is a beautiful, heartwarming story about fear, grief and anger, but also about hope, friendship and redemption.

Everything Katya Balen writes is incredible and this is no different. Her writing is so poetic and lyrical, and her characters have a way of lingering in your heart long after you put the book down.

This book really resonated with me and I think a lot of children will see their family situation here. It can be a tricky time navigating a rollercoaster of emotions when two families come together to form a new one, and Katya Balen captures the contrasting and turbulent feelings of both children masterfully here; the use of a dual narrative is very effective.

I would recommend this book to those aged 10/11+.

Katya Balen has such a talent for immersing the reader in the world of her characters - I felt like I knew Tom and Zofia so well by the time I reached the end of the book.
The dual narration between Tom and Zofia keeps the story pacy whilst allowing the reader that immediate, intimate insight into their emotions, hopes and fears. The book covers heavy themes of grief, domestic abuse and trauma but deals with them in a sensitive way. The first-person narrative helps the reader to really empathise with the Tom and Zofia as they deal with the changes in the lives that threaten too overwhelm them - you understand their reactions, moods and actions more profoundly when, as a reader, you are so fully in their heads.
Never did I think that a paragraph about origami would reduce me to tears - Katya Balen's writing is heartfelt, honest and beautifully descriptive. 'October, October' and 'The Space We're In' are two of my favourite books I've read in recent years - The Light in Everything is joining that list.

This is such a beautifully written book which address important themes in a totally natural and accessible manner for children to read about.

This is a book about two children, Tom and Zofia, who both have complicated, perhaps upsetting, back stories. Tom lives with his mum, Fiona, and they are clearly escaped an abusive father/husband figure which has left Tom anxious and especially nervous towards change. Zofia is being raised by her father, Marek, following her mother's death. Tom and Zofia's lives are turned upside down when their parents become involved and decide to move in together, to complicate the situation further, there is a baby on the way which has a medical condition that is life threatening.

Zofia is the most wonderful bundle of energy and anger. Fabulously characterised, she practically simmers off the page. She is blunt and outspoken and absolutely oblivious to how her fury affects those around her - you can imagine how difficult Tom finds it to share a household space with her when they first move in together,

Both of these children are scarred and damaged due to their previous life experiences. This seems like an unresolvable situation, but Balen's intricate plotting and careful teasing out of human experience allows this family to learn to exist together and lean on each other once their greatest fears are admitted.

Wonderful descriptions makes the setting come alive. This is a book which explores personal challenge and how to overcome them or at least co-exist. There is so much to enjoy and learn in this title. Suitable for UKS2 and KS3 as it deals with some hard-hitting situations (medical emergency, bullying, abuse, death, divorce).

I absolutely loved October, October so I was excited to read The Light in Everything. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations. The story itself was heartwarming, I suppose, but I didn’t connect with the characters at all. I fully understand that they had traumatic and challenging personal circumstances, which makes me feel bad that I just found them annoying! Perhaps it’s because I’ve never experienced anything similar myself. I feel like this could be a very powerful book for those that have.

The vivid sea setting in Katya Balen’s new middle grade novel THE LIGHT IN EVERYTHING is a captivating character in its own right, and its changeable nature is the perfect backdrop for Zofia’s stormy personality and Tom’s quiet stillness. The reader meets these two contrasting characters before they meet each other, and we are helpless onlookers as Zofia and Tom are swept into a blended family neither wants to be a part of, with the prospect of being half-siblings to a new baby fast approaching on the horizon.
Fiercely possessive of her father, her friends, and the status quo, Zofia unleashes the full force of her nature on poor Tom, whose anxiety and fear of the dark stems from an abusive father who is now in prison.

While Zofia storms and rages, Tom makes himself smaller and smaller, folding himself up like the paper creations he makes to soothe his anxiety. Fear of change is the undertow they are both fighting against, albeit in very different ways.

The ebb and flow of the dual narrative is very effective at pulling us through the increasing drama, and Balen’s skill at concentrating the thrust and conflict of this story solely on this pivotal moment in the children’s lives is truly astonishing. Long after I finished reading the novel, I found myself thinking about it, not only to indulge in the trademark beauty of the author’s words, but also to reflect own how, at the end of the story, Zofia and Tom managed to be so different, and yet so similar, all at the same time.

Sydney Smith’s dynamic cover beautifully captures the turbulence and bluster of this wonderful book.

I really loved the way this book dealt with the complexity of family relationships but in an easy to access way. I’m sure the sibling bond developed in this book will be one that resonates with a lot of people. A simplistic, but beautiful story.

Katya Balen's, 'The Light in Everything' is a story about Zofia and Tom, two very different children who have to live together in a blended family when their parents fall in love. With a new baby on the way there is even more to be confused about and as tensions grow, the pair must learn to trust and navigate the pain they have buried deep inside.

As with her previous book, 'October, October', the story deals with complex emotions and the breakdown in communication between family members in times of stress and change. It shows how suppressed rage and frustration can damage, and how difficult it can be to express love. It deals with sensitive issues thoughtfully and respectfully. I liked the metaphor for light and dark and the clever evocation of Tom's anxiety and fear, as the reader is drip-fed his backstory, building a picture of what he and his mum have been through. There is an element of dramatic irony, as Zofia does not understand what we know, only later finding out.

However, I feel that her character arc is slow and not as developed and subtle as Tom's. She seems less empathetic as a character and her brash physicality and loudness as she rages against the world seem predictable. But then again, we are all unlikeable when we suppress negative feelings, - anger, pain and jealousy. Her life with her dad has been invaded and it is clear that she needs more from him (she feels like a ghost, as if no one is looking at her), but he is too distracted and her behaviour is too aggressive for him to cope with. At times I found him insensitive to Zofia's needs and I wanted him to give her more: more patience, more understanding, more of himself. He does provide a practical focus to try and bring the children together later, which become a crucial component in the story's climax and resolution, so he is somewhat redeemed.

Zofia swims against the current, literally and metaphorically, spiralling deeper into herself and alienating others who are reaching out to her. Though I enjoyed the metaphor of her 'stormy' personality and the sea, I felt that overall her character arc was less dynamic than Tom's. I became impatient for her to change and there was scope for a deeper interiority (with regard to her mum), which was perhaps not fully exploited.

The book is written in the first person with dual narrative voices, - alternate chapters for Zofia and Tom - which I found initially a bit jarring until I settled into the structure. Like 'October, October' there is some beautiful language to describe nature: 'We walk down the beach path that is surrounded by dark plum heather and whiskery tufts of seagrass. The sea is turning blue in the morning air...' which I loved and I would have liked more of, but it is always a challenge with the first person. October was a child intrinsically bonded with the wild, so the use of lyrical descriptions of the natural world suited her voice.

I found the end very moving. Katya always finds a way for her characters to reach out and touch the wider community's lives. She is a humane and intuitive writer.

A magical tale of two children navigating their new life within a step family environment. With similarities to A Monster calls. I loved the way the chapters narration changed, and this was easy to follow, giving a unique insight into our protagonists.

I absolutely loved Katya Balen's previous books so was anticipating another great read.
I wasn't disappointed. A truly wonderful reading experience which made me laugh, hold my breath and ultimately have a big lump in my throat at the end!
An ambitiously crafted story about how two children's lives are changed by the relationship between their parents.
Told from the perspectives of the two children and interweaving their attitudes, feelings and experiences along the way this book is an instant classic.
I will definitely be recommending it to children and parents in UKS2..

A beautiful book, full of pain and sorrow but full of joy and redemption too.

The story follows two children whose single parents begin a new relationship. It tracks their coming together as one household and the initial clash between the two children. Central to the storyline is a history of domestic violence to the boy and his mum (from a previous relationship) but the recounts of this are, at points, somewhat harrowing. I say that not too be off-putting but to describe the realness of this story and the true nature of the story.

The book deals wonderfully with incredibly complex and challenging storylines. I am already thinking of ways to use this in my classroom to support with emotional development, let alone more serious aspects of childhood.

I don't think I recommend this book highly enough.

In The Light in Everything, the author of the award-winning October, October has crafted another superb middle-grade novel. It uses a dual narrative structure to explore relationships between step-siblings a complex blended family. Zophia is spirited and angry; she lost her mother in infancy and treasures her relationship with her father. Tom is timid and vulnerable, with deep-rooted trauma stemming from an abusive father. Their parents have fallen in love – and Zophia and Tom hate each other.

Balen’s writing is evocative with vividly imagined place and scene descriptions, but it the emotional punch her work carries that makes her novels so powerful. I loved Tom from the get-go and my heart went out to him as he folded his paper cranes as a coping mechanism; Zophia is portrayed as rather less loveable – indeed, she is often selfish and sometimes quite cruel. But as the book reached its climax, I found myself in tears seeing the way their relationship evolved – and how the community came together to support a family in need.
This would be an extraordinary class read aloud for Upper Key Stage 2.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review #gifted

This is a beautiful book which follows the journey of two young characters- Zofia and Tom. Both have been through difficult experiences and find relating to those around them tricky. Through a turn of fate their lives become connected and through pain and shared experiences they learn to trust and relate to each other. Katya brings their characters to life through the joint narration and their insights in their backstory give the reader an emotional tie to each of them.
In the same way as Katya's previous book, October October, took the reader on a journey with a character, so this book does the same. You share the pain, joy and realisations with Tom and Zofia and by the end love them both. This book is an absolute must-read for anyone who wants to read a story about fear, hope and above all else love that shines a light into dark spaces.

Wow! Just wow!
I haven't read any Katya Balen books before but this has been all over Twitter so i wanted to read it.
Each chapter is called either Tom or Zofia.
Tom is an 11 year old boy who lives with his mum, Fiona. He is scared of every noise and especially of the dark. At night he has lots of lights on at night and he makes origami cranes (the birds) to help him get through the night. He is very small for his age. We find that they have had to leave their home quickly, more than once. Tom's dad is not a nice man and is the reason for Tom's fears. Tom is on teh outside of everything at school, he has problems wit bullies who had shut him in a cupboard with terrible results for Tom.
Zofia lives with her father, Marek, and we find that her mother died when she was very small. Their relationship is loving. Zofia is loud and stormy and seemingly brave. They live in a cottage beside a beach. This is where Zofia spends most of her free time with her friends from school and her best friend Dommie who lives next door.
One day Tom's mum tell him she has someone she'd like him to meet. Zofia's father tell her he has someone he wants her to meet. This hasn't happened to either of them before. Clearly their parents are bringing the families together.
Zofia is moody and mean. Tom is scared of Marek but so wants to make his mum happy. The two families continue to meet, but then Fiona becomes pregnant and she and Tom move to share the cottage on the beach. Tom is scared about going to another new school and imagines that it will be just the same as always. But it isn't and he's confused by these children who just accept him even though Zofia won't.
Tom is still scared, and he doesn't like it when he realises Zofia has been in his room but he keeps that quiet. Then things take a turn for the worse, only for Tom and Zofia to find out more about each other. Is Zofia as brave as she makes out or could it be that she's as scared as Tom?
This is a sensational book, read it!

@KatyaBalen #TheLightinEverything 14.4.22. A wonderful MG story of 2 children, each with a troubled past, brought together by their parent's relationship, who find out how to be a family.
Current book #OctoberOctober on the @CILIPCKG @DSBAreads shortlist
@DHFSUpdate
#NetGalley

Posted on @DHFSLrc

Emotional and honest, Katya Balen’s The Light in Everything is a beautiful story of the storms of life. Cleverly told from two completely different yet wonderfully similar points of view, readers are taken right into the heart of Zofia and Tom’s journey to find peace and family.

Zofia is wild and stormy. She lives life in high gear, always active, always loud. She loves her life with Dad near the sea. Underneath the waves, she is free and her truest self.

Tom is nervous and clings to the light. His past is full of darkness and fear. Life with Mum is finally beginning to feel safe, or at least settled. Gradually, they are escaping the storms of what came before.

When their parents fall in love and announce there will be a new baby, Tom and Zofia’s lives become woven together (whether they want them to or not). Do these children have room for anyone else in their lives? Terrified of change and unable to trust, they have more in common than they dare to admit. Through each character’s growth, Katya Balen explores what it means to be afraid and the power of finding healing, hope and love.

As I followed Tom and Zofia’s perspectives of their newly blended family, I considered how a child would read this book – which messages would strike them and when. Would it be having to share the attention of a beloved parent; the struggle to embrace change; the anticipation of a new baby; coping with illness and worry; the haunting of an abusive parent; the desire to achieve a dream; learning to trust; or finding hope? There is no question that this is a book for adults to read themselves before sharing with children. Teachers must know their students well and be aware of triggers that may affect them. For all readers, this is a story that will build empathy and teach them that although everyone sees things differently, we all want the same things – to be loved, accepted and to have the hope of a happy future.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Children’s Book & NetgalleyUK for this powerful book!

The Light in Everything is a gorgeously crafted and beautifully redemptive novel for children which can also be read and enjoyed by adults old and young. Katya Balen writes from the alternating perspectives of Zofia and Tom, two children whose lives have both been marked by pain and loss, but in very different ways: Zofia is loud and rough and determined, while Tom is quiet and timid and fragile. Their lives will be brought together against their will when Tom and his mum move in with Zofia and her father - and then their parents announce that they hare having a baby.

Katya Balen does such a brilliant job of bringing these two characters to life and allowing us to feel everything that they are feeling. She writes about pain, anger, fear and shame with such honesty, but transforms them into hope and compassion. Tom's vulnerability is particularly affecting: Balen gives us a really powerful portrait of a child who has experienced abuse and bullying, and therefore always expects punishment and mockery. I was very moved by the difficulty he has in understanding that he is loved and accepted in his new home and school, and I think Balen manages to explore these serious and dark themes in a way that is entirely age- appropriate for this book's intended readers.

But it is perhaps the characterisation of Zofia that is most impressive, a character who rages her way through most of the novel, is often pretty unpleasant to Tom and yet remains totally sympathetic. I don't think I've come across a writer who has managed to convey a child's anger as convincingly as Balen does here - all too often, fury is lazily telegraphed through liberal use of the CapsLock button, but Zofia's anger seethes and smoulders throughout the book, and even as we feel sorry for those on the receiving end of it, we can understand and empathise with how Zofia is feeling, particularly her fear of losing what is hers and being excluded from her family. Even as she feels a growing sense of shame at her own actions, she remains lovable.

There are so many other beautiful things in the novel including the warmth of the seaside community in which it is set, the complexity of Tom and Zofia's relationships with their parents (particularly Zofia and her father) and the occasional references to Zofia's Polish heritage. I also loved the patterns and motifs Balen sets up across the novel - for instance, Tom counting how long he can be in the dark and Zofia counting how long she can stay underwater, the thousand paper cranes Tom wants to fold, and the boat that Tom and Zofia build together. These all add richness to the story, as does Balen's writing, which is exquisite - there were so many sentences I highlighted because of their sheer beauty.

This is such a great book for older primary and younger secondary readers, and I'm sure it will be read and treasured in classrooms up and down the country, as well as by plenty of older readers. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC to review!

When I read 'October, October', I fell in love with Katya Balen's writing from the very first sentence. She has got the most incredible way with words and the writing is so lyrical. Needles to say, I was very excited when I heard that her new book was publishing this year.

TW: domestic violence, child abuse

Zofia is a girl with lightning in her;
she is loud and boisterous. Tom is terrified of the dark. He is quiet and withdrawn - he couldn't be more unlike her.Suddenly, they are forced to share a house because their parents fall in love. Neither of them likes it and so each of them makes a wish... Which of them is going to come true?

The book is told from a dual perspective of Zofia and Tom, with chapters alternating between the two characters and varying in length. As readers, we get to see how the same situation can be perceived differently by different people. Both Tom and Zofia are flawed but this is what makes them so perfect - they are REAL, relatable characters. Zofia is particularly infuriating at times - she's loud and demanding and unpredictable but it's her way of asking for attention; asking to be noticed. I love how unapologetic she is - she's one balsy, angry girl! Tom's story will tug at your heart strings. He's the quiet warrior - one of too many. Tom and Zofia couldn't be more different and yet, deep down, they are more similar than they realise.

Katya Balen wrote a story about family and what it takes to trust others, about love and how we navigate tricky currents of relationships. Once again she did it in such a powerful, poetic way. No one writes feelings like Katya Balen and I can't wait to see what her next book is going to be.