Katya Balen Knihy

We are her world and her universe and her space and her stars and her sky and her galaxy and her cosmos too Frank is ten. He likes cottage pie and football and cracking codes. Max is five. He eats only Quavers and some colours are too bright for him and if he has to wear a new T-shirt he melts down down down. Sometimes Frank wishes Mum could still do huge paintings of stars and asteroids like she used to, but since Max was born she just doesn't have time. When tragedy hits Frank and Max's lives like a comet, can Frank piece together a universe in which he and Max aren't light years apart? This jaw-dropping, heartbreaking and hopeful novel from debut author Katya Balen will remind you we are all made of stardust. For fans of thought-provoking, moving middle grade from Wonder to Skellig

October and her dad live in the woods. They sleep in the house Dad built for them and eat the food they grow in the vegetable patches. They know the trees and the rocks and the lake and stars like best friends. They read the books they buy in town again and again until the pages are soft and yellow -- until next year's town visit. They live in the woods and they are wild. And that's the way it is. Until the year October turns eleven. That's the year October rescues a baby owl. It's the year Dad falls out of the biggest tree in their woods. The year the woman who calls herself October's mother comes back. The year everything changes. This book is a feast for the senses, filled with the woodsmoke smell of crisp autumn mornings and the sound of wellies squelching in river mud. And, as October fights to find the space to be wild in the whirling chaos of the world beyond the woods, it is also a feast for the soul.

_______________'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_______________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._______________

Nur Müll? Von wegen! Mit den Schlammlerchen auf Schatzsuche Heftige Erdbeben erschüttern London, das Wetter spielt verrückt und die Themse scheint plötzlich ein Eigenleben zu haben: Könnte das etwas mit dem seltsamen Ding zu tun haben, das Clem, Zara und Ash – Mitglieder des Schatzsucher-Clubs von der Themse – im Schlamm des Flussufers gefunden haben? Der Fluss und der wahre Besitzer des Gegenstands scheinen danach zu rufen! Clem und ihre Freunde müssen sich in das spannendste – und nasseste – Abenteuer ihres Lebens stürzen, um ihre geliebte Heimat zu retten. »Voller schrulliger Charaktere und fantasievoller Elemente.« BookTrust Der Fluss ruft dich ... Entdecke eine kreative und abenteuerliche Unterwasserwelt voll fantastischem Wortwitz Zugängliche kurze Kapitel, dabei ausgesprochen spannend und originell Von der preisgekrönten und von der Presse hochgelobten Autorin Katya Balen Lebending, liebevoll und detailreich illustriert von Rachael Dean

Katya Balen über neue Freundschaften, Freiheit und die Liebe zur Natur. „Großartig erzählt von einer bemerkenswerten, neuen Autorin. Ein zukünftiger, wilder Klassiker!“ The Times Eine bezaubernd schöne Geschichte über Neuanfänge, Freiheit und die Wildheit, die in uns allen steckt. October lebt mit ihrem Vater in einer Waldhütte, im Einklang mit der Natur und fernab anderer Menschen. Geheimverstecke zwischen den Bäumen, Winterschwimmen im Teich, nächtliche Lagerfeuer und ein gerettetes Eulenküken: Das ist Octobers Welt. Bis zu ihrem elften Geburtstag, als ihr Vater einen schweren Unfall hat. Während er sich erholt, muss October zu ihrer Mutter in die Großstadt ziehen. Dort ist alles fremd: das sterile Haus, die Schule, die Frau, die ihre Mutter ist. October muss erst neue wilde Orte und Freunde finden, um zu erkennen, dass Veränderungen zwar Angst machen können, am Ende aber oft etwas ganz Wunderbares sind.

Exploring the significance and meaning of home, this novella delves into profound themes of belonging and identity. The narrative invites readers to reflect on personal connections and the emotional landscapes that define what home truly means. With a unique perspective, the Carnegie Medal-winning author Katya Balen crafts a compelling story that resonates deeply, prompting contemplation on the ties that bind us to our places and experiences.

Eine berührende Geschichte über Neuanfänge und unerwartete Geschwisterliebe. Tom und Zofia, zwei gegensätzliche Charaktere, müssen trotz ihrer Konflikte zusammenarbeiten, als ein krankes Geschwisterchen auf die Welt kommen könnte. Sie wollen 1.000 Papierkraniche falten, um einen Wunsch zu erfüllen.

Set on the Island of Ayrie, this poignant tale by Katya Balen explores friendship and the meaning of home. Tilda's idyllic life is disrupted by newcomer Albie, who resists her efforts to connect. To bridge their worlds, Tilda considers a dangerous journey to a forbidden island, haunted by her own past. A heartfelt story of discovery awaits.

Book Band: Dark Blue (Ideal for ages 9+) An inspiring fantasy story from Katya Balen, author of The Space We're In and October, October. Maggie wants her dad to take her birdwatching like he promised but he's too busy and she ends up at the zoo with her auntie and her annoying cousins. There, she sees a strange bird and takes one of its beautiful silver feathers home. Little does she know, that this is the start of a magical adventure in the moonlight... This magical story features black-and-white illustrations by Pham Quang Phuc. The Bloomsbury Readers series is packed with book-banded stories to get children reading independently in Key Stage 2 by award-winning authors like double Carnegie Medal winner Geraldine McCaughrean and Waterstones Prize winner Patrice Lawrence. With engaging illustrations and online guided reading notes written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE), this series is ideal for home and school. For more information visit www.bloomsburyreaders.com. 'Any list that brings together such a quality line up of authors is going to be welcomed ... Bloomsbury Readers are aimed squarely at children in Key Stage 2 and designed to support them as they start reading independently and while they continue to gain confidence and understanding.' Books for Keeps

Noah has felt misunderstood and abandoned since his dad moved away, but can they find a way to build a new relationship? Carnegie Medal winner Katya Balen returns with a stunning tale about a fractured bond between father and son - and the injured bird that helps to heal it.