The Light in Everything

Born in a storm, Zofia is wild, unpredictable and tempestuous. She lives by the sea with her father. Tom is timid and withdrawn, constantly scared of the dark and the thought that his dad might return. The two children could not be more different yet each shares a close bond with their parent. And then their parents meet and before long, their families are blending and there’s a baby on the way. Tom and his mother move into the cottage by the sea and neither child is happy about the situation.

This is a deeply moving and absorbing story which skilfully moves from the viewpoint of one child to the other, allowing the reader to explore their complex emotions, actions and reactions. Each has a coping mechanism- Tom folds paper cranes to control his shaking hands and Zofia heads for the sea to find peace. Each is terrified of the change they are facing, although for very different reasons, and as the story progresses, they each learn to face their fears and find hope in the future.

Emotionally charged as the story is, there are things that should be considered if offering this to a child as a teacher. The fear of being ‘replaced’ by a new baby is very real for many children and the challenges faced by blending more than one household can be very stressful. Zofia’s jealousy is brilliantly captured, showing its self-destructive power. Tom’s also dealing with the trauma of an abusive father and the constant fear he might return. His experiences have also taught him to expect the worst of people- particularly Zofia’s father, the new man in his life. At times, his distress is palpable, making a painful read, but filling the reader with empathy and understanding.

A superb read, ‘The Light in Everything’ is everything we have come to expect from Katya Balen – and more.

The Light in Everything Katia Balen, illustrator Sydney Smith

Bloomsbury ISBN: 978-1526622990

Originally reviewed for Reading Zone.

The Wondrous Prune

Prune, a talented artist, and her family have just moved to their grandparents’ old house. Their mother hopes this will offer them a new start, particularly for Prune’s older brother, Jesse, whose friendships have been leading him into bad ways. However, starting a new school means that Prue has to deal with the Vile-lets, a group of bullying girls who make her life- and those of others- misery. All Prune’s emotions at the loss of her grandparents, her worries about her brother and the spiteful behaviour of these girls start to burst around her in clouds of amazing colours and Prune discovers that by focusing on these when drawing, her pictures will come to life! Suddenly, she is faced with incredible possibilities, but she soon learns the importance of controlling and developing her ‘wondrous’ superpower to do good as she harnesses her powers to help others.

This is such a wondrous book in so many ways! Perfect for sharing as a class story, it offers so much to discuss and reflect on as well as being a heartwarming, satisfying read. Prune is a delightful character whose love for her family and good nature make her instantly engaging and likeable. Children will empathise with her as they see how the Vile-lets behaviour towards her makes her feel and will, I’m sure (sadly!), be able to relate to her experiences. Role play could easily be used at certain points of the story to explore these feelings and how those caught up with Violet might make more positive choices. Jesse’s dilemma also offers an excellent opportunity for discussing situations children might find themselves in, considering the consequences of actions, but also how easy it is to feel trapped in a difficult situation.

Prune’s ‘superpower’ is pure genius and sure to generate many excited ideas about how she should use it, but also reflection on the wisdom Prune shows as she comes to realise that with her power comes the responsibility to use it wisely. The legend of the ‘Delmere Magic’ hints that other children may also be blessed with abilities - perhaps for future stories- opening a world of possibilities for imaginative powers and how they might be harnessed!

‘The Wondrous Prune’ is a heart-warming story, bursting with family love, positivity and joy. I cannot recommend this one highly enough and hope there are more stories about Prune -or other wondrous children- to come soon!

The Wondrous Prune Ellie Clements

Bloomsbury ISBN: 978-1526638328

Out on the 12th May 2022