Cover: Sydney Smith
Quite some writer
You can very often tell from the first few pages of a book that you are in the presence of a truly wonderful writer. And so it is with this one.
Katya Balen’s first book, The Space We’re In, is a heart-rending little masterpiece of sensitivity towards neurodiversity and family love; a celebration of specialness. Her second, October, October, is, in my view, one of the finest works of (children’s) fiction written in the past twenty years or so, a peon to nature and a profound exploration of what it means to live in balance with it, and ourselves.
I therefore opened this, her new third book, with almost breathless trepidation. I so desperately hoped it would be as good as the others, but was genuinely afraid that it was really too much to expect. Was I heading for disappointment? No such thing. Katya Balen has a rare ability to create economical prose that communicates with incredible power and effectiveness, crafting words that are simple enough in themselves in ways that spark novel, evocative and often very potent images. Combined with this, she has quite remarkable insight into the minds of children, particularly those undergoing trauma, and can lay their thoughts and emotions bare with devastating poignancy.
‘That new strange feeling is growing shoots and leaves and I try to scream it away.’ (p 39)
‘He shrinks back into his chair like he is made of liquid and will soon be smoke.’ (p 44)
Darkness
The book’s two, initially unrelated, protagonists, Zofia and Tom, have each learned to cope with their very different issues in a single-parent context.When they are thrust unwillingly together through the partnering of their respective father and mother, it hugely exacerbates their problems. Within this heightened context, Katya Balen explores, with great understanding and sympathy, some of the damaging consequences of violent domestic abuse that injures far more deeply than bruised skin or broken bones, as well, as issues around anger management, the trauma of change, and deep insecurity.
For those readers who identify strongly with the two protagonists (and given the quality of this author’s writing it is hard to imagine many who won’t) this is a hyper-intense and deeply affecting emotional journey. The alternating internal monologues of the two children allow us to appreciate both perspectives, even whilst understanding how and why they are in conflict. This, combined with the short sections, hurtles us through their story, with a desperation to seek resolution even as it combines with growing trepidation at the way each child’s issues only serve to aggravate the other’s. It is all quite brilliantly, if devastatingly, paced and developed by this breathtakingly skilful writer.
Light
Although it is in large part a disturbing and rather dark book, its conclusion is wonderfully uplifting, positive and reassuring, as is fitting for this age of readership. Although darkness permeates the story just as much as it seeps from the cracks between the floorboard of Tom’s bedroom, it does ultimately not only reveal, but also celebrate ‘the light in everything’.
There are now a good number of fine children’s book that focus on bullying, a real concern for many children. Indeed, a hurtful lack of understanding from other children features movingly here in respect of Tom’s experience at his previous school. However, it is good to see that Katya Balen balances this with a warmly supportive peer group, school and community in his current situation, which, thankfully, can also sometimes be found in life.
Beautiful jacket too
Just as I thought the book itself would be a hard act to follow, I felt the same about Angela Harding’s cover art for October, October, which was both sumptuous and apt. Again my fears have been completely allayed. Sydney Smith’s very different, but equally stunning, jacket for The Light in Everything captures beautifully the subtle, emotive power of the story. Katya Balen is fortunate to have been paired with two such talented artist/ illustrators (three when you include Laura Carlin for the first book) and it is good that they are prominently given due acknowledgment on the respective jackets, which is not always the case.
The light in everyone
Producing three completely outstanding titles in a row is a remarkable achievement from Katya Balen, who certainly now deserves to be considered one of our finest writers for children. This latest book should be high on any list of titles promoting empathy. It is not a book for young readers who seek only the entertainment of high-octane, escapist adventure or raucous comedy. However those who approach it open-mindedly will be compellingly absorbed and leave it deeply affected, with a richer understanding of others, and perhaps themselves. Katya Balen is a writer who illuminates the light in everyone.
