All from a Walnut by Ammi-Joan Paquette illustrated by Felicia Sala

This is a book about grief, change and patience. Grandpa tells Emilia a story of the walnut he carried on his journey across the ocean to find a new home. His parents told him he could only take a small bag but he also had a walnut in his pocket. The reasons his family left their homeland are not explained in the text but the illustration shows people in sepia tones carrying bags and children and disembarking a large ship. 

Image source: Felicita Sala

Years after their arrival Grandpa is able to finally plant his seed in a garden and now, years later, Grandpa is able to show his huge tree to Emilia and how to plant the new walnut seed.

"As time passed, Grandpa moved more and more slowly. He stayed in his armchair most of the day and sometimes he fell asleep tight in the middle of a story. ... the days grew very cold and very dark, Emilia held her grandfather close for as long as she could. Then she said goodbye."

This book caught my eye at a recent charity book sale because firstly my friend and I adore the work of illustrator Felicita Sala (we claim her as Australian even though she lives in Rome) and then I saw the dust jacket - I adore dust jackets. We rarely see them here in Australia. Then bonus this dust jacket has a fabulous case reveal - meaning there is a surprise image under the jacket. My copy is in mint condition. I wonder how it came to be donated to the fair - it has perhaps lingered on a home bookshelf since it was first published in 2022.

The warmhearted watercolor, gouache, and colored-pencil illustrations are the true highlight of the book, offering lovingly rendered images of Sala’s native Italy and a poignant view of Grandpa’s aging and eventual passing. A gentle tale about maintaining a sense of continuity and rootedness in the face of life’s upheavals, this book is a worthy addition to any personal or library collection. Kirkus

“The relatively simple text includes many layers—in addition to being an immigration story, it is a family history tale and a story about the passing of a beloved grandparent and the carrying on of that person’s legacy. Paquette’s emotive writing is strong and clear.” –Hornbook

See art from this book here.  Here is the web page for the author Ammi-Joan Paquette.

Companion books:

My Baba's Garden

These Long-Loved things

The Memory Tree

Six Weeks by Matt Goodfellow illustrated by Joe Todd Stanton

"I love you mum.

Please help me.

I don't know what to do without you."

There is such a level of tension in this verse novel that you just need to read on and on. Alfie lives with dad, his dad's new wife and their young baby Alice. Alfie's mum has died and early on we learn this happened when the baby was born about one year ago and we also read that Alfie absolutely never wants to see the man who lived with his mum ever again. As a reader you will have no idea what has happened between this man and Alfie but over the six weeks of the story Matt Goodfellow gradually lets us step into Alfie's life, and we can hear Alfie's questions which naturally are about life and death and we see first-hand complex human relationships along with the importance of grieving.

I have been a bit of a reading slump lately - I had a couple of new books to read and review but neither of them really grabbed me. I thought about the "Rights of the Reader" by Daniel Pennac. His number two rule is: The Right Not to Finish a Book – It is acceptable to stop reading a book at any point and his number ten rule is: The Right to Enjoy Reading – Above all, reading should be pleasurable and free from pressure. Facing a long day with a few serious life stresses I decided to put away the two books that I was struggling with and pick up Six Weeks. I knew this book would be good, but I didn't know just how good - I was totally absorbed by this story, and I read 150 pages in one gulp before lifting my head and 're-entering' the real world. Six Weeks is a winner! Please put this book into the hands of the readers in your life aged 10+. The powerful storytelling in this book 'blew me away'.

Matt is an exceptional storyteller, and his use of verse is incredibly effective at conveying Alfie’s internal world.  Books for Topics

Six Weeks is a book you have to just sit with after you've finished it so you can fully absorb everything. It's a book I hugged at the end (between the tears). It's a book full of heart-break, healing and hope.  K and O Bonkers about Books

When I’m asked about my favourite books, I always say lots of children’s books and that more adults should read them! Six Weeks is the exemplification for why I say that: it is a subject matter which hits young and old and it particularly resonates with the grief journey I’m on. Your heart will break for Alfie at the start and slowly, that love and hope will begin to be rebuilt. Matt is an exceptional storyteller and his use of verse is so effective to convey such important messages. Check 'em out books

If you read my blog you may know I am not a fan of book endorsements, but I wholeheartedly agree with the comments by these authors:

• 'Utterly magnificent' Liz Hyder
• 'Matt Goodfellow's best novel to date' Sarah Crossan
• 'Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant' Phil Earle
• 'Goodfellow has pulled off something astounding' Anthony McGowan
• All at once beautiful, tender, funny and sharp ... a triumph' Katya Balen

I adored these two previous verse novels by Matt Goodfellow:

The Final Year

Fallout by Lesley Parr

I head home to face the music, but Mam and Dad won’t care about the suspension, just about the money to replace the broken equipment. Because to them I really am bad. 

Which is just how they want me. ... you can’t trust a Pritchard. Everyone knows that. ...

In 1980 the world was thinking about the possibility of a nuclear war. Marcus discovers his neighbor, an elderly man, has built an underground shelter filled with food, comfortable furniture, a toilet and even some exercise equipment. Mick Rowlands scoffs at the official brochures which advise citizens to hide under kitchen tables - that is why he has built a way more effective shelter in his back yard but as Marcus points out how will he know when it is safe to emerge back into the world and what if everyone else has been killed.

I flick through the pages. It does look pretty stupid; all about making a fallout room and inner refuge. There’s even a drawing of a man putting a wardrobe in front of his windows – as if that’s going to stop a nuclear blast! Gavin’s window couldn’t even survive a stone from our rockery. And page seventeen is just gross. ‘People are supposed to take the bottom off a chair and poo in a bucket?’ Mick nods. ‘Not here though.’ He waves towards the bathroom. ‘All mod cons here.’ He seems really proud and, looking around this place, I think he should be. That makes me feel bad for sneaking in. Maybe I do owe him an explanation.

Marcus comes from a family of petty criminals. One brother is in jail, the other is practicing for his own life of crime and dad is planning the next big robbery. Marcus does not want to be involved but in his family there is no way to say no. His mother seems to favour his brother and because she enjoys the spoils of his fathers 'work' she is happy to go along with his plans.

Into this mix comes a girl named Emma. Emma has had a very different life. She has been home schooled, there is no television in her home, the family are vegetarians and everyone in her family is very well read. Emma herself has joined an activist group to protest about the possibility of a nuclear war - 'Give Peace a Chance' - and that is how Marcus and Emma's lives collide. 

I keep seeing this book on lists and as a recommendation on various social media platforms. The best part of this book is the tension Lesley Parr creates as we witness Marcus trying to navigate his life and right a wrong. His family are so cruel in stark contrast to the kindness and encouragement of Mick. 

This story is set in Wales so there may be some unfamiliar references for Australian readers aged 10+ but the voices in the story and the compelling narrative, where as a reader you just want Marcus to succeed against the odds of his terrible family, I think means young readers will just 'get on with reading' this book and not worry at all about occasional unfamiliar word or two.  Make sure you notice the way the chapter headings are designed:

Bookseller blurb: Marcus has one brother in a youth offender centre and the other is working with their dad on plans for their next theft. Everyone assumes Marcus will follow in their footsteps, but he has other ideas, different hopes. When a mysterious accident lands a man in hospital, it confirms what everyone in their community expects and Marcus gets the blame. He feels trapped. Only new girl Emma - with her peace protest banners and political badges - questions this story. Can they work together to clear his name – and help Marcus become the person he really wants to be?

‘Fallout’ is a truly exceptional story, with its very title reflecting how cleverly its many elements are woven together. Poignant, thought-provoking, compassionate and compelling, there are not enough adjectives to convey just how much I enjoyed it! One to put at the top of your TBR pile! Through the Bookshelf

The three characters form a genuine cross generational friendship. Historical Novel Society

Fallout is a raw, honest story of family dynamics and finding your own way. It is a reminder that we all have choices about the future but it takes real courage to be true to ourselves and turn away from those who seek to hurt us. The power of kindness shines through Emma, Mick and eventually Marcus as he learns what it feels like to be loved. Readers will be challenged to think twice before making assumptions about someone based on their family and to give everyone a second chance. Scope for Imagination

Here are some text quotes:

This is a Cold War, which, as far as I can tell, means world leaders make threats about pushing their nuclear buttons, but no one will. They just want us to think they will. And this lot have fallen for it.

In this family, we don’t get pocket money for jobs around the house, like mowing the lawn, or doing the dishes. Me and Gavin earn it by helping in other ways. For me, as the youngest, it’s mostly being a lookout when Dad and Uncle Tony are doing a deal, or on the rob. For Carl, the oldest, it ended up at the Farm School; the borstal over in the next valley.

I open it and can’t believe what I’m seeing. It’s like the TARDIS on Doctor Who. I don’t really know what I expected, but it definitely wasn’t this. I’ve seen pictures of air raid shelters from the Second World War. Glorified sheds with bunks, shelves and a heater in the corner if you were lucky, but this … this is something else. There’s a room with a double bed all made up with a flowery bedspread and pillows. And there’s a settee, and a kitchen area with a table and two chairs, a sink and cupboards and – is that a fridge? The walls are lined with shelves of books, board games and even some ornaments.

Here is another book by Lesley Parr:

The Valley of Lost Secrets

Answers to Dog by Pete Hautman

"He went back to the gate and shoved his paw through the chain link and batted at the latch handle. It moved a little, but the gate remained locked. He got up on his hind feet and pushed both front paws through and clawed at the latch. It moved in a new way. The dog remembered how the metal bolt had slid to one side. He nudged it over with one paw. It was not enough. He pulled his paw out and pushed it back through, one space over, and nudged the bolt again, until it would go no further. He pulled his paw free and butted the gate with his forehead. It swung open."

Evan sees a dog outside his house. He knows his mother (and probably his father too) will never allow him to have a dog but right from the beginning he seems to have a special connection with this white Border Collie dog. Meanwhile 'Dog' as he is called has run away from an intensely cruel situation. On the edge of town there is a dog breeder - he breeds Border Collie dogs and perhaps in the past he was kind but now he is drunk most of the time and the dogs are starving and horribly neglected.

Evan tracks down the dog kennels ironically named Happy Dog. He finds the stray and their friendship strengthens but Peter Grey, the owner, demands $5000 for this dog. There is no way Evan could ever find that much money.

In a book like this you just know early on that this cruel man is destined to be 'punished' in some way and so I cheered when he was hurt falling off a ladder. I cheered when Dog ran to Evan's house and then  made the boy run the 7 miles back to the kennels and I cheered (well no I won't tell you this part but this story does have a truly wonderful and happy ending). 

My biggest question at the end of this splendid book is about Evan's mother. I wanted to know more about her life and about her withdrawal from the world and about her previous dog. Mum cooks fantastic meals even though each recipe is different the meals follow a set pattern of stew, chicken, roast, soup and sandwiches, and a vegetarian meal. Her care with the food and of her garden and later of Evan when is feet are badly hurt gave me tiny glimpses into this important character. Evan's father is also a complex character but he does connect with his son and the scenes where they share meals together are very special. 

There are other minor characters in this story who are also interesting: Calder has alopecia; Kellen is very small for his age with huge ears and so is a victim of relentless bullying; and Hana has just had complex surgery to repair her leg and so she has limited mobility. Hana is an important character because she loves dogs and she is able to help Evan and answer his questions about the dreadful practice of puppy farms. 

If you are talking with your class about foreshadowing, you could use this passage:

"The driveway was rutted, uneven and dotted with clumps of yellowing weeds. It curved through a stand of trees then opened onto a large weedy lawn that hadn't been mowed for a long time (and there was) an old two-story farmhouse badly in need of paint."

I started to read Answers to Dog this morning and lifted my head early in the afternoon - this story engulfed me. I love the meaning of the title - the dog answers to the name Dog - although we do discover his real name is Samarkand (Sam for short).  In an interesting twist Evan's dad is named Sam and mum's previous dog that died aged 17 was called Evan. I guess also Evan finds some answers about his family and friends through his friendship with Sam and more importantly he makes some discoveries about himself. 

"Dad told me you named me after your dog,' Evan said. 'Not exactly,' she said. 'Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted a son named Evan, so really the dog was named after you, even though you weren't born yet.' 'What if I'd been born a girl?' 'I would have named you Evangeline."

How did I find this book? I am the sort of person who always has to spend time in bookshops. We have several shops in the CBD of the city. When I go into a bookshop - yes you are right - I have to buy a book. But which book to buy? I picked this one up because it is about dogs, it is about a boy and his love of one special dog (more of these at the end of this post) and it was published by Candlewick (Walker Books) and they consistently produce terrific books for kids. I do need to say I had never heard of Pete Hautman and I did not read the endorsement on the cover of the book until much later.

As always Ms Yingling gives an in depth review here. 

Whether it’s a dog in a kennel or a boy trapped within his solitary parents’ routines, themes of neglect and isolation dominate the story, although the author’s careful approach ensures that this heaviness is balanced by the presence of uplifting supporting characters, such as Hana Ganz, who’s a dog enthusiast despite her allergies, and track coach Mr. Raley, who displays subtle kindness. The balance of the third-person limited narration between the perspectives of Evan and the dog makes this an enjoyable gateway book for readers who typically prefer stories featuring talking animals. Kirkus

Publisher blurb: Evan doesn’t seem to fit in at school or at home. He goes out of his way to avoid attention. He sits at the back of the bus, keeps his head down in class, and keeps to himself. But when a burr-covered border collie—a survivor with a gut instinct about the Boy—starts following him around and joining him on his runs, Evan’s simple duck-and-dodge existence becomes a lot more complicated . . . a lot more like life. Evolving from wary companions to steadfast friends, Evan and the dog run fast and far together, thwart an abusive dog breeder and the school bully, and find the courage to stand up for themselves and to open up to those who matter most. Narrated in alternating viewpoints, this relatable contemporary novel with classic coming-of-age themes has all the hope, pathos, and emotional complexity that mark Pete Hautman’s books for middle-grade readers—and is a deeply satisfying read for animal lovers.

Pete Hautman says as a boy he loved dog stories by Jim Kjelgaard. 

Companion books for dog lovers:

One Dog and his Boy

Shiloh

The Way of Dog

Brave like that

Talking to Alaska

The truth as told to Mason Buttle

You could also look for this very old book which might be in your school library (content warning this one is very violent):

Out of print - published in 1991.

Companion book for kids who love running:

Ghost

Running my own race

Here are some other books by Pete Hautman:

Myra in the Middle by Seetha Dodd illustrated by Peter Cheong

Think about the expression cup half full or cup half empty. Myra feels as though her cup is empty. Her new baby brother has just arrived so now she is the middle kid.

"I've been the youngest member of the Menon family for seven years and nine months. So, for a minute I'm confused. Then I realise she means Zeeshan, of course. He's the youngest one now. Anya's the oldest child, but she's always been the oldest. It's only me who has to change."

You can see Myra on the cover playing soccer (football). Her parents are distracted with the new baby but they do give permission for Myra to try out for the team.

"Grace is a striker, so she will get to score the goals. April is a goalkeeper, so she must stop the other team from scoring. My heart goes THUMP THUMP THUMP. What about me? Where an I going to be?"

The coach, Mr Ellis, sends her to the middle.

"Nothing exciting happens in the middle of a soccer pitch. All I do is get the ball and pass it to Grace."

The third issue is school. Myra feels invisible and her teacher confirms this by always mixing her up with another classmate. I cheered when Myra finally found her voice and calmly wrote her name on the white board after solving a maths problem. AND the teacher was so gracious with her response too.

Myra makes a list - There are so many bad things about being in the middle - squashed in the back seat of the car with no window to look out of; ignored like piggy in the middle; invisible like the hole of a doughnut; and lost like in the middle of nowhere. I really enjoyed the way Myra set out her concerns in little tables and Venn diagrams. 

Luckily for Myra, her grandmother Muthashi lives with the family. She is so wise and she is a listener. I loved the way she used a simple cream filled biscuit to show Myra just how important the middle can be!

Soccer fans will enjoy chapters 18 and 19 which describe the match you may have anticipated from the cover. This book is easy to read with larger print, 167 illustrated pages and a fast paced honest story about fitting in and change and family. This book will be enjoyed by readers aged 7+. 

Thanks to UQP for sending me a review copy of Myra in the Middle. You can see more books illustrated by Peter Cheong here. I was lucky to do the notes for his book Every Night at Midnight for NCACL.

Publisher blurb: Seven-year-old Myra likes maths, football and things staying the same. She lives with her mum, dad, Muthashi (grandma) and big sister, Anya. Her world flips upside down when her family welcomes a new baby. Myra is now a middle child – and everyone knows middle kids always get forgotten. On top of that, Myra tries out for the school’s soccer team, only to be put in the midfield. She can’t show off her skills when nothing exciting ever happens there! What will it take for Myra to feel marvellous in the middle?

A heartfelt story for readers aged 5 to 8 about speaking up for yourself (and others!) and standing out – not by being the loudest, but by being yourself. Readings

Myra’s handwritten wordplay and puzzles; the generous use of white space; and appealing black-and-white line drawings by Peter Cheong all contribute to the text being inviting to a newly confident reader. ... This book will have broad appeal to children aged 6-8, particularly children from migrant families who will be excited to see themselves in the funny, thoughtful, chatty character of Myra. Storylinks

Large print and line spacing make Myra in the Middle a great book for young readers moving from junior novels up to longer chapter books. Myra loves maths and uses it to sort day to day problems, showing readers that Maths is present in everyday life, not just the classroom. What book Next

Seetha Dodd is an emerging children’s author who loves wordplay, humorous rhyme and lyrical prose. Her fiction has been published in The School Magazine and in print and audio anthologies by Spineless Wonders and Hunter Writers’ Centre. Drawing on her Malaysian–Indian heritage, and themes of family, identity and belonging, Seetha writes stories that empower children to challenge stereotypes and to celebrate uniqueness in all forms. She lives on Sydney’s Northern Beaches with her husband and three children. Myra in the Middle is her debut novel. 

The Paperbark Tree Committee by Karys McEwan

"Being a teenager is all about swimming along with only your fin showing, trying to look like a shark, when really you're just an average fish. Never revealing you're not as brave as you look, never admitting that everyone else is in the same ocean. 

It's terrifying. And exhausting."

Art (Arthur) and his younger brother Hillary have moved with dad and his partner to Melbourne. Dad is a writer (of Young Adult fiction ironically) who rides an emotional roller-coaster of writer's block, breakthrough, doubt and insecurity. This means Dad is constantly distracted and has not formed any sort of real relationship with his two sons.

"We all know the stages of his writing by now - frustration when he can't think of an idea or has an idea he can't quite figure out, over-the-top joy when he finally settles on something, absence when he starts writing, grumpiness when he has writer's block, then mania when he's back on a roll, nervousness while he waits for feedback from his editor, and back and forth between those last few until the book is published. And then it's all the highs and lows of review and author talks, and then, lucky us, it starts all over again."

The main theme of this book is the exploration of the complexities of relationships. Art has a good relationship with his younger brother but as Art enters his teenage years there are of course some complications. Art also has a good relationship with his stepmother Sally, but there is his underlying fear that she might one day leave the family as his mother has done. 

Art works hard to make new friends - Micah and Lexi - at his new school in Melbourne and, even though it felt slightly contrived, it was interesting to see how, once he found two friends, he decided to be proactive and find more. The running scenes reminded me of the wonderful Tracks series by Jason Reynolds.

On the downside, as I said, Art has a very complex relationship with his distant and dysfunctional father. Sorry to say this but I just couldn't believe a parent, an adult, could be so deliberately unkind, uncommunicative and so insensitive towards his two sons and new partner. Dad's whole focus on being or becoming a famous writer, to my eye, portrayed a really really bad impression of that profession. 

The other relationship Art has to navigate is with the school bully - Jack. It always seems little too obvious to me when, as readers, we make the discovery that Jack comes from a dysfunctional family and that his own father is also a bully. I am sure this sadly is a real experience for some kids but after reading many hundreds of books that feature bullies, I do find this all a bit too predictable. 

Things I liked in this book: Art's relationship with Hillary - it is terrific to read about siblings who get on well with each other (albeit with some ups and downs); Sally the step mum is a fantastic character - wise and loving; and the final poem Art writes to perform with his after school writing group is emotional, truthful and worth thinking about deeply.

The CBCA judges mention emotional intelligence, and I thought about this too. It was good to see both boys were 'allowed to cry' and in the scene where Art tries to convince Hillary that they should trick their dad into proposing marriage to Sally; it is Hillary who shows enormous maturity when he talks about how this could badly hurt Sally. 

"I think this is the worst idea you've ever had ... By far. ... Dad won't go along with it. We'll get in huge trouble and Saly is just going to get hurt ... "

The title is not exactly a central focus of the story - Art and Hillary had a special tree in their former town and they used it to talk through their problems using the idea of a committee with an agenda. In Melbourne they find a new tree - a paperbark - but Art feels self-conscious when kids from his school see him climbing a tree like a little kid. Moving away from needing to use the tree to talk to each other links with the themes in this book of change and growing up. 

The CBCA selected 25 Younger Readers Notable titles (long list) for their 2026 award. Last week the short list of 6 were announced and I was utterly dismayed that FIVE of my predictions did not make the cut. I have seen The Paperbark Tree Committee in several shops since it was first released in April 2025 but the cover and blurb did not really grab my attention. 

Because this book is on the 2026 CBCA short list for Younger Readers I needed to read it (done) and then think about it perhaps a little more deeply than I usually do.

As an adult reader one plot point did not ring true for me. Art wants to 'get back at' Jack, the boy who has been bullying him. He sets up a plan with the help of his new friends to distract the librarian (why isn't she called a Teacher-Librarian) so he can get into the library or school computer system called Orbit. In NSW schools Orbit is one part of our library management system which is called Oliver. Orbit is the simple OPAC (online public access catalogue) designed for use by the younger students in a Primary school it is not part of the school administration software. I did hold my breath when Art tried to 'hack' the library circulation computer hoping to alter Jack's school records and I was glad when none of his attempts at guessing the password were successful. 

Generally, I only quote review comments that echo my own thoughts but here is the one from Readings (Melbourne bookshop) and I have to say I really disagree with their use of the word hilarious: 

The Paperbark Tree Committee is a gorgeous, heartfelt and hilarious tale of navigating change, bullying and growing up, and learning to appreciate loved ones for who they are.

Other reviews: Reading Time; The Book Muse; Read Plus; and Paperbark words an interview with Joy Lawn.

There are teaching notes on the publisher page but again I am going to say I think this book better suits an individual reader and I cannot imagine dissecting every scene/page/incident as part of a class novel study. 

Blurb from author page: Twelve-year-old Art and his younger brother Hilary are great friends, best friends. When they move to Melbourne from a small town in Queensland things seem to be easy for Hilary, who is still in primary school, but Art struggles to fit in, and he’s become a target for school bully Jack. His dad is too busy to give him much attention, but Art has his stepmum, Sally, who is always ready to listen. And there’s the paperbark tree. Art and Hilary climb into its branches and hold a secret meeting whenever they need to sort things out. The only problem is Art’s not sure he still wants to be part of the paperbark tree committee. He’s getting older and he thinks he needs to solve his problems on his own.

Here are the judges' comments:

Companion books:

A Good day for climbing Trees

Running in Circles

The Final Year

My Brother Ben

The Light in Everything by Katya Balen

Two kids. Two kids with different life circumstances. Two kids with different emotional responses to change and trauma. Two kids who do not yet know each other. Two kids who are so different and seems impossible that they could ever even tolerate one another let alone become friends.

Now for the problem - their parents. Tom lives with his mum. Dad is in jail and this is a good thing because he was a dangerous man - he was severely physically and emotionally abusive towards Tom and his mum. Zofia lives with her dad. Her mum died when she was a baby. Dad is great but he is not always 'tuned in' because his work as a doctor is so intense. 

Have you guessed what happens here - yes this is just like the Brady Bunch except with less kids and less harmony. Tom's mum meets Zofia's dad; they all move into Zofia's house and then the kids hear that a new baby is coming.

Zofia lives her life in a storm of rage or a storm of activity. She is loud and opinionated. Zofia also loves to swim, and she has set herself a long-distance swimming challenge as a way to make her father proud. Tom is small for his age. He is terrified of the dark at night and so fills his room with lights and always carries a torch. Tom is also afraid of small spaces and of upsetting his mum. He knows his dad will not return but the possibility of this is also constantly on his mind. He also has difficulty with trust - especially trust of male adults. 

How will these two kids cope with living in the same house and going to the same, very small, school. Zofia has been at this school since Kindy. Tom is the new kid and yet everyone seems to like him straight away. It warmed my heart to see him make a friend almost from the first day. 

Two of the really appealing aspects of this book are the alternating voices and the very short chapters - you just keep turning the pages racing to that all important happy ending. Well yes there is a happy ending (spoiler I know), but Katya Kalen keeps up the tension for her readers because the baby is born too early, and she is very poorly. The other part of this book that works really well is the way the two main characters are so very different from one another. I kept wishing they would just talk to each other - that they could feel brave enough or open enough to share their fears and hopes and doubts.

This is Katya Balen’s third book, and, like her previous works, tackles emotionally charged issues with sensitivity, told in beautiful and poetic prose. She explores the complexities and challenges of adjusting to a new and blended family. Balen has a keen awareness of the reader, drawing us into the story and creating characters we care about: pages turn with ease as their stories unfold. Just Imagine

Here are the teachers notes for The Light in Everything and some book group discussion questions. I highly recommend The Light in Everything for mature readers aged 10+. 

Why did I select this book from the library? First of all, the cover is beautiful and now I discover this illustration is by HCAA Winner Sydney Smith. Now onto the author - I previously enjoyed several other books by Katya Balen. Her new book due in 2026 is Letters from the upside.

October October

I gave this book four stars and it won the Carnegie Medal in 2022

Foxlight

I gave this book five stars

Ghostlines

I am really keen to read Katya Balen's new book which comes out early in 2026:

A Night Divided by Jennifer A Nielsen

"The fence began to be replaced with a concrete wall that was taller, thicker and stronger. Sharp edges of broken glass were cemented into the top to prevent anyone from climbing over it, and watchtowers were built so fewer officers could guard larger areas. With one stacked block of concrete over another our prison slowly became a fortress. And all we did was watch it happen."

On the night the Berlin wall divides the city Gerta's father and one of her brothers has travelled to the west. Now they are a family divided with Gerta's mother and oldest brother Fritz on one side and her father and middle brother Dominic on the other side. Over the coming months life on the eastern side becomes harder and no one can leave - if they are caught, they are jailed or worse executed. Gerta hears that the brother of her best friend has a plan to leave but the next day they learn he has died. Gerta knows any attempt to reunite her family will be extremely dangerous. But then she sees her father across the wall, and he seems to be sending her a message about digging. Mysteriously Gerta receives a drawing which has perhaps come from her father. It is a building and when she finds it, she discovers there might be a way to dig a tunnel to the other side. 

"It was just a pencil drawing of an old building. Square and made entirely of brick, there were two long windows in the front, but with no glass in them except for jagged pieces in the corners. An old chimney ran up the side of the building ... There were three ground-level window openings too, but no door."

Here are a couple more text quotes:

"I wanted books that weren't censored. I wanted to see places that were now only pictures in smuggled magazines that had passed through many hands. ... I wanted a home without hidden microphones, and friends and neighbors I could talk to without wondering if they would report me to the secret police. And I wanted control over my own life ... "

"We've lied to the state and to the police and to nearly everyone we've spoken to in the last month. You said yourself that isn't wrong, not for this tunnel ... right now we are sitting directly below the Death Strip! What does a stolen shovel matter at this point."

Every page of this book will have you holding your breath. It seems impossible that Gerta and her brother can possibly do this and not be found. Adding to the tension their mother has had to leave to visit their grandmother, and their food is running out and their nosy neighbour is certain to inform on them to the Stasi. Ms Yingling gives a detailed plot summary in her blog post. 

Bookseller blurb: With the rise of the Berlin Wall, Gerta finds her family suddenly divided. She, her mother, and her brother Fritz live on the eastern side, controlled by the Soviets. Her father and middle brother, who had gone west in search of work, cannot return home. Gerta knows it is dangerous to watch the wall, yet she can't help herself. She sees the East German soldiers with their guns trained on their own citizens; she, her family, her neighbors and friends are prisoners in their own city. But one day on her way to school, Gerta spots her father on a viewing platform on the western side, pantomiming a peculiar dance. Gerta concludes that her father wants her and Fritz to tunnel beneath the wall, out of East Berlin. However, if they are caught, the consequences will be deadly. No one can be trusted. Will Gerta and her family find their way to freedom?

I picked up this book which was published in 2015 for just AUS$4 from a recent charity book sale - it is in hardcover copy with an intact dust jacket. I really enjoyed A Night Divided but the Kirkus review is not so positive:

Based on historical fact, the story shines a personal light on the many families who were separated by the division of the two cities. Nielsen convincingly paints a chilling picture of repressive, Communist-controlled East Berlin, so much so that when Greta sees her father on the other side of the wall, years later, pantomiming digging, readers easily accept her plan to dig an escape tunnel into West Berlin. Kirkus

This is a wonderfully written story about life behind the Berlin Wall. Middle school audiences will devour this fast-paced thriller about a horrific time in German history. Historical Novel Society

You can see other books by Jennifer A Nielsen here. 

This book is the perfect follow on from these:

The Wall between us

The Great escape

Escape