Little House, Katya Balen
Little House, Katya Balen
List: $11.99 | Sale: $8.40
Club: $5.99

Little House

Author: Katya Balen

Narrator: Eleanor Yates

Unabridged: 57 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/14/2024


Synopsis

The importance and meaning of home is explored in this thought-provoking new novella from Carnegie Medal winning author Katya Balen. Juno’s furious about being sent to stay with her grandfather for the summer. She’ll miss all the fun she and her friends had planned for the holidays. She’ll also miss her mum, but it’s her mum’s fault for leaving anyway. Then Juno discovers a long-forgotten little family in her grandfather’s attic. As she works to carefully craft a new home for them, can she learn to forgive her mum and understand her reasons for going away?

Reviews

Goodreads review by Rosh on March 14, 2024

In a Nutshell: A bittersweet middle-grade novella about a little girl who understands the importance of home and family and how it is sometimes accompanied by sacrifice. Beautiful writing and great emotions, but slower pace. Might work better as a discussion read than as an individual experience. ~~......more

Goodreads review by Andrea Educa8 Wirral on March 30, 2024

This beautifully written story which centres on a doll’s house, weaves the threads of familial love through a summer spent apart. Ten year old Juno is really angry about being sent to her Grandpa’s house whilst her Mum is away working. She can only feel the negatives of her parents deciding to be in......more

Goodreads review by Lauren on February 27, 2024

Lovely story for kids, showing the importance of helping others in need, and how much bigger the world is than a child may think. And the photos were beautiful. Great message for all young children and beautiful imagery throughout. Suitable for 8 years old and up. Thanks to netgalley and the publishe......more

Goodreads review by Tracy on March 12, 2024

Thanks to Poppy at Barrington Stoke for the early copy of this book. I simply adore Katya's books so the fact that she is also writing for Barrington Stoke makes me so happy as it means those with lower reading resilience can also enjoy her stories (although I go on about Barrington Stoke stories so......more

Goodreads review by Stephen Richard on February 14, 2024

A new Katya Balen story is always something to look forward to; over the last few years she has written some of the most beautiful and moving stories for readers of 8+. Each of her books has a simplicity of touch but dig deeper and the craft of composition is evident- the selection of vocabulary and......more


Quotes

"This enchanting novella about a girl who works through her worries by bringing a doll's house back to life with some help from her grandpa has all the signature style, sophistication and emotional intelligence you'd expect from the Carnegie medal-winner Katya Balen, distilled into 80 easy pages." – "A powerful and emotive story about having the courage to strive for a better world." – "An enchantingly told, exquisitely illustrated story about a young girl's move from cosy innocence to a growing understanding of some of the sadnesses in the wider world. It oozes with all the charm of a beloved grandparent’s home – a wild garden, creaking staircases, and a sloping attic with true treasure to be found. And so much good food it made my mouth water!" – Nicola Penfold "Fierce, brace and compassionate" – Natasha Farrant "It was charming, tender and shone a sensitive spotlight on the true meaning of home. As for Juno's grandfather's cooking … well, all I can say is I would like to stay there myself!" – A.M. Howell "Beautiful and heartbreaking and glorious all at once. A little masterpiece." – Struan Murray "This is not a story about magic, wild adventures or set in a school world. This draws on the everyday – the background to a holiday which looks as if it is not going to be much of a holiday … [Katya Balen] skilfully creates in Juno a very real girl who, reluctantly, discovers an outlet that results in real interest and finally an appreciation of the work of her parents – and the decisions they make. It is a quiet narrative that nevertheless captures the reader’s attention." – Books for Keeps