The Last House in the Row, Lesley Parr
The Last House in the Row, Lesley Parr
List: $14.99 | Sale: $10.19
Club: $7.49

The Last House in the Row

Author: Lesley Parr

Narrator: Bronwen Price

Unabridged: 1 hr 27 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/10/2025


Synopsis

Hayley discovers the importance of giving people a chance in this thought-provoking tale from critically acclaimed author Lesley Parr. Hayley is furious that her beloved cat, Judy Garland, keeps sneaking off to the garden of the weird old lady across the street. Lillian, or Boo, as Hayley calls her, hasn’t left her house for years, not since the council came up with their plan to knock down the row of houses to make way for a new development. Everyone in the street dismisses Lillian as an eccentric old woman, but when Hayley is forced to get to know her, an unlikely bond develops between them and Hayley learns the real reason behind Lillian’s reluctance to move. But when a misunderstanding threatens their friendship, Hayley must use all of her ingenuity to repair it. Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Rosh ~catching up slowly~ on January 08, 2025

In a Nutshell: A nice middle-grade historical fiction about an unlikely pair of foes-turned-friends. Realistic characters who aren’t too goody-goody, some heartwarming moments, good life lessons, and to top it all, a cat with ‘cattitude’. Recommended! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Plot Preview: 1979. Wales.......more

Goodreads review by Stephen Richard on May 07, 2025

Lesley Parr has created a beautiful story that unites two different generations- the young and the elderly . In a world where connections between age groups seems to be diminishing and the understanding between them is often founded upon a sense of fear and suspicion, this is a tale that unites and b......more

Goodreads review by Natalie all_books_great_and_small on February 14, 2025

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers. The Last House in the Row is a beautifully told story filled with compassion. Set in the 1970s we follow a young girl called Hayley who's unhappy with her cat (called Judy Garland......more

Goodreads review by Tracy on December 11, 2024

I haven't read all of Lesley Parr's books - only Fallout (my choice on NG and absolutely loved) and The Valley Of Lost Secrets which was fabulous and was chosen as the class book by a child in our class. (also excellent). But I was very excited to see her name and Barrington Stoke together as I am a......more

Goodreads review by Frompenandpage on April 26, 2025

There are very few things that bring me more joy than Lesley Parr’s writing, and it’s safe to say that The Last House in the Row is yet another triumph for her to add to her collection. I knew going into reading this that this book was going to pack a punch and contain all the heart you could ever w......more


Quotes

"Deftly written, with not a word out of place, as with all of Parr's fantastic novels." – Children's Previews "A tender, moving story that really touches the heart. Absolutely beautiful." — Eloise Williams "Lesley Parr’s family and small community settings always have such a timeless, classic feel. I loved the relationship that grows between feisty Hayley and her elderly neighbour … an accessible and appealing story of mutual understanding and kindness between generations." — Hilary McKay "Told with equal amounts of humour and heart, this wonderful story of unexpected understanding and new-found friendship leaves the reader glowing and grinning inside. A perfectly polished gem of a story and feel-good hit." — Keith Gray " is a moving and compelling story of the unlikely friendship that grows between an elderly woman and a young girl when they discover that they have more in common than they thought … This is a story that will stay with you." — Helen Peters "A beautifully told story that explores the power of genuine, cross-generational friendship. It is both tender and moving." — Jenny Pearson "A perfect slice of Lesley Parr brilliance. She’s managed to condense a huge depth of emotion into just a few perfectly-formed chapters. I loved discovering how Hayley and Lillian’s unlikely seeming friendship evolved into a deep connection of warmth, respect and kindness." — Tom Percival "Carnegie nominated author Lesley Parr always writes powerful, emotional stories … and is no exception … the emotion and empathy captured in just over 100 pages is remarkable." — Check 'Em Out Books, blog "A slim book with a story that pulls on all the heartstrings … The inter-generational friendship at the heart is beautifully observed … a gorgeous story which brought a few tears and a bit of a punch in the air." – NetGalley review