Katya Balen – författare

_______________WINNER OF THE YOTO CARNEGIE MEDAL 2022 WINNER OF THE YOTO CARNEGIE SHADOWERS’ CHOICE AWARD 2022_______________'A very special new addition to the shelf and deserves classic status' - The Times Children's Book of the Week'A modern classic ... relevant, comforting and life-affirming' - Scotsman'The perfect Autumn read' - Primary Teacher Bookshelf_______________A classic in the making for anyone who ever longed to be WILD.October and her dad live in the woods. They know the trees and the rocks and the lake and stars like best friends. They live in the woods and they are wild. And that's the way it is.Until the year October turns eleven. That's the year October rescues a baby owl. It's the year Dad falls out of the biggest tree in their woods. The year the woman who calls herself October's mother comes back. The year everything changes.Written in Katya Balen's heart-stoppingly beautiful style, this book is a feast for the senses. And, as October fights to find the space to be wild in the whirling chaos of the world beyond the woods, it is also a feast for the soul.

Book Band: Dark Blue (Ideal for ages 9+)An inspiring fantasy story from Katya Balen, author of The Space We’re In and October, October.Maggie wants her dad to take her birdwatching like he promised but he’s too busy and she ends up at the zoo with her auntie and her annoying cousins. There, she sees a strange bird and takes one of its beautiful silver feathers home.Little does she know, that this is the start of a magical adventure in the moonlight… This magical story features black-and-white illustrations by Pham Quang Phuc.The Bloomsbury Readers series is packed with book-banded stories to get children reading independently in Key Stage 2 by award-winning authors like double Carnegie Medal winner Geraldine McCaughrean and Waterstones Prize winner Patrice Lawrence. With engaging illustrations and online guided reading notes written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE), this series is ideal for home and school. For more information visit www.bloomsburyreaders.com.'Any list that brings together such a quality line up of authors is going to be welcomed … Bloomsbury Readers are aimed squarely at children in Key Stage 2 and designed to support them as they start reading independently and while they continue to gain confidence and understanding.' Books for Keeps

_______________'A brave and beautiful book with a big heart. I loved it' - Jenny Downham'A tear-jerker about family that shows us things that are important and true, and promotes compassion' - Nicolette Jones, Sunday Times Children's Book of the Week_______________FROM THE WINNER OF THE YOTO CARNEGIE MEDAL 2022We are her world and her universe and her space and her stars and her sky and her galaxy and her cosmos too.Frank is ten. He likes cottage pie and football and cracking codes. Max is five. He eats only Quavers and some colours are too bright for him and if he has to wear a new T-shirt he melts down down down.Sometimes Frank wishes Mum could still do huge paintings of stars and asteroids like she used to, but since Max was born she just doesn’t have time.When tragedy hits Frank and Max’s lives like a comet, can Frank piece together a universe in which he and Max aren’t light years apart?This jaw-dropping, heartbreaking and hopeful novel from Katya Balen will remind you we are all made of stardust. For fans of thought-provoking, moving middle grade from Wonder to Skellig._______________'Sensitive, heartbreaking ... a wonderful narrative voice' - Guardian'A moving, absorbing novel about a pair of brothers - one is autistic, one is not, and I came to love both of them' - Joanne Limburg, author of The Autistic Alice'Invigorating, enlightening and exciting' - James Sinclair, Autistic & Unapologetic_______________

_______________'A brave and beautiful book with a big heart. I loved it' - Jenny Downham'A tear-jerker about family that shows us things that are important and true, and promotes compassion' - Nicolette Jones, Sunday Times Children's Book of the Week_______________FROM THE WINNER OF THE YOTO CARNEGIE MEDAL 2022We are her world and her universe and her space and her stars and her sky and her galaxy and her cosmos too.Frank is ten. He likes cottage pie and football and cracking codes. Max is five. He eats only Quavers and some colours are too bright for him and if he has to wear a new T-shirt he melts down down down.Sometimes Frank wishes Mum could still do huge paintings of stars and asteroids like she used to, but since Max was born she just doesn’t have time.When tragedy hits Frank and Max’s lives like a comet, can Frank piece together a universe in which he and Max aren’t light years apart?This jaw-dropping, heartbreaking and hopeful novel from Katya Balen will remind you we are all made of stardust. For fans of thought-provoking, moving middle grade from Wonder to Skellig._______________'Sensitive, heartbreaking ... a wonderful narrative voice' - Guardian'A moving, absorbing novel about a pair of brothers - one is autistic, one is not, and I came to love both of them' - Joanne Limburg, author of The Autistic Alice'Invigorating, enlightening and exciting' - James Sinclair, Autistic & Unapologetic_______________

_______________'Original, compulsive, uplifting: this is another triumph for Balen' - Alex O'Connell, The Times Children's Book of the Week'Balen's best book yet: ambitious, funny, spirited, moving, heartfelt and bold all at once. She's a force to be reckoned with' - Ross Montgomery_______________From the author of October, October, winner of the Yoto Carnegie Medal 2022, comes a life-affirming story about blended families and learning to find room in your heart for new life and new love.Tom is still quiet and timid, even though his dad has been gone for nearly two years now. Zofia has a raging storm that makes her want to fight the whole world until she gets what she wants.And what she wants is for scaredy-cat Tom to get out of her life. Tom hates loud, unpredictable Zofia just as much, but he’s moving into Zofia’s house. Because his mum and Zofia’s dad are in love... and they’re having a baby.Tom and Zofia both wish the stupid baby had never happened. But then Tom’s mum gets ill, and it begins to look horribly like their wish might come true...A story of learning to trust, trying to let go and diving into the unknown with hope in your heart, with a stunning cover illustrated by CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal winner Sydney Smith._______________

*** WINNER OF THE 2024 WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR CHILDREN'S WRITING ***From the author of October, October, winner of the Yoto Carnegie Medal, comes a heartbreaking and heart-warming story about sisterhood, found family and accepting love in the most unusual and unknown places.Fen and Rey were found curled up small and tight in the fiery fur of the foxes at the very edge of the wildlands. Fen is loud and fierce and free. She feels a connection to foxes and a calling from the wild that she's desperate to return to. Rey is quiet and shy and an expert on nature. She reads about the birds, feeds the lands and nurtures the world around her.They are twin sisters. Different and the same. Separate and connected. They will always have each other, even if they don't have a mother and don't know their beginning. But they do want answers. Answers to who their mother is and where she might be. What their story is and how it began. So when a fox appears late one night at the house, Fen and Rey see it as a sign - it's here to lead them to their truth, find their real family and fill the missing piece they have felt since they were born.But the wildlands are exactly that: wild. They are wicked and cruel and brutal and this journey will be harder and more life changing than either Fen or Rey ever imagined ...

An exciting new adventure series for young readers from Carnegie Medal winner Katya Balen, author of October, October and The Light in EverythingClem and her friends Ash and Zara are members of the Thames and Tide Club! Every weekend they go mudlarking by the river, searching for treasures that have washed up on the shore. Clem has found old things, new things and a whole heap of rubbish. But one day, she finds something really special. Something magical that belongs in the river and must be returned to its rightful owner … or else.Before they know it, the Thames and Tide Club are on the weirdest, wildest, underwater-iest adventure they could possibly have imagined on a mission to save Underwater London!

The mudlarkers of the Thames and Tide Club are about to face Squidmageddon in a funny and fast-paced adventure for young treasure hunters.When the director of the mudlarking museum goes on holiday for a week, he leaves three members of the Thames and Tide Club – Clem, Zara and Ash – in charge. They’re determined that nothing will go wrong on their watch, but they haven’t planned on an invasion of squid who will stop at nothing to take over the world …Join the club and dig for treasure in the wildest adventure you could imagine!

*** WINNER OF THE 2024 WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR CHILDREN'S WRITING ***From the author of October, October, winner of the Yoto Carnegie Medal, comes a heartbreaking and heart-warming story about sisterhood, found family and accepting love in the most unusual and unknown places.Fen and Rey were found curled up small and tight in the fiery fur of the foxes at the very edge of the wildlands. Fen is loud and fierce and free. She feels a connection to foxes and a calling from the wild that she's desperate to return to. Rey is quiet and shy and an expert on nature. She reads about the birds, feeds the lands and nurtures the world around her.They are twin sisters. Different and the same. Separate and connected. They will always have each other, even if they don't have a mother and don't know their beginning. But they do want answers. Answers to who their mother is and where she might be. What their story is and how it began. So when a fox appears late one night at the house, Fen and Rey see it as a sign - it's here to lead them to their truth, find their real family and fill the missing piece they have felt since they were born.But the wildlands are exactly that: wild. They are wicked and cruel and brutal and this journey will be harder and more life changing than either Fen or Rey ever imagined ...

‘A thrilling emotionally charged adventure, full of authentic characters, peril, humour and warmth’ – Daily Mail‘Wild and brilliantly crafted’ – Sarah Crossan, author of One and Where the Heart Should Be‘An accomplished tale, tenderly told’ – The TimesA sea-soaked story of friendship, community and discovering what it means to carry home in your heart, from Carnegie Medal-winning author Katya Balen.On the Island of Ayrie, everybody knows everyone. They know each other’s stories as they know every road, every hill and the coming of the tide. In the summer, there are bonfires to celebrate the migration of the puffins. Everything is familiar, nothing much changes, and for Tilda, nothing ever should – it is beautiful, it is perfect and it is home.When newcomer Albie arrives at the island, Tilda wants to show Ayrie off – Albie wants her to leave him alone. She learns quickly that it’ll take more than a tour and some seal viewings to win him around. Then, she remembers stories of the old island just an hour’s boat ride away from the shore.The old island is a death trap. The journey there is treacherous. Trips across to it are strictly forbidden. And there’s a rumour it’s haunted by the ghosts of those left there to die. But with all else having failed, the old island is the only way for Tilda to make Albie see what she sees in Ayrie.Besides, it’s a different kind of ghost that worries Tilda. The ghost that’s been following her, now, since her brother left the island …‘A wild and wonderful story full of daring adventures and beautifully described nature’ – Books for Keeps ‘Beautifully written, full of heart’ – Julia Green

‘Wild and brilliantly crafted’ – Sarah Crossan, author of One and Where the Heart Should BeOn the Island of Ayrie, everybody knows everyone. They know each other’s stories as they know every road, every hill and the coming of the tide. In the summer, there are bonfires to celebrate the migration of the puffins. Everything is familiar, nothing much changes, and for Tilda, nothing ever should – it is beautiful, it is perfect and it is home.When newcomer Albie arrives at the island, Tilda wants to show Ayrie off – Albie wants her to leave him alone. She learns quickly that it’ll take more than a tour and some seal viewings to win him around. Then, she remembers stories of the old island just an hour’s boat ride away from the shore.The old island is a death trap. The journey there is treacherous. Trips across to it are strictly forbidden. And there’s a rumour it’s haunted by the ghosts of those left there to die. But with all else having failed, the old island is the only way for Tilda to make Albie see what she sees in Ayrie.Besides, it’s a different kind of ghost that worries Tilda. The ghost that’s been following her, now, since her brother left the island …‘Beautifully written, full of heart’ – Julia Green

A captivating story about finding friendship and hope … and a place where you can spread your wings. From Carnegie Medal winner Katya Balen.Con has been angry ever since Dad left. He doesn’t want to be. He wants to play FIFA with his best friend Kyron; to make his mum proud; to let people’s words about his dad roll off him like water. Instead, rage builds inside him until he explodes. Now even Kyron is scared of him. And when Con gets suspended from school he knows he’s let everyone down. The good person he longs to be feels unreachable.And then his neighbour, Mr Williams, lets him in on a secret.Up on the roof of Con’s building, Mr Williams keeps homing pigeons. Their feathers are the colour of pearls and storm clouds. Every day they fly out, carrying messages to people in other towns before finding their way home. Mr Williams wants Con’s help looking after them. Con can’t believe it. How could someone like him be trusted with these delicate creatures? But slowly, Con begins to believe that he can.Then Mr Williams goes away for a few days. Con is left in charge, and he begins to wonder whether the pigeons might be able to bring home more than just messages. Perhaps they could find his dad.

A captivating story about finding friendship and hope … and a place where you can spread your wings. From Carnegie Medal winner Katya Balen.Con has been angry ever since Dad left. He doesn’t want to be. He wants to play FIFA with his best friend Kyron; to make his mum proud; to let people’s words about his dad roll off him like water. Instead, rage builds inside him until he explodes. Now even Kyron is scared of him. And when Con gets suspended from school he knows he’s let everyone down. The good person he longs to be feels unreachable.And then his neighbour, Mr Williams, lets him in on a secret.Up on the roof of Con’s building, Mr Williams keeps homing pigeons. Their feathers are the colour of pearls and storm clouds. Every day they fly out, carrying messages to people in other towns before finding their way home. Mr Williams wants Con’s help looking after them. Con can’t believe it. How could someone like him be trusted with these delicate creatures? But slowly, Con begins to believe that he can.Then Mr Williams goes away for a few days. Con is left in charge, and he begins to wonder whether the pigeons might be able to bring home more than just messages. Perhaps they could find his dad.

A captivating story about finding friendship and hope … and a place where you can spread your wings. From Carnegie Medal winner Katya Balen.Con has been angry ever since Dad left. He doesn’t want to be. He wants to play FIFA with his best friend Kyron; to make his mum proud; to let people’s words about his dad roll off him like water. Instead, rage builds inside him until he explodes. Now even Kyron is scared of him. And when Con gets suspended from school he knows he’s let everyone down. The good person he longs to be feels unreachable.And then his neighbour, Mr Williams, lets him in on a secret.Up on the roof of Con’s building, Mr Williams keeps homing pigeons. Their feathers are the colour of pearls and storm clouds. Every day they fly out, carrying messages to people in other towns before finding their way home. Mr Williams wants Con’s help looking after them. Con can’t believe it. How could someone like him be trusted with these delicate creatures? But slowly, Con begins to believe that he can.Then Mr Williams goes away for a few days. Con is left in charge, and he begins to wonder whether the pigeons might be able to bring home more than just messages. Perhaps they could find his dad.

When the mudlarking gang find a mysterious cutlass on the banks of the Thames, they immediately know that something fishy is afoot. When the cutlass vanishes, and Mrs Drummonds disappears too, it’s down to Clem and the gang to find them. The mystery leads them to a band of ghost pirates, who will stop at nothing to find their long-lost treasure. With the help from their friends in the Undercity, the gang must set sail on the seven seas, solve riddles and save the day!This is the third instalment in the critically acclaimed series from award-winning author Katya Balen.

The first novel in a brand-new adventure series by Carnegie Medal Winner Katya Balen for fans of Greenwild and The WhisperwicksEvery year, siblings Sam, Milo and Coco spend their summers on the Island of St. Alestone. The island is mysterious and bursting with secrets. They know every single one. And they don’t want to share them with their new step-sister Kit.Everything changes when Kit discovers a family heirloom that the others know nothing about. The Saltstone transports her to a magical version of St Aleston, hidden from the rest of the world. Suddenly she’s the one with the secret. With the Saltstone in her hand, Kit can do anything.Then she meets Christopher – a boy who disappeared from St Aleston over a century ago and yet is somehow still alive. Kit learns he’s being held prisoner, his heart stolen by the island’s mysterious controller, the Magician of Saltstone. After Christopher saves Kit from suffering the same fate, she vows to free him. But a terrible betrayal is afoot that will force Kit to fight to keep her family together in an enthralling tale of belonging, betrayal, and the invisible threads of magic that bind us.

The first novel in a brand-new adventure series by Carnegie Medal Winner Katya Balen for fans of Greenwild and The WhisperwicksEvery year, siblings Sam, Milo and Coco spend their summers on the Island of St. Alestone. The island is mysterious and bursting with secrets. They know every single one. And they don’t want to share them with their new step-sister Kit.Everything changes when Kit discovers a family heirloom that the others know nothing about. The Saltstone transports her to a magical version of St Aleston, hidden from the rest of the world. Suddenly she’s the one with the secret. With the Saltstone in her hand, Kit can do anything.Then she meets Christopher – a boy who disappeared from St Aleston over a century ago and yet is somehow still alive. Kit learns he’s being held prisoner, his heart stolen by the island’s mysterious controller, the Magician of Saltstone. After Christopher saves Kit from suffering the same fate, she vows to free him. But a terrible betrayal is afoot that will force Kit to fight to keep her family together in an enthralling tale of belonging, betrayal, and the invisible threads of magic that bind us.

A breathtaking picture book about learning from nature and how to let go, from an award-winning author-illustrator duo.When Lena stumbles across an injured bear in the forest, she takes him in and befriends him. The bear is wild and yearns for his forest, but the girl tells him stories, to keep him with her. After a while, the bear decides to show the girl his wild places so she can learn to accept him as different.

The joyful first book in a heart-warming and cosy animal rescue series from Carnegie-winner Katya Balen and beloved illustrator Gill Smith, for readers who love animals and all things vets."Cosy, heartwarming escapism in the spirit of Dick King-Smith." The Times, The 20 Best Children's Books of 2025When Mattie wishes on a shooting star for a puppy, she knows her wish is hopeless. Her dad just doesn't believe Mattie is responsible enough to look after a puppy. She finds the next best thing when she and her friend Zoë start helping the new vet and animal rescuer, Dr Polly. Mattie still may not have a pet of her own, but she has amazing adventures rescuing a runaway ferret, trying to stop a greedy goat from eating everything in the garden and looking after an adorable puppy with a hurt paw. But as the animal rescue gets more and more crowded, Mattie, Zoë and the vet's son, Casper, realize that they need to do something more. Can they help the animals find their forever homes?Set in the cosy village of Mossdale in the lead up to their village fête, this uplifting animal and friendship story is the perfect gift for readers age 6, 7, 8 and 9. And don't miss the friends' next snowy adventure as they try to help a cheeky puppy at Christmas in The Appletree Animal Agency: Collie Chaos!"Balen has a wonderful gift for blending humour and emotion and this heart-warming animal adventure overflows with both." Daily Mail

Snow and puppies cause fun-filled chaos in a heart-warming animal rescue story set in a cosy village from Carnegie-winner Katya Balen and beloved illustrator Gill Smith - the perfect gift for kids who love pets, animals and all things vets."Cosy, heartwarming escapism in the spirit of Dick King-Smith." The TimesThe Appletree Animal Agency have found three brand-new clients: a terrapin called Algernon, a ginger cat called Crumpet, and a three-legged dog called Domino!When Domino escapes in a snowstorm, the team set out to rescue him. They track his paw prints - but when they find their dog, they stumble upon someone else who needs help...Set in the happy village of Mossdale, this charming animal and friendship story is perfect for readers ages 6, 7, 8 and 9. And discover more animal adventures for the friends in The Appletree Animal Agency."A huge heap of fun!" Ross Montgomery, NYT bestselling author of I Am Rebel"Balen has a wonderful gift for blending humour and emotion and this heart-warming animal adventure overflows with both." Daily Mail"This heartwarming and festive animal and friendship story is the perfect Christmas stocking filler for young readers who love pets." Lancashire Post

An uplifting picture book celebrating the natural world from a multi-award-winning author and illustrator team, Katya Balen and Gill Smith.A little girl loves playing in the woods and rejoicing in the wildness all around her. She sees secrets in the stars and stories in the earth. But one day she moves to the city. Surrounded by tall, grey buildings, she feels disconnected and alone. She has lost her wild. Or has she? Maybe she will find wildness where she least expects it...Perfect for reconnecting children with nature and encouraging screen-free activities!PRAISE FOR WILD"A lush, poetic picture book, with words by a Carnegie-winning author." The Guardian"This delightful book is perfect for kids aged three to seven years. A celebration of nature in all its forms." The Courier"features stunning artwork from Gill Smith … An uplifting celebration of the power of the natural world, even in the most built-up environments." The Bookseller

Following a traumatic accident, a special friendship helps talented musician Annie heal and rediscover her love of music in this captivating novella from Carnegie Medal-winner Katya Balen. After a devastating car crash, Annie is unable to play her flute and retreats from the music she’s always loved.She exists in a world of angry silence – furious with her mum and furious she can’t seem to play her beloved flute any more.Then she meets Noah, who shows her the blackbirds’ nest hidden in the scrubland near their flats. As their friendship grows, the blackbirds’ glorious song reignites Annie’s passion for music. But when tragedy strikes again, will her fragile progress be put at risk? Particularly for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.

Carnegie Medal-winner Katya Balen returns with a stunning tale about a fractured bond between father and son – and the injured bird that helps to heal it. When Noah’s dad visits from New York, he and Noah come across an injured nightjar during a walk in the countryside. Noah is determined to save the bird, but his dad believes they should leave it alone to let nature take its course. As father and son argue, it becomes clear that Noah is angry about more than just the bird. He feels abandoned and misunderstood by his dad, who has moved to the US and started a new family there that doesn’t seem to have room for Noah. Can they find a way to build a new relationship and rediscover the common ground between them? Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.

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? Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.

'Heart-wrenching . . . A book to read in a sitting' LUCY CALDWELL'A gut-punch of a novel' EMMA DONOGHUE'Cathartic, bold and ultimately hopeful' JESSIE BURTON 'Masterfully written . . . Envelops you' JODIE MATTHEWS 'Powerful' CATHY RENTZENBRINKWhen her life is unexpectedly upended, Anna escapes London - and her husband - for a remote cottage in the wetlands of rural England. She hopes the solitude might unblock the novel she can't bring herself to write. Out in the marshes, the locals discover something shocking, risen to the surface after many years buried in the silty earth. Anna is drawn to the site, fascinated and shaken by what she finds there. And as researchers descend, her curiosity gives way to obsession . . .An unsettling, propulsive and fiercely tender novel about buried loss and renewal, Our Numbered Bones explores how we must unearth the past in order to make peace with what we've lost.