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  • The Space We're In

  • By: Katya Balen
  • Narrated by: Huw Parmenter
  • Length: 4 hrs and 22 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (12 ratings)

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The Space We're In cover art

The Space We're In

By: Katya Balen
Narrated by: Huw Parmenter
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Summary

Bloomsbury presents The Space We're In by Katya Balen, read by Huw Parmenter.  

We are her world and her universe and her space and her stars and her sky and her galaxy and her cosmos too.

Frank is 10. 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 debut author Katya Balen will remind you we are all made of stardust. 

For fans of thought-provoking, moving middle grade from Wonder to Skellig.

©2019 Katya Balen (P)2019 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Critic reviews

"This book has everything: space and wilderness and crisps and code, Max in a wolf suit and a dog called Neil, and life and death and art and above all a boy called Frank who will break your heart and mend it again and fill you with fizzing hope." (Jo Nadin)

 "A brave and beautiful book with a big heart. I loved it." (Jenny Downham)

"What Balen captures in Frank’s voice is the authentic experience of being ten and facing up to all the difficulties that brings. His story, and that of his family, will live long in the hearts and minds of its readers." (A.F. Harrold)

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love and kindness

What a profound and poignant and heartwarming story. Every emotion is explored and we see how the two boys and their father deal with heartache and sorrow and, come out the other side. Max has special needs and he has to learn how to cope with life around him and in turn his brother learns to understand him and, they learn to become brothers. so much to learn from this story about friendship and relationships and love and sorry and happiness.

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