Tom and Zofia are polar opposites. Wild, noisy and bold, Zofia is constantly being told to calm down. Nervous and introverted, Tom prefers to watch the world from afar.
What they do have in common is that they often find life hard, and in those times their comfort comes from their small and tight-knit family unit: Zofia and her Dad, Marek; Tom and his Mum, Fiona.
All that changes when Fiona and Marek fall in love. Suddenly each child sees their life turned upside down and must prepare for the arrival of yet another unwanted intruder: their new sibling.
This is a touching story of two troubled children trying to adjust to what feels like an impossible change. Balen sensitively explores the difficulties of becoming a blended family, in a way which would provide solace and comfort to any child going through the same. Weaving across a dual narrative, we hear both Zofia’s and Tom’s perspectives. It’s a clever way to tell the story, and allows the reader to see the similarities between the children well before they do.
Balen does not shy away from difficult topics: bereavement, domestic violence and infant illness are all at the core of this novel, but her skilful storytelling means that every chapter, no matter how dark at its heart, is filled with love and hope.
Balen’s last novel, October October¸ which won the 2022 Carnegie Award, explored similar concepts of growing up and adjusting to change. This novel is similarly gentle and yet packs an emotional punch: it is perhaps even better that October October.
Whether it lives up to the success of its predecessor or not, The Light in Everything is a beautiful and touching book, which will certainly win the hearts of its readers.
コメント