A review by Emily Bearn in The Telegraph of The Light in Everything states, "One of the challenges in children’s fiction is making difficult subjects palatable, without rendering them bland. Balen triumphs: what unfolds here is a deceptively complex story, in which she explores themes of grief and abandonment through the unfiltered voices of two children on the cusp of adolescence." [1] Carolyn Boyd writes in a review for The School Librarian, "Although the plot is about a blended family, the true centre is people learning to deal with their feelings. Balen's wise, supportive text guides both the characters and the reader through the storms to a safe haven." [2] A bold, bright story of blended families, and how two remarkable children cope when their lives change dramatically. Katya Balen's writing fizzes with her trademark originality and voice. This is another stunningly good read from one of my favourite authors You’re a great champion for trying to get more media attention for children’s books - One in three of all books sold is a children's book yet children's books only get less than 5% of review space in the media. Why do you think this is - and what can be done? 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...

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.

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The Light in Everything is a deeply moving and absorbing story which skilfully moves from the viewpoint of one child to the other, allowing the reader to explore their complex emotions, actions and reactions. Each has a coping mechanism - Tom folds paper cranes to control his shaking hands and Zofia heads for the sea to find peace. Each is terrified of the change they are facing, although for very different reasons, and as the story progresses, they each learn to face their fears and find hope in the future. 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. When Zofia’s dad tells her he’s met someone, and Tom’s mum does the same, they instantly dislike the idea. Zofia’s fiery temper is stirred, and Tom tries to be happy for his mum. Neither want their lives to change. But then there’s the baby. Author Guy Bass introduces SCRAP, about one robot who tried to protect the humans on his planet against an army of robots. Now the humans need his... In The Light in Everything, the author of the award-winning October, October has crafted another superb middle-grade novel. It uses a dual narrative structure to explore relationships between step-siblings a complex blended family. Zophia is spirited and angry; she lost her mother in infancy and treasures her relationship with her father. Tom is timid and vulnerable, with deep-rooted trauma stemming from an abusive father. Their parents have fallen in love – and Zophia and Tom hate each other.

Although the pair believe they have nothing in common, when their parents announce they’re expecting a baby, Zofia and Tom realise their situation is a shared one.

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Both think the mess can be solved by sending their hopes and wishes into the deep and unpredictable sea. Tom moves in with Zofia and their parents beside the sea, trying to be brave but expecting more of what his dad dished out. Zofia can’t believe this boy who is supposed to be her age, but looks about seven, is so shy and jittery and frightened, all the time. So I swallow down the words before they bubble up and I nod and I say OK. And I fold up that bit of paper that wants me to be happy and I let it crumble to ash.”