The Light in Everything

Author: Katya Balen

Illustrator: 

Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Suggested reading age: 11+

Themes: Grief, anxiety, friendship, change, resilience, family, emotional healing, connection to nature

Opening lines: 

Zofia - "I was born in a storm. The sky cracked with lightning and thunder shook the sea. The rain latched the cliffs and it was like the whole world had tipped upside  down and the ocean was falling and so was I. The midwife said she’d never seen such an angry baby and in all the photographs I am a red-faced ball of fury and my fists are clenched and my mouth is shouting O. I sometimes feel like the storm blasted its way into me.”

Tom - “The dark around me is filled with light. That’s what I tell myself. There is the acid orange glow of a street lamp just beyond the curtains. There is the gentle spill of yellow melting on to the carpet from under my bedroom door. There is the slow red eyeblink of a charger plugged into the wall opposite.”

Summary: The Light in Everything is told through the alternating perspectives of Zofia and Tom, two children navigating emotional loss and uncertainty. Zofia lives with her father by the sea and clings fiercely to the life they share, resisting any change. Tom, burdened by anxiety and shaped by a traumatic relationship with his father, lives with his mother, a hospital doctor whose long shifts leave him alone with his fears. As their lives begin to intersect, both characters must confront grief, darkness, and the possibility of connection, learning that light can exist even in the most difficult moments.

My impressions: This novel was impossible to put down. The writing is emotionally rich without being overwhelming, and the characters feel intensely real—almost as if they are speaking directly to the reader. What stood out to me most was Katya Balen’s portrayal of inner emotional worlds, particularly Tom’s anxiety and Zofia’s fierce attachment to the sea. I also realised, through this book, how deeply I love descriptions of the sea when they are written with purpose and feeling. The sea here is not just a setting; it becomes a reflection of emotion, memory, and identity.

This book would appeal to:

Readers who enjoy emotionally driven, character-centred stories told from a child’s perspective. It’s especially suited to those who appreciate quiet, reflective novels about feelings, relationships, and personal growth, rather than fast-paced action. Readers who value thoughtful writing and emotional depth will find a lot to hold onto here.

For teachers and parents - Educational Value:

This book offers rich opportunities to discuss mental health, grief, anxiety, and emotional resilience in an age-appropriate and sensitive way. It supports conversations about how children process loss differently and how coping mechanisms—like Tom’s paper folding—can help regulate emotions.

In the classroom, it works well for exploring narrative perspective, character voice, and symbolism (particularly the sea and light). It also encourages empathy and emotional literacy, helping students articulate feelings that are often difficult to name.

About the author: 

From the official website: “I’m Katya - I’m a writer from London, England. I live with my partner and our dog, Mouse. Before I was a writer I worked in special schools and for social care, as well as running a small charity that put on creative workshops for neurodivergent people. 

I love writing stories about bold, brave, wild children who connect with nature and with each other. I find inspiration in landscapes - that’s always where my books begin to grow and develop. I start with a place and everything follows from there.

My favourite sort of books are the ones you’re still thinking about weeks or months or years later. I love beautiful writing that feels like poetry, but I also love thrillers and crime books too.

I love walking around new places and familiar streets, baking wonky-looking cakes, crocheting wonky-looking scarves, and mudlarking on the banks of the Thames.”

Author's website: https://www.katyabalen.com/

Rating: 5/5 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐