October, October: WINNER OF THE YOTO CARNEGIE MEDAL 2022

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This author writes so beautifully that at times you felt like you were there with October every step of the way. The breakdown of the words and the different font sizes at parts to emphasise the loudness was absolutely effective, almost poetic. October has a wonderful gift for spinning stories, and the run-on sentences that make up the book really capture the essence of her character; always moving, always interested, always looking. I admire her dedication to the woods and the charm it holds for her, though I have to admit it’s not a lifestyle I would personally choose! Still, Katya Balen describes them so vividly that they feel alive, and you can definitely see some of the appeal.

I hope so. There are so many things in life we can't control, but knowing that even if things don't go to plan, you can still find your way and build your future - that's so important. So, even though this is the first of the Carnegie Medal Shortlist that I have read this year, I loved it and, yes, I believe it should win! Which will make it difficult reading the rest of the shortlist. Author Katya Balen tells us what inspires her novels including Carnegie-shortlisted October, October, and The Space We're In, and reads from a section of October, October (recorded in Autumn 2020).

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And from this moment, alongside her grief and fear, as well as her guilt, October is forced to face the other world: London, her mother, school and friendship. A very special new addition to the shelf and deserves classic status' - The Times Children's Book of the Week But with the above having been said and with my rating for October, October, thematically thus being solidly five stars, sorry, but in particular my adult reading self does tend to find Katya Balen's writing style in October, October both a trifle frustrating and sometimes annoyingly and pretty horribly distracting.

A timeless, lyrical treasure that sees a girl who's at one with the wild struggle with the world beyond her woods ... An unforgettable story, an unforgettable heroine - LoveReading4Kids October, October by Katya Balen is truly a feast for all the senses. The words are so beautifully written that the book makes you feel part of the natural beauty that October lives and breathes every day, as well as a part of the wild whirling chaos of the world beyond the woods. This book brings to life the meaning of the word 'wild' and its juxtaposition with comparisons from the natural world and the consumers world. This was an amazing, admirable and beautiful debut model, richly deserving thehigh praise of reviewers. Written in Katya Balen's heart-stoppingly beautiful style, this book is a feast for the senses, filled with the woodsmoke smell of crisp autumn mornings and the sound of wellies squelching in river mud. 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. This is a sensitive account of adjusting to change and the grief that comes with it - CBI Mind Yourself 2020 Reading GuideI think when you're about October's age you start to realise your parents are actually real people who make mistakes or have their own wishes and wants. October's mum couldn't handle the wild life, but she loves October very much. October has to face up to the fact that not wanting to live in the woods doesn't make her mother a bad person, and that the world outside her woods isn't as terrible as she'd always feared. That's a huge challenge for October.