October, October

We live in the woods and we are wild.

That’s what eleven-year-old October says, over and over, about her father and her.

The woman who is her mother is not like them. She isn’t wild. She left them in the forest, choosing to go closer to civilisation and live with human comforts.

And October cannot forgive her for it.

October, October by Katya Balen is the story of a girl brought up in the wild, far away from the human world. She thrives on stories, eagerly creating one story after another about the little treasures she finds on the forest floor. Life is perfect.
Until it isn’t.

A unique story told from the point of view of an 11-year-old girl, October, October begins slowly, but soon draws us in. Katya Balen’s words bring to life every flawed character, from October herself to her parents and her new friends. As we turn the pages, we are sucked into a story about difficult choices, the fear of rejection, and the mixed joys of fitting in. Full of gorgeous descriptions, this beautiful middle-grade book takes us on an emotional journey of self-discovery, and all the complexities of family and friendship.