"A glowing story about learning to find room in your heart for new life and new love,"
April 2022 Book of the Month | A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month April 2022 | Shortlisted for the Week Junior Book Awards 2023 | Winner of the UKLA Book Award 2023 ages 7-10
No two children could be more different than Zofia and Tom. Noisy Zofia lives happily with her dad as her Mum died when she was born. She buzzes with a wild energy that makes her irresistible but also something of a handful. Quiet, anxious Tom lives with his mum. He is full of fears largely caused by his scarily violent father who is now in prison. He longs to be more outgoing but doesn’t know how to manage it.
They are about to start living together and also to become half siblings to a new baby in a blended family that neither of them wants to be part of. Each tells their story in a series of contrasting short episodes that brilliantly capture their contrasting characters and their journey towards this enormous change in their lives.
Kayta Balen has a rare gift for understanding what it feels like to be a child and creating characters that reflect that that vividly.
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Heart warming, magical and true to life!
This is a heartwarming story that tells the story of true life, not a made up, happy fantasy. I loved following Tom and Zofia's story and their developing friendship.... Read Full Review
You could come back to this book time and time again. I loved it.
This book is about a boy called Tom and a girl called Zofia. Who can’t stand each other at all but gradually as they talk to each other more and more they become friends. I found this story impossible to put down with perfect amounts of time in between the action. It is told from both the children’s points of view and it is very clear when it switches from character to character.... Read Full Review
An absolutely spectacular and heartwarming book that will make you both laugh and cry at different stages, which is exactly what a book should do!
This is a heartbreaking (and heart-warming) book about two polar opposite kids, Tom and Zofia, who absolutely despise each other. Tom is a quiet and shy boy who has been afraid of the dark ever since his violent dad was sent to prison; Zofia is a loud and confident girl who's been happily living with her dad ever since her mum died. But then fate (and a baby) abruptly causes their lives to be thrust together and they wish the baby had never come. But, sometimes, you have to be careful what you wish for..................
This is a simple wonderful read aimed at children from the ages 9+ but can still be read and enjoyed by older kids. It's genres are definitely friendship and family.... Read Full Review
