October, October

Another fabulous book; sensitive, heartfelt, moving. Katya Balen is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors for children's book

I read this book after numerous recommendations and it didn't disappoint. I fell in love with the character of October as she navigated her new life from living wild and free in the woods with her father to living in the loud and brash city with her mother. I particularly enjoyed her blossoming friendship with Yusef and how he helped her to find her way and in turn build a relationship with her mother.

What a terrible book. I absolutely hated it! October was a mean, devious main character and I couldn't find anyone likeable apart from daisy! And she's hardly in it at all! Shame I couldn't give this book NO stars!

This book succeeded with transporting in reader into the shoes of the main character, and allowing the reader to experience that perspective. October is literally wild and her emotions and feelings are raw and continually evolving metaphorically alongside so many detailed nuances, such a beautiful book.

I loved this story. A perfect book for 9-11 year olds. I adored the characters and how well Balen wrote October's perspective on the events after her eleventh birthday. I want to be wild too.

A beautiful book that shows the power of reconciliation within a family when two opposite world’s collide. When October’s dad, who lives in the wild, and has raised October solely in nature is hospitalised she has to live with her mum who she has never really met. October begins to find her own way in both worlds and loves a combination of both the city and the woods!

This is a fantastic book. I absolutely loved being in the woods with October and her Dad, being wild and free. October and her father enjoy the simple things in life and appreciate the natural world around them. Unfortunately that all has to change when October is forced back to the city to live with her mother. This is such a beautiful story of how a child has to learn and adapt to a new setting and how she overcomes her fears.

It is full of adventure.I loved it so much

A moving story to read with family, we laughed and cried together as we followed October’s journey growing up wild.

Amazing book that everyone should read

A fantastic coming of age book that will make you laugh and cry all at the same time.

October loves her wild life, living in the woods with her father, in tune with the natural world. When events force her to live with her mother in the city, October is distraught. This wonderful story deals with the struggles of finding joy wherever you are and realising that happiness can exist in two places at once.

Sometimes, when everyone talks about how wonderful a book is, it makes me dig my heels in a bit and resist the peer pressure. In this case, I should have just listened.

It took me a little while to get into, but it was so worthwhile. I loved the insights into October’s thinking, both about the woods and their life there and then about all the things that change. Her flights of fancy didn’t seem to make sense at first, but imperceptibly they seemed to become a normal part of her narration.

Yusuf is a wonderful character and I loved the whole different dimension their interactions bring.

There is so much more I could comment on, but I don’t want to spoil it: and it’s the kind of story where describing what ‘happens’ is only a fraction of what makes this such a lovely book.

Another beautiful book exploring different types of family. As ever, Katya Balen describes nature and the wild with poetic beauty. An important read for Upper KS2.

I quite like the book, but there was some bits I did not like, but other than that, it's a great read! I would like to recommend it to someone else.

Beautifully written story.

A beautiful book, with writing that sings! I loved it.

A little slow to get started but the wilderness details and main characters struggle to fit in in a new town environment was interesting. Loved the way the type was presented sometimes more like a poem etc to help present the struggles etc.

I loved the powerful insight into the world of a little girl who feels so alone and the challenges she faces when she has to go live with her estranged mother. Beautifully written.

A beautifully written novel that created so many different images in my mind. I loved the wildness of October and her vivid imagination and her ability to draw you into her world. It made me long to let the wildness in me break free!

This took me a little while to get into but I am so glad I persevered. What a wonderful uplifting story about finding your place in the world and writing your own story. October lives in the woods with her Dad and they are wild. Then an accident changes everything and October has to face massive changes in her world and find a way of meshing her old life with her new one, finding her true self along the way. Beautifully written, Katya Balen brings the characters to life with great empathy and understanding of their own perspectives. A great story that you will always remember reading.

Such a stunning read. Katya Balen takes us on a journey of love, loss and self-discovery. It's quite simply perfect - read it out loud, roll the words over your tongue, read it outdoors - sink into October's world.

Definitely recommend this book. Lovely language.

One of the most beautiful books I've ever read - an absolute treat. The prose is stunning, and the neuro-diverse protagonist spoke so clearly to me.

I'm a huge fan of nature writing, and this novel is so immersive I felt as if I'd been whisked away to an ancient wood - the writer's talents mean you're completely there when reading. A triumph - highly recommended.

Wonderful language, fantastic story. Great for children who love nature or who are young carers.

Great book for school. The relationships feel genuine and the sense of the wild and nature is described with passion and vitality.

October lives in the forest with her dad, estranged from her mother. When dad has an accident, she has to go and live in the city with her mother. She finds a new friend and finds that she loves mudlarking. Her relationship with her mother develops, dad recovers and life improves. Super book

A beautifully written book. Very suitable for a read aloud with Ks2 classes. I loved that October herself is a complicated and imperfect character and that there were no neatly tied-off resolutions. A thought-provoking and I would imagine debate-provoking read.

A really beautiful book in so many ways. The front cover draws you in and the story keeps you hooked. Lovely vocabulary too. It is a great read for upper KS2.

I loved this book because it was written so beautifully and poetically, one of my all time favourites best books
I picked it out of the library not thinking much of it but when I read only the first few pages I was entranced and gripped
Best book ever!!!!!!
You have to read it