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Ghostlines 

Katya Balen

Bloomsbury Childrens Books (9+) 9781526663887 (Hardback)

Reading resources coming soon

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Compelling world-building brings the luminous community of Ayrie to life.  Everyone on the small island knows one another and their stories but as a newcomer, Albie has yet to feel accepted.  There’s a classic adventure feel with ample intrigue as Tilda takes Albie on a journey to the old island.  Every character feels real and rounded and Tilda and Albie have adventure and agency.

Themes:

  • Nature
  • Themes 
  • Friendship 
  • Community 
  • Outsider 
  • Adapting to change 
  • Emotion 
  • Home 

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Katya Balen

Katya Balen is an award-winning author of books for children. Katya’s debut novel, The Space We’re In, was published in 2019 and was highly commended for the Branford Boase Award. Her second, October, October, won the Yoto Carnegie Medal. Her third novel, The Light in Everything, was published in 2022. When she’s not writing books,
Katya likes to scroll through dog-rescue websites, bake, and attempt to keep all her house plants alive. She lives in London with her partner and their dogs Raffi and Mouse.

Shadowers' reviews and artwork