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megs2kool's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
justpeachy007's review against another edition
1.0
What a depressing book for kids. I could barely finish it. Way too many bad and sad things that kids shouldn’t think about if they don’t have to.
ycapelread's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
One of the most engaging books I’ve read in ages. Beautiful language telling a journey of diverse children and adults. An insight into grief, autism and family life and the struggles of a 10/11 year old dealing with complexities of relationships, loss, and a whole host of other things, highly recommend
msscribe_stan's review against another edition
5.0
Katya Balen's way of writing is exactly my cup of tea
herbstgeraschel's review against another edition
3.0
Ah, schwierig mit der Bewertung...
Es gibt eine Sache, die mich arg stört, aber ansonsten war das Buch großartig...
Mehr nach Erscheinen.
Es gibt eine Sache, die mich arg stört, aber ansonsten war das Buch großartig...
Mehr nach Erscheinen.
brompton_sawdon's review against another edition
5.0
The Space We’re In is one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read in my life. It grabs you right from the start and keep you reading through the night wanting to find out the ending. Rarely have I come across a book as eloquent in vocabulary and emotion as this one. You view this world through Franks’ eyes, through his trauma and sadness to his happiness.
Frank isn’t the perfect child and he knows he isn’t. Yet his world isn’t perfect. His brother has autism and at times the family and Frank struggle to cope with him. This book deals with a difficult phase in life, where Frank is going into Year 6 (in England that’s just before they move to secondary. Max is also due a new challenge as he heads off to school for the first time, at a spaceship school, as Frank sees it. It covers the next year of their lives as Frank struggles with his feelings amid a tragedy that rips the heart of the family away.
This book is a triumph, a look into a very difficult situation yet it’s also so uplifting to read. You will laugh and cry with Frank all the way through. Words like stunning debut are quite often thrown around like candy these days, but this is one time I’d use it. It’s mature in its content yet accessible for its chosen age group. The word crossover comes to mind, but as someone who thinks adults should read children’s books, it’s a bit glib. Any adult who reads this will understand the quality of children’s fiction is a lot higher than adult.
So I expect this book to be on book awards lists across the country this next year. It’s a truly beautiful and heartwarming story in the vein of ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nigh time’, ‘The London Eye Mystery’ and even ‘Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine’. This is a book that deserves high applause.
Frank isn’t the perfect child and he knows he isn’t. Yet his world isn’t perfect. His brother has autism and at times the family and Frank struggle to cope with him. This book deals with a difficult phase in life, where Frank is going into Year 6 (in England that’s just before they move to secondary. Max is also due a new challenge as he heads off to school for the first time, at a spaceship school, as Frank sees it. It covers the next year of their lives as Frank struggles with his feelings amid a tragedy that rips the heart of the family away.
This book is a triumph, a look into a very difficult situation yet it’s also so uplifting to read. You will laugh and cry with Frank all the way through. Words like stunning debut are quite often thrown around like candy these days, but this is one time I’d use it. It’s mature in its content yet accessible for its chosen age group. The word crossover comes to mind, but as someone who thinks adults should read children’s books, it’s a bit glib. Any adult who reads this will understand the quality of children’s fiction is a lot higher than adult.
So I expect this book to be on book awards lists across the country this next year. It’s a truly beautiful and heartwarming story in the vein of ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nigh time’, ‘The London Eye Mystery’ and even ‘Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine’. This is a book that deserves high applause.
maeve_littooij's review against another edition
4.0
[4,5]
I personally find it difficult to put into words what I thought of this book. The book is about Frank, a 10-year-old boy who is brother to Max, a boy with autism. In the book, Frank tells about his life with his mother, father and little brother. How he copes with some things and how he doesn't cope so well with other things. The book shows a realistic picture of what it could be like to have a little brother with severe autism. How lonely, sad, annoying and fun it can be with a little brother like Max. I think children who have a sibling with severe autism can relate well to Frank.
This book also did an excellent job with showing how adults, and parents especially are not perfect, and can make mistakes too. Frank really loves his parents, he sees them struggle and sometimes having a really hard time with being a parent and partner. A subject I think should be addressed more often in middle grade books.
Some people say this is not a realistic book about autism. I think it is, autism comes in different forms.
This is the second book I have read by Katya Balen. So far, I find that her books start slowly, but you end up reading them very quickly. The characters in her books are well described. Her books heal a piece of my inner child.
I personally find it difficult to put into words what I thought of this book. The book is about Frank, a 10-year-old boy who is brother to Max, a boy with autism. In the book, Frank tells about his life with his mother, father and little brother. How he copes with some things and how he doesn't cope so well with other things. The book shows a realistic picture of what it could be like to have a little brother with severe autism. How lonely, sad, annoying and fun it can be with a little brother like Max. I think children who have a sibling with severe autism can relate well to Frank.
This book also did an excellent job with showing how adults, and parents especially are not perfect, and can make mistakes too. Frank really loves his parents, he sees them struggle and sometimes having a really hard time with being a parent and partner. A subject I think should be addressed more often in middle grade books.
Some people say this is not a realistic book about autism. I think it is, autism comes in different forms.
This is the second book I have read by Katya Balen. So far, I find that her books start slowly, but you end up reading them very quickly. The characters in her books are well described. Her books heal a piece of my inner child.
marisnini's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0