Nightjar

Katya Balen is a rising star in children’s publishing in the UK. Her first book, The Space We’re In, was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal and shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award, while October, October, described by The Times as “a future wild classic”, won the 2022 Carnegie Medal.

"Thoughtful, calm, beautiful and wise" – Ross Montgomery"A voice unlike any other, that pulls you through with its wonder and wisdom and leaves you utterly changed" – Struan Murray"A tender and lovely tale with teeth. Balen is one of our very best storytellers." – Kiran Millwood Hargrave"There isn't another writer writing today who can say so much with so few words, nor a writer who says it so beautifully. Katya is a true original." – Phil Earle"Finished Nightjar in one, breathless sitting. Another beautiful story that flutters in that complex space between joy and sadness, childhood and adolescence." – Sarah Ann Juckes"A lovely sensitive story about the rites of passage and what it means to take responsibility and to do the right thing … The prose flows so beautifully that it manages to take the reader into both Noah's and his father's worlds" – The School Librarian"Barrington Stoke have an innate ability to choose brilliant writers who totally connect with the readers. There is a gentle magic about this story which brings us closer to the natural world and which will enthral young readers." – The English Association