Katya Balen has done it again with an honest and oh so powerful story of family, personal growth and challenging world issues. Little House is a beautiful shorter read with all the accessibility features Barrington Stoke has to offer combined with Katya Balen’s distinct style. Written in first person, there is unmistakable character voice and a point of view that fills readers with emotion as they journey with Juno through her growing empathy and understanding.
Ever since Juno was born, her mum has been staying at home to look after her rather than travelling to disaster-stricken countries to help families in need. Now, Mum feels compelled to join Dad on a trip to help children who have lost their homes. Juno knows these children need her mum but she can’t help but feel abandoned – she needs Mum too and wants her to stay home.
Sent to stay with her grandfather for the summer, Juno resents that fact that all her plans with her friends have been spoiled and her familiy feels broken. She wished she didn’t have parents who “dart around the world when it starts to tear apart at the seams.” Earthquakes, wars, floods and famines – they’re leaving her to save someone else’s children.
While at her grandfather’s house, Juno comes across an old, broken doll house in the attic and the family of dolls who once lived there. Realising the house is beyond repair, Juno joins Grandpa in his workshop where he helps her build a new one. Through this process, Juno comes to realise the difference between a house and a home. She realises the importance of her parents’ work and how much other children really do need them.
Little House is a wonderful catalyst for discussions about disasters in our world and how we can help. Through the simple image of the doll house, readers will come to understand the importance of home just like Juno and gain insight into how much they take for granted. There is so much to discuss with children after reading this book. It is written in such a way that allows adults to approach the issues sensitively and at an appropriate level. Little House would also likely to be suitable for classmates who have had to leave countries of war and seek refuge in the UK.
Thank you to Barrington Stoke and NetGalley UK for an early read of this emapthy-building book!
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