Hayley is eleven years old, and lives with her parents in a street bordering a large area of cleared land. This land is to have many pensioner flats built upon it, especially for those whose run-down homes have been recently bulldozed.

There is one house left standing where an elderly lady still lives. She refused to let the council knock down her home. She rarely leaves it, well, not that Hayley has seen. Hayley wishes she would leave more often so she can climb the fence and retrieve her cat from the woman’s garden. Named Judy Garland, the cat loves to sit in the shade of a large tree.

One day, Hayley has had enough of her cat’s defection to the neighbour’s, and she is determined to get her back. Her decision leads to a meeting face to face with the old woman. She is in awe of who she meets and what she learns.

Stories of misunderstood folk in neighbourhoods aren’t new, but The Last House in the Row is a beautiful, engaging story. Written particularly for dyslexic readers, this story of misconceptions, discovery and kindness is a great read for anyone aged 8+

These stories must be told as communities become more and more fractured and people, especially the elderly, are left to fend for themselves, lose trust in those around them, and become isolated and lonely.

Connections between young and old can bring wonderful results and stories, just like The Last House in the Row.

A moving read.

Author – Lesley Parr

Illustrator – Richard Johnson

Dyslexic Title

Reading Age – 8 / Interest Age 9+

Read the First Chapter here

(2025, Barrington Stoke, Dyslexic, Dyslexia, Family, Kindness, Actress, Acting, Little Women, Animals, Cat, Special Tree, Neighbour, Elderly, Friendship)