Frank is a ten year old boy who lives with his mum, dad and brother in a ramshackle house. Frank loves football and deciphering codes and he’s particularly good at both. Dad wears a suit to work and works long hours, and his mum is an artist who hasn’t painted in a while. Since the birth of little brother Max she has been too busy with looking after her family, and Frank can see his five year old brother takes a good chunk of her time every day.

Max is severely autistic and although he has special speech language sessions every week at home, he has never spoken. These sessions are helping Max develop new ways to communicate with those around him, using cards and images. His family understand Max without any words, in his movements and behaviours. They avoid changing things around him, loud noises or voices and bright colours. Frank has a combination lock on his door to keep Max’s inquisitive and destructive fingers away from his treasures, books and football trophies.

Mum is looking tired and stressed a lot lately and Frank believes Max is responsible. His meltdowns are many, even with his family molding themselves around his needs, and Frank feels himself resenting his little brother sometimes.

His feelings at school become confusing when a classmate makes fun of Max. Franks knows he feels shame and embarrassment when they are out of the house as a family and people stare at Max, but he also feels shame at himself for not sticking up for his little brother.

But Mum’s exhaustion is about so much more than Frank knows, until it is too late. Now Frank has only his devastated father and Max left to put on his family tree project at school. With the help of his understanding neighbour and others who know the same grief themselves, Frank finally finds his true place beside his younger brother, celebrating his achievements no matter how small, and proud to display his own family tree with all that he loves. Art, stars, galaxies, numbers and love – swirling round images of his family.

This is Katya Balen’s first novel which I sought out after reading everything else I could get my hands on by this Winner of the Yoto-Carnegie Medal 2022.

Balen’s style of writing is so lyrical, heartfelt and touching in all her stories. The Space We’re In came after work with autistic children and it shows on the page. Telling the story from a ten year old’s point of view, it seems simple at first – counting down days until a little brother begins school. This has even more challenges than normal as the new entrant is severely autistic and he will be attending a different school than his big brother Frank.

Frank’s feelings throughout the novel are so real and raw and the straightforward way of telling this tale shot straight through my heart. There is shame, anger, confusion, loss, and grief. But there is a light at the end of Frank’s family’s pain, and five year old Max is an important part of that brightness and hope for their future.

A beautifully told tale that will strike deep at your heart. Keep tissues nearby, just in case – for sad and happy tears.

Author – Katya Balen

Illustrator – Laura Carlin

Age – 10+

Read more reviews of Katya Balen novels here 

(2019, Bloomsbury, Family, Love, Siblings, Brothers, Grief, Loss, Painting, Art, Artist, Universe, Golden ratio, Numbers, Coding, Autism, Autistic, School, Family Trees, Guilt, Shame, Football, Soccer, Real Life, Realism)