The Space We're in

Balen's powerfully emotional debut tells the story of 10-year-old Frank and his five-year-old brother Max, who is autistic and nonverbal. Frank loves footie, codes and ciphers, and pretending to be a "wildboy" with his friends in the wilderness near his house; Max likes only four foods, hates bright colors, and will only wear one kind of T-shirt: "gray with yellow stripes." Much of the siblings' home life is organized around Max's needs, sometimes leaving Frank feeling ignored, but their distracted parents are quick to give Frank special attention when he needs it. Frank's dense stream-of-consciousness narration conveys authentic emotional shifts: trying to be sensitive to his brother's particularities, but feeling frustrated that he doesn't have "a normal brother" and finding himself unable to stand up to the schoolmates who mock Max. After a tragedy, Frank discovers inner strength that helps him connect with Max and produce a creative way for the family to process their grief. Balen, who has worked with autistic people in various settings, sensitively depicts the experience of love, and of loving a neurodiverse family member. Ages 8-12. Agent: Catherine Drayton, InkWell Management. (Oct.)

Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 3-7--Frank has always resented his brother Max. Max is autistic, and he gets most of his parents' attention; Frank often wakes up in the middle of the night to Max crying out, his family can never go out to eat since Max can't handle it--the list goes on. But when his mom starts having seizures, Frank's feelings ramp up. Frank believes that all the extra stress Max puts on his mom has made her sick. When tragedy strikes Frank's family, he realizes that Max didn't make his mom sick after all, and begins to truly appreciate his brother for who he is. Seamlessly told from Frank's perspective, the story drags a bit in points. While this depiction of a boy with an autistic brother is evocative, some readers may be tired of another novel that views an autistic character through the perspective of a put-upon neurotypical sibling. VERDICT Recommended for libraries with a strong interest in realistic fiction.--Jill Baetiong, Bloomingdale Public Library, IL

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

★ Frank's narration is an honest take on a child's experiences growing up with a special needs little brother, who sucks up parental energy and attention; he often shows signs of frustration with his brother for being different, with his father for not helping enough, and with himself for occasionally joining in with other kids who make fun of his brother just so he can fit in. It's a gut-wrenching story of loss, but through Frank's growing bond with Max it's also one of gain, and readers will be deeply moved.—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Starred Review

[A] powerfully emotional debut . . . Balen, who has worked with autistic people in various settings, sensitively depicts the experience of love, and of loving a neurodiverse family member.—Publishers Weekly

Balen's debut novel draws from her own experiences in a school for children with special challenges, and she balances the struggles of those with autism and those who love them in a book with an achingly huggable main character. . . .The mysteries of the universe, the complexities of life, and a protagonist readers will fall in love with.—Kirkus Reviews