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'Home: my Life in the Universe'
By Mark Ballabon

Illustrated by Grant MacDonald

Book One in the Leah's Universe Trilogy

The Story

14-year-old Leah loves wilderness survival books. In fact, sometimes she wishes she could escape into the wild. Then she could get away from the body image obsession at school and the bullies who pick on her little brother, Aiden. As long as she could still braid her hair, she could definitely survive without home comforts… and she could explore her passion for stargazing.

But alone in the woods one night, Leah’s life is transformed. She has the strangest sensation of gliding across the night sky, among millions of dazzling stars. This profound experience sparks a burning question in Leah that no one seems able to answer.

Desperate to broaden her horizons, Leah challenges herself to attend an international summer camp. Will the people she meets there, from her first love Sean, to formidable climate activist Kayleigh, help Leah find the answer to her question: what is 'Home'?

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"A thought-provoking and delightful read"

THE SCOTSMAN

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Leah refers to chapters as 'Windows'

Illustrations by Grant MacDonald

“A SPRINKLING OF STARDUST AND HOPE. BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL.”

READER REVIEW

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Home: My Life in the Universe is available to buy from various Bookshops

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Book shelves inside a bookshop sowing fiction novels including "Home" by Mark Ballabon

Author Talks and Workshops

Since 2021, Mark has visited schools, libraries and universities throughout the UK and Scotland and has met over 2000 students. Your school, university or organisation can book Mark for speaking engagements or interactive workshops around themes from 'HOME'

Creative Writing

Climate Positive

Empathy

Transforming Conflict

Self-leadership

Meet the author

About the Author

Philosopher, environmentalist and author, Mark Ballabon has been teaching and writing about personal and spiritual development for over two decades. His previous titles, 'Why is The Human on Earth and Courting the Future': Preparing for a Different World, explore issues such as climate change, human life and our future in a visionary and practical way. 'HOME: My Life in the Universe", is Mark's debut fiction title for YA readers.

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About the Illustrator

Inspired by the wild forests, lakes and rivers of New Zealand’s North Island where his family and two teenage daughters live, Grant developed a love of imagery as a rich communication and storytelling medium, from a young age. His career spans 25 years as an illustrator, designer and art director.

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Leah refers to chapters as 'Windows'

Illustrations by Grant MacDonald

"Millions of stars. Dazzling, diamond white. Charming, enchanting. It felt like I was soaringhigh up into the universe, flying so high. I felt like I was no longer in my body at all."

Leah

"Home is such an amazing book! I’ve never read anything like it. Leah is so much like me, not because she has blonde hair and loves braiding it, but because of all of her questions and her dreamer personality. It’s crazy how much I relate to her. And I’m sure that other kids will too. Home answered questions I already had and made me think of new ones. It is truly inspiring."

Reader review