The Last House in the Row

About this book

Hayley’s cat keeps going into the garden of the mysterious old lady across the way. It’s the only house left after the rest in the row were knocked down years before. The old lady refused to move out and hasn’t set foot outside since. Hayley reckons she’s like a witch. 

But when Hayley actually talks to her, it turns out that they have a lot in common. And there’s a good reason that Lillian won’t move out of her house. Can Hayley help her find her way back into the world again? 

This gentle tale, set in 1979 Wales, explores unlikely friendships and overturned assumptions. The girl and woman forge an unlikely bond through a love of film and theatre, as they both want to play, or have played, Jo March from Little Women on stage. 

The suggestion that it's worth being kind to people and giving them a second chance is woven in very lightly, and Hayley is a realistically imperfect character. 

The book has yellow paper and specially designed font that makes it accessible to dyslexic readers. Richard Johnson’s illustrations are charming, while the short chapters mean reluctant or slower readers can feel a real sense of progress.