Listen to a sample
The Last House in the Row
- Author
- Lesley Parr
- Narrator
- Bronwen Price
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Publish Date
- 10 April 2025
- Run Time
- 1 hour 28 minutes
- Format
- x-book®
What to expect
Hayley discovers the importance of giving people a chance in this thought-provoking tale from critically acclaimed author Lesley Parr.
Hayley is furious that her beloved cat, Judy Garland, keeps sneaking off to the garden of the weird old lady across the street. Lillian, or Boo, as Hayley calls her, hasn’t left her house for years, not since the council came up with their plan to knock down the row of houses to make way for a new development.
Everyone in the street dismisses Lillian as an eccentric old woman, but when Hayley is forced to get to know her, an unlikely bond develops between them and Hayley learns the real reason behind Lillian’s reluctance to move.
But when a misunderstanding threatens their friendship, Hayley must use all of her ingenuity to repair it.
Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.
Critics Review
-
"Deftly written, with not a word out of place, as with all of Parr's fantastic novels." – The Bookseller Children's Previews
"A tender, moving story that really touches the heart. Absolutely beautiful." — Eloise Williams
"Lesley Parr’s family and small community settings always have such a timeless, classic feel. I loved the relationship that grows between feisty Hayley and her elderly neighbour … an accessible and appealing story of mutual understanding and kindness between generations." — Hilary McKay
"Told with equal amounts of humour and heart, this wonderful story of unexpected understanding and new-found friendship leaves the reader glowing and grinning inside. A perfectly polished gem of a story and feel-good hit." — Keith Gray
"A moving and compelling story of the unlikely friendship that grows between an elderly woman and a young girl when they discover that they have more in common than they thought … This is a story that will stay with you." — Helen Peters
"A beautifully told story that explores the power of genuine, cross-generational friendship. It is both tender and moving." — Jenny Pearson
"A perfect slice of Lesley Parr brilliance. She’s managed to condense a huge depth of emotion into just a few perfectly-formed chapters. I loved discovering how Hayley and Lillian’s unlikely seeming friendship evolved into a deep connection of warmth, respect and kindness." — Tom Percival
"This gentle tale, set in 1979 Wales, explores unlikely friendships and overturned assumptions." — BookTrust Cymru, Book of the Month
"Amazing things can happen when you give people a chance! The unlikely friendship between a young girl and her eccentric neighbour takes centre stage in a moving and thought-provoking novella … speaks loudly about how unexpectedly surprising people can prove to be, and how important it is to foster connections with your local community. Beautifully written and conceived, this is a book to savour long after the last page has turned." – Lancashire Post
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Lesley Parr
- Narrator
- Bronwen Price
- Duration
- 1 hour 28 minutes
- Release Date
- 10 April 2025
- ISBN
- 9780008747770
- Format
- x-book®
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Genre
- Children’s / Teenage fiction and true stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: General, modern and contemporary fiction, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Family and home stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Friendship stories, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Drama and performing arts
Synopsis
Hayley discovers the importance of giving people a chance in this thought-provoking tale from critically acclaimed author Lesley Parr. Hayley is furious that her beloved cat, Judy Garland, keeps sneaking off to the garden of the weird old lady across the street. Lillian, or Boo, as Hayley calls her, hasn’t left her house for years, not since the council came up with their plan to knock down the row of houses to make way for a new development. Everyone in the street dismisses Lillian as an eccentric old woman, but when Hayley is forced to get to know her, an unlikely bond develops between them and Hayley learns the real reason behind Lillian’s reluctance to move. But when a misunderstanding threatens their friendship, Hayley must use all of her ingenuity to repair it. Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.
About xigxag and the x-book®
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
Our x-book® format is the only fully integrated listen-and-read experience available. See the text on screen as you listen, look up words, take notes, search within the book, and share quotes. It is especially useful for accessibility, language learning, and getting more from non-fiction. Look for the purple x-book® ribbon on the cover, or filter your search by "x-book" to find them.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.