The Piano at the Station by Helen Rutter
Big Book Award 2024 shortlister:
Lacey Layton’s smart tongue and quick temper are constantly getting her confined to isolation at school. But there’s a lot more to Lacey that most people never see, and when she gets sent to lunch-time music lessons to keep her out of trouble, she discovers a love and talent for the piano that opens up a whole new world for her.
Just as she’s really beginning to make progress, her music teacher has to leave, which throws Lacey back into turmoil. Will she go back to her self-destructive ways or will music offer her a way to save her from herself?
Published by Barrington Stoke
About the author
Helen lives in the countryside just outside Sheffield with her comedian husband, two children and two lovely dogs, Ronnie and Billy Whizz. When she is not tapping away in her writing room, she loves walking the dogs, playing board games and reading.
Before writing her first novel Helen wrote and performed her work on the stage. She has even done some stand up comedy and before that she was a jobbing actress. If you look hard you could even spot her in old episodes of Coronation Street, Holby City and many other TV staples including adverts, film and voice over. Her very first role was playing Ruby in Jacqueline Wilson’s Double Act, so maybe she was always destined to be involved with children’s books!
101 responses to “The Piano at the Station by Helen Rutter”
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Very good.So so good.The person who write this is so so fabulous
I loved it! It was heart-warming. It encourages readers to follow their passions.
😁
10/10 Book! Its a very short read, but it’s a very nice story of finding a passion❤️🩷💜💖
This is my favourite book from the Bookfest! It was amazing at the last chapter, it made me happy at the end.
Very good 10/10 not bad but very short
Really good, fantastic, excellent.
I think that this book can show you that sometimes short books are just as good as long ones. Great for Year 5 and 6.
This book was really good I like it because it was a quick short one but I don’t like the part when She gets told off. great book
Really good book personally my favourite nice and short.
I like the piano at the station but it is not really kind of my book I think it would be good for some other people who like children who have the naughty cheek and love playing the piano and love listening to the flow of the music and the sound.
great job though!
This was my favourite
I like the piano at the station. It is good but not really my type of book. I would pick it. It is good and short but I don’t think it would be the book I would really recommend.
This book was ok but it wasn’t the best but I liked it because it was quick for a story.
I loved this book at some points in the story I felt lots of sympathy for Lacy a lot of the time I just wanted to hug her!
I loved this book, its was very good for a quick story to read, I hope it wins the awards. The end was very nice and the bond with her teacher is incredible.
Would give this a 9.9/10
I really like this book 📖 it was very interesting and short to read.7/10
I loved this book it was so good because I like short books. This book was perfect for me
A bit sad but sooo good! Love the ending
I enjoyed this book because it had a nice story line but I really enjoyed the end because the mom allows the girl to do what she likes. I rate this book an 8/10
This book started as an amazing book but just got really boring. I preferred Lacey when she was rude. I give it 6/10
I didn’t really like this book but I liked Lacey Layton because she does what she wants and she is naughty. My favourite part was when she started to play her piano at lunchtimes
This book was probably the saddest out of all of them since Lacey is a really angry character who finally gets rid of her anger when Mr day helps her with the piano, just for it to all go away after when Mr day left 11/10
I did not really enjoy it but towards the end it was good.
3/5
This book was okay, i didn’t really like it some of it was okay. I would rate this a 4/10
I really like this book. My favourite part is the end. I rate this 9/10.
I like it but is a bit easy. Lacey is a bit annoying.
This book was so short. Lacey was really mean which i like in a story. 3/10
It was so interesting when she went out of her house to play the piano on her own. I liked when she when she went out in the day and everybody saw her playing the piano and her mum believed her.
This is my favourite book because I like when Lacey has the little argument with the teacher. I will rate this book a 10/10
This book was really good in my opinion I would recommend this book for people who find reading ok
I like how Lacy is always arguing with people and shouting because when you read it makes you want to shout. I have never read a book like this before.
This is a great book I couldn’t stop reading it. I really like it. I would totally recommend it to anyone who doesn’t like reading, as it is a short read but it really pulls you in. I really hope that you release more books like this if so maybe make it a bit longer tho.
A very interesting book and a very quick read. It is very helpful with the coloured paper with people who don’t like white paper and it has line space.
I would recomend it its a short read, it’s a good book.
It was very interesting and realistic in life. As well as it being a very short and quick book. I do recommend.
It was very interesting and realistic in life. As well as it being a very short and quick book. I do recommend.
I liked this book because it proves that you can turn your life around no matter what circumstances you are in. It made me feel happy, especially at the end when her Mum supported her doing the thing she loved.
I really liked Piano at the Station because it has a gripping story and I would give it 9/10
Great book
I like this book because it had a great plot line and good characters 100/100
I felt that this book may have been a little too short but I did like the silly / funny humour. thought the author did a good job in making the reader empathise with the character. I found it very entertaining and enjoyable and I especially liked the part where she performed for others – I found her bravery to be very inspiring.
It is good I like Dr Day and pianos 😃
I enjoyed this book because it is calming and I liked how it was written. I would rate it a 8/10.
I loved this book it was my favourite book fest book. It was powerful and lacy sent a strong message to not give up on your dreams.
10/10.
𝔸 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕘𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜. 𝕀 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕜 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖. 𝕀 𝕨𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕖 𝕚𝕥 𝕒 10\10.
This book explains what is happening to some families and it really reached out to me.
I really liked this book, there was a great story line and Lacy was an interesting character. I would recommend it. I rate it 9/10.
The book was a great book and Lacy is a great character. We rate it a 99/100
A wonderful book that is short but does really grip you. It explains how she feels. If I could change one thing, I would make it longer because it is very short. I rate it 8/10
The book was good but I fought Mr Day in my head, wasn’t the most kindest, but the ending was really good.
This was a very short but AMAZING book defo one of my favourite books and i highly recommend. 10/10
Love this book 100% I can’t think of anything wrong with it!
Really great book! Its a really inspiring story. Perfect for music lovers!
I think this book is amazing it is so inspiring and Lacey has so much personality
100/100.
Piano at the Station has got to be my favourite book so far. I loved the personalities or all the charters especially auntie Jacky. she was bright, bold and funny. The personality of the other charters were good too; Mr. Day for e.g he was kind and would always lend a hand also he was always always calm.
100/100! I loved it! Lacy is so inspiring!
An amazing book.
I loved it and recommend it to people who have a joy for music.
This book was the first book I read out of all of them. This was AMAZING! I loved every second of it! Mr Day is sooo lovely. He really didn’t care when Lacy called him all those names. Helen Rutter really spent a long time on this and of course the amazing Elisa Pangnelli did such an amazing job on all those amazing pictures. They both did amazing. I love the book. Out of all the books I’ve read so far this one is my favourite and I think it always will be!
A very good book it is really good because it is relatable. It also has a good moral that music can help change your life.
I loved this book. I would give it 100/100. It was a fantastic story and was magical. I would recommend this book to everyone who loves a fun, amazing book. This is my favourite book so far.
This book was truly magical and beautiful.I would definitely recommend this book to people in year 5 and 6.
This book is fantastic , so much so that me and my best friends are doing a full play about it . I think it’s amazing, because you can relate to it in someway .
10000/10
1000/1
Good book and very positive
I really liked this book because Mr Day was super friendly and caring to help others.
An amazing book one of the best out of Bookfest Book Award 2024
I love this book and i recommend this because it is so so amazing and I give it a 8.5\10
This book was an absolute delight to read! I read it super fast, but I enjoyed the book whilst I read it!
The Piano at the Station is a heart warming story, I like how Lacey had some issues and she overcame them by playing instruments and how she turned her school life around and then she was confident to play in front of people.
I would recommend this book for people that like engaging and short books, I personally found it very compelling and I was very easily entertained.
Very good book; loved it, easy reader but a good story with twists and turns.
Such a page-turner! Brilliant book all about a girl called Lacey Layton who is a really really bad girl at the start then finds her love for music!!! Also 9/10 from me!
This book its amazing and I would definitely recommend it to you . Love to read.
The Piano at the Station is an amazing book. I really like how the character Lacey really connects with the piano. I love how she starts being a naughty girl and she expresses who she is through music and it shows no matter what your home life is or how naughty you are you can still play music and it helps you.
9/10 for me!
I would highly recommend this book because it is all about this little girl who likes to play the piano but is to shy to perform in front of people but she plays at night.
I’m in the middle of reading this and it is sooo good. I would definitely recommend
I love it. I like pianos too. I say 100/10!
So good.
Best book ever. At one point it felt so real it made me cry. I love that you made the page colour softer on the eye. I have already read it 3 times.
I love this book because all the characters have such unique personalities. The illustrations really add character to the book and I love how she connects to the piano and feels a joy when playing it. I also love how even though she was scared, she still played the piano at the station and saved it so all the other people could enjoy it. IT IS AN AMAZING BOOK!!!!!!!!
🥰sooooooooo good caught my attention straight away.
I loved this book but it was too easy and short. I wanted more story but it ended a bit abruptly. It’s good if you are less confident reader and I felt that it had a very nice message 6.5/10
It wasn’t for me I don’t think but I imagine lots of people will like/ find it helpful
I have only started his book I am really enjoying it, I can’t wait to see what happens 😀
I enjoyed the book, a bit short but overall a good book with a slight curse (for people who are in a church school/ religious). Still a good book. I like the occasional picture in the book. Great book for easy readers.
7.5/10.
I like the book because it’s telling me about someone who has bad behaviour and visits music lessons to calm down. I really liked how the music helped her.
Piano at the Station was very good and it would make a good movie. Lacey Layton was an inspirational character because of the strength she had and in the end she had amazing support from her family which she had never had before.
Really good book, would definitely recommend it, the pictures are so good and so is the plot. 10000000000000/10 best book have ever read
Piano at the Station is amazing. I really enjoyed it, it was extraordinary. 10/10 review from me. I loved it. I makes me feel inspired by Lacey how brave how beautiful a role model to me. Lacey Layton herself is beautiful and I love her. Really good picture and book, would recommend to anyone.
It was very good it was probably a 9/10 because there’s always room for improvement. Aoibhin
10/10: Loved this book the characters are fantastic; I loved it when she met the piano at the station. Katie
Piano at the Station was brilliant because it was short and sweet.
Amazing book and it’s easy and full of descriptions – like WHAT! In all honesty it was THE BEST BOOK EVER, I KEEP REREADING IT! I would give it a 10000000000000/10 if I could but we can only go to ten so I will rate it a 10/10 although it deserves a 999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999/10
The Piano at the Station is a really good book – easy to read great description.
It was a really good book but too easy.
amazing and really easy to read I loved it 10/10
I love The Piano at the Station because it is really easy to read and I recommend it to people who don’t like reading because it is a short book and it made me read more.
It’s a really good book. I felt a connection with the main character with me liking music and I really hope this wins. I would recommend it to people who love music and know how to play piano or want to learn how to play it. It’s such an easy read, I would give it 10/10.
– This book made me happy.
– There were lots of surprises.
– I could see the pictures in my head.
– It was an easy read.
– I would recommend this to everybody.
I love this book! I liked that the character developed throughout the story and that you grow to like her. It’s an easy book to read and I would recommend this book to people who are 6-11 years old.
• Really good, I read it in one day!
• I really liked the storyline, I would definitely read it again.
• The characters are so believable , I could imagine the chapters.
• I can imagine Lacey in my head, I was very involved in the characters.
• Very believable, I’ve met people like this.
• It made me happy.
• I was excited to read this.
• I would recommend this book to people who struggle to read as its easy to read.