Tomorrow We Begin: Poems to find yourself in, perfect for 11+

by Matt Goodfellow

Trains in the distance, man, the world rumbles by
waitin for the stars now to tear back the sky.

Every wall must rattle when this change comes crashin in
before we start let's fall apart – tomorrow, we begin.

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A powerful new collection of contemporary poems for teenagers from Matt Goodfellow, winner of the CLiPPA 2024 and author of Let's Chase Stars Together and The Final Year.

Ideal for young people aged 11+

With poems about everything from navigating your first day of secondary school at eleven to finding your first love at sixteen, this collection explores the highs, lows and messy middles of teenage life. Told in Matt Goodfellow's engaging and powerful style, this book takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster; from anger at your teachers to those blissful, simple days with your mates. With poems that sensitively deal with difficult issues, there is a space in Matt's poetry for all teens to feel seen, whether poetry is their thing or not!

'Goodfellow has the knack for choosing all the right words' - The Guardian

Genres: Poetry

123 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 17, 2024

About the author

Matt Goodfellow was a primary school teacher for more than ten years before becoming a full-time poet and author. Shu Lin’s Grandpa is his first book with Candlewick Press. He lives with his wife and children in Manchester, England.

Reviews

[Amna Waqar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt Goodfellow knows how to write from an older child's perspective. This anthology of poems is profound. Not only are these poems about trying to navigate through high school but they are about home-life as well. They are about self-discovery, peers, teachers and parents.

These poems will have you smiling: "I look like a muppet." Others are thought-provoking: "We're the ones who've seen too much." Poems such as Rugby Club will make you laugh out loud - "What a stupid game." And the poem Lost Boy certainly hits hard.

This book will take you on a rather bumpy ride from Year 7 all the way through to to the finish line at Year 11, on the journey that is called high school.

My thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a huge fan of The Final Year and was excited to read this new collection of poems which plots the course of secondary school life.

Covering all the milestones, through making new friends, teachers good (and not!), family issues and first loves, and using different types of poetry throughout, it is a very accessible and appealing collection for that slightly older audience. Told in an authentic voice, it touches on all the nuances of that time which will be a great companion for those that are about to embark on this journey, as well as a chance to reminisce for those already through it.

I enjoyed it so much I have actually read through it about 3 times and had a different favourite each time! Highly recomended!

[Alice (Children's Books Librarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great poetic journey following the first day of starting secondary school and all the way through to GCSEs. It accurately captures family, friendships and relationships and what teenagers may experience over the years. Easy to read and follow, suitable for high school age readers.

[Bethany Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a really good collection of poems that I think would be a great read for anyone in high school.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC

[Lio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Matt’s poems for teens - short and profound, with great sense of voice and emotion.

[Louise Wilford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short book on a collection of poems, which are all related to being a pupil in a school. It's good, but his latest books are even better.

[Sarah Ziman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in that same relatable voice that resonated with readers of Goodfellow’s hugely successful verse novel ‘The Final Year’, this is a collection of raw, truthful poems that are never forced – about the friend you never thought you’d click with, about standing out, about fitting in, about first love, about parental neglect and found family. Perfect for teenagers - particularly boys – who feel the world around them keenly and know they have something to say.