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The First Year
Matt Goodfellow's eagerly awaited sequel to his best-selling and multi-award winning verse novel, The Final Year
474 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 10, 2025
24 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
About the author
Matt Goodfellow
18 books35 followersMatt 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
April 16, 2025
When I read The Final Year, I described it as a book that changed me. It left an impression on my heart and I think about it often.
Filled with the same powerful storytelling - with moments that whack you so hard in the chest you have to catch your breath - The First Year is a magnificent book and yet a very different story from The Final Year. It has a different rhythm.
Nate is starting high school, leaving behind the safe haven of primary school, and is thrown into a chaotic new world of experiences and expectations. He has his old friends, and new ones, as well as some faces he’d rather have left behind. And there’s a phantom of a face too, which becomes more solid.
Nate has moved into a new chapter of his life. The storytelling reflects that and has a different perspective, a different feel to it. As Nate becomes older he becomes less focussed on his own story, and learns more about the people around him. And the story gently touches on some hard-hitting topics.
But of course, it’s still Nate’s story.
Nate’s extraordinary story.
Nate’s normality.
A normality that reflects many kids lives. A normality filled with love, with anxiety, with uncertainly, with “challenges”. And where the previous book was anchored by a teacher who really saw Nate, this is a story of what happens when attentions are elsewhere, when teachers don’t really see a child, they just see a challenge.
It’s also a story about friends who have your back, who really see you.
I described The Final Year as “a story about growing up. About finding your voice. Finding your people.” A statement as true for The First Year.
It’s another story that will change you.
Filled with the same powerful storytelling - with moments that whack you so hard in the chest you have to catch your breath - The First Year is a magnificent book and yet a very different story from The Final Year. It has a different rhythm.
Nate is starting high school, leaving behind the safe haven of primary school, and is thrown into a chaotic new world of experiences and expectations. He has his old friends, and new ones, as well as some faces he’d rather have left behind. And there’s a phantom of a face too, which becomes more solid.
Nate has moved into a new chapter of his life. The storytelling reflects that and has a different perspective, a different feel to it. As Nate becomes older he becomes less focussed on his own story, and learns more about the people around him. And the story gently touches on some hard-hitting topics.
But of course, it’s still Nate’s story.
Nate’s extraordinary story.
Nate’s normality.
A normality that reflects many kids lives. A normality filled with love, with anxiety, with uncertainly, with “challenges”. And where the previous book was anchored by a teacher who really saw Nate, this is a story of what happens when attentions are elsewhere, when teachers don’t really see a child, they just see a challenge.
It’s also a story about friends who have your back, who really see you.
I described The Final Year as “a story about growing up. About finding your voice. Finding your people.” A statement as true for The First Year.
It’s another story that will change you.
April 17, 2025
A stunning follow up to an already perfect story, delving into the journey of starting secondary school, bullies, and your absent dad reappearing in your life. He just knows how to hit those emotions with his words. And as ever JTS’s illustrations amplify this story so well!
August 1, 2025
just as good as the first one. just as important.
December 30, 2025
I think this book and the Final Year are the best modern children’s books around at the minute.
As a Year 6 teacher, I read a lot of them but these are stand out.
Beautifully written in poetry style, they are super accessible to all readers (which is so important!).
I love that they are written in Manchester dialect, with slang and shortened spellings - it makes it so real and authentic! Kids love being represented in what they read and there’s a realness that I think loads of kids I taught would love.
Having said that, I read this as an adult and recommended to other adults who also loved it!
The characters and relationships are so real and representative but mostly it’s the power in that every single word Matt Goodfellow writes means something. He uses such few words but they are all so powerful.
If you can’t guess from this review, I loved it and WOULD RECOMMEND TO ALL!! But make sure you read The Final Year first.
As a Year 6 teacher, I read a lot of them but these are stand out.
Beautifully written in poetry style, they are super accessible to all readers (which is so important!).
I love that they are written in Manchester dialect, with slang and shortened spellings - it makes it so real and authentic! Kids love being represented in what they read and there’s a realness that I think loads of kids I taught would love.
Having said that, I read this as an adult and recommended to other adults who also loved it!
The characters and relationships are so real and representative but mostly it’s the power in that every single word Matt Goodfellow writes means something. He uses such few words but they are all so powerful.
If you can’t guess from this review, I loved it and WOULD RECOMMEND TO ALL!! But make sure you read The Final Year first.
May 19, 2025
Trying to keep my cool in a café while tears once again stream down my face. Matt Goodfellow has done it again. This book is a masterclass in verse novels—profoundly moving, heartbreakingly beautiful, and full of heart. His storytelling cuts deep in the gentlest way, wrapping every raw emotion in poetry that lingers long after the final page. Goodfellow is the poetic voice of a generation, and in my eyes, he's in a league entirely his own.
April 13, 2025
Nate and his family have my heart. Beautiful writing. Loved it.
June 15, 2025
This is a fantastic sequel and we have thoroughly enjoyed them both. It is so well written, engaging and fun to read. I'm reading it to my 11yr old who is in year 6.
August 7, 2025
It is an amazing book all written in poetry. It follows Nates story and how he deals with moving to secondary school.
September 10, 2025
3.5* A sweet and moving story of friendship, family and transitions. While I didn’t love this as much as The Final Year, it was still a lovely read.
October 13, 2025
certainly didn't disappoint
April 29, 2025
4.5 stars - fabulous, just loved the first one a little bit more!
June 1, 2025
This was just simply wonderful. Even better than the first book which I loved. Definitely in my top 5 reads this year!
October 30, 2025
These books are so important for kids right now.
Nate is such a strong kid. He really struggles going into year 7 and all the challenges that come with it. He’s expected to be ready for it and he just found his place in primary school. He had teachers that got him and friends he trusted.
It really highlights the struggle for any kid going from year 6 to 7 in one summer.
He struggles still with his brothers health, his dad mysteriously coming back into his life and losing everything he had to help him in primary school.
Loved the way this is set out and one day hopefully be in my own classroom :)
Nate is such a strong kid. He really struggles going into year 7 and all the challenges that come with it. He’s expected to be ready for it and he just found his place in primary school. He had teachers that got him and friends he trusted.
It really highlights the struggle for any kid going from year 6 to 7 in one summer.
He struggles still with his brothers health, his dad mysteriously coming back into his life and losing everything he had to help him in primary school.
Loved the way this is set out and one day hopefully be in my own classroom :)
April 12, 2025
Excellent continuation following a sympathetic family and young student.
Adored The Final Year recently, and snapped this sequel up when offered the chance. It could be read in isolation from the first, but knowing Nate's history - his small brother's heart problem, his experiences in Year 6 with a bully and friends, an inspiring teacher, his struggling mum, his temper - all of that is useful background.
Nate is now starting Year 7. He still tells us his story in verse, and this year, while his young brother has recovered from surgery and is home again, Nate has a lot going on. There's the new school and being bottom of the pile again, his old bully is there too though Nate has good friends (old AND new) with him now that help him manage his temper (despite a strict and unsympathetic teacher). Mum is still drinking and going down the bingo a lot. And now a long-absent family member is making an appearance and turning everything on its head.
You just want to hug Nate and his brothers. Certainly I do as an adult reader. I imagine those more his age will feel much more like Nate is one of them, he is articulate and his experiences will hit home a lot with the age group.
We get more insight into Nate's family history in this book, regarding his parents in particular. We see Nate being a parent and still needing to be parented. We see new friendships on his horizon and the possibility of his passions and interests being fulfilled in future years. We see the drudgery of poverty and the effort it takes to work against it.
It's a fantastic sequel, loved the way Goodfellow has chosen to present his writing and in Nate's mature yet still young voice. It was very moving as Nate navigates family dilemmas and his new adolescent school world.
A whizz of a book to get through, you'll not want Year 7 to end.
For ages 10-13.
With thanks to LoveReading, for providing a sample reading copy.
Adored The Final Year recently, and snapped this sequel up when offered the chance. It could be read in isolation from the first, but knowing Nate's history - his small brother's heart problem, his experiences in Year 6 with a bully and friends, an inspiring teacher, his struggling mum, his temper - all of that is useful background.
Nate is now starting Year 7. He still tells us his story in verse, and this year, while his young brother has recovered from surgery and is home again, Nate has a lot going on. There's the new school and being bottom of the pile again, his old bully is there too though Nate has good friends (old AND new) with him now that help him manage his temper (despite a strict and unsympathetic teacher). Mum is still drinking and going down the bingo a lot. And now a long-absent family member is making an appearance and turning everything on its head.
You just want to hug Nate and his brothers. Certainly I do as an adult reader. I imagine those more his age will feel much more like Nate is one of them, he is articulate and his experiences will hit home a lot with the age group.
We get more insight into Nate's family history in this book, regarding his parents in particular. We see Nate being a parent and still needing to be parented. We see new friendships on his horizon and the possibility of his passions and interests being fulfilled in future years. We see the drudgery of poverty and the effort it takes to work against it.
It's a fantastic sequel, loved the way Goodfellow has chosen to present his writing and in Nate's mature yet still young voice. It was very moving as Nate navigates family dilemmas and his new adolescent school world.
A whizz of a book to get through, you'll not want Year 7 to end.
For ages 10-13.
With thanks to LoveReading, for providing a sample reading copy.
August 10, 2025
I read and reviewed this elsewhere back in March but forgot to stick it here, it seems!
In The Final Year, the intimate setting and careful mentoring of Mr Joshua, helped Nate make it through primary school and learn to keep ‘The Beast’ at bay. High school beckons- will Nate be seen in the same way by the teachers? Is he worth investing in amongst the academic high stakes? Will he be able to regulate his emotions at this time of huge change? Surely anything else happening would send him over the edge.
The First Year picks up where The Final Year left off in every sense. It’s following Nate and co. straight after breaking up for THAT summer between primary and secondary school. The writing is also of the same great calibre that whilst clearly finely crafted gives the impression of a world viewed through the lens of raw adolescence. Matt Goodfellow does the same fantastic service representing economically marginalised voices not often seen in children’s books.
I really liked how Goodfellow developed the character of Nate’s mum, Gemma. I don’t want to add spoilers but she seemed more present in this book (in every sense) and her struggles -and victories- were more sympathetically visible. Likewise, there is more room given to the wonderful Auntie San-as Goodfellow prompts: there’s always a back story. I also like how we are reminded to contemplate the back stories of even the most difficult-to-like characters, showing the complexity of humanity. Brilliant for building empathy.
I was moved by all of the little nods to Skellig peppered throughout- lovely to maintain the tribute to this phenomenal book and show how the legacy of reading it has stayed with Nate.
This should be read by every secondary head and Academy CEO in the country. And everyone else.
In The Final Year, the intimate setting and careful mentoring of Mr Joshua, helped Nate make it through primary school and learn to keep ‘The Beast’ at bay. High school beckons- will Nate be seen in the same way by the teachers? Is he worth investing in amongst the academic high stakes? Will he be able to regulate his emotions at this time of huge change? Surely anything else happening would send him over the edge.
The First Year picks up where The Final Year left off in every sense. It’s following Nate and co. straight after breaking up for THAT summer between primary and secondary school. The writing is also of the same great calibre that whilst clearly finely crafted gives the impression of a world viewed through the lens of raw adolescence. Matt Goodfellow does the same fantastic service representing economically marginalised voices not often seen in children’s books.
I really liked how Goodfellow developed the character of Nate’s mum, Gemma. I don’t want to add spoilers but she seemed more present in this book (in every sense) and her struggles -and victories- were more sympathetically visible. Likewise, there is more room given to the wonderful Auntie San-as Goodfellow prompts: there’s always a back story. I also like how we are reminded to contemplate the back stories of even the most difficult-to-like characters, showing the complexity of humanity. Brilliant for building empathy.
I was moved by all of the little nods to Skellig peppered throughout- lovely to maintain the tribute to this phenomenal book and show how the legacy of reading it has stayed with Nate.
This should be read by every secondary head and Academy CEO in the country. And everyone else.
May 15, 2025
Nate’s back, and so is the verse - rhythmic, raw, and resonant. The First Year, Matt Goodfellow’s quietly brilliant sequel to The Final Year, picks up where we left off and walks with Nate right into the emotional minefield of Year 7: new school, old baggage, big feelings, and a dad-shaped ghost reappearing out of nowhere.
This book is what every early secondary student needs - not because it lectures, but because it listens. It’s honest without ever being bleak, tender without turning twee, and it delivers its emotional punches with the gentleness of someone who knows that kids can take the truth, if it’s given with care.
Goodfellow nails the nuances of transition: the vulnerability of starting again, the longing to belong, and the ache of growing up faster than you should. Nate’s voice is as real as ever: defiant, thoughtful, and sometimes just trying to stay afloat - and paired with Joe Todd-Stanton’s expressive illustrations, the book becomes a kind of poetic verse novel for the soul.
Accessible, affirming, and emotionally intelligent, The First Year is that rare kind of book that reads easy but hits deep. Perfect for Year 7s, teachers, or anyone who remembers what it felt like to be small in a big, bewildering world. Nate’s story doesn’t shout - it speaks, and that might just be more powerful.
This book is what every early secondary student needs - not because it lectures, but because it listens. It’s honest without ever being bleak, tender without turning twee, and it delivers its emotional punches with the gentleness of someone who knows that kids can take the truth, if it’s given with care.
Goodfellow nails the nuances of transition: the vulnerability of starting again, the longing to belong, and the ache of growing up faster than you should. Nate’s voice is as real as ever: defiant, thoughtful, and sometimes just trying to stay afloat - and paired with Joe Todd-Stanton’s expressive illustrations, the book becomes a kind of poetic verse novel for the soul.
Accessible, affirming, and emotionally intelligent, The First Year is that rare kind of book that reads easy but hits deep. Perfect for Year 7s, teachers, or anyone who remembers what it felt like to be small in a big, bewildering world. Nate’s story doesn’t shout - it speaks, and that might just be more powerful.
May 13, 2025
Following on from The Final Year - a prize winner and longlist nominee by so many.
Leant to me by a Y6 child, who persuaded Mum to pre-order after she read The Final year!
Nate, Caleb and PS finish Y6. Dylan gets better and is out of hospital with an impressive row of staples on his chest. But on that last day Nate thinks he sees someone he knows across the park. A ghost? His imagination?
Summer comes and goes and High School starts. But it doesn't start well. The boys have a new friend in Muna. She and Caleb are good at calming Nate down. But it doesn't always work.
When Nate flips and has a go at Turner, he gets it backand more from Turner's brotehrs and his friends. But Nate doesn't tell - it would only make things worse.
Christmas comes and a fancy coat is delivered, with no card. But it soon becomes clear who sent it. Mum gets a message - he wants to see Nate.
All seems good but is Nick as good as he seems? Nate starts to stay over. He finally talks about Turner. And for some reason they all start to avoid contact with Nate.
And then comes the day....
This is every bit as good as The Final Year. There are a lot of pages but some have few words on so don't let that put you off.
5*
Leant to me by a Y6 child, who persuaded Mum to pre-order after she read The Final year!
Nate, Caleb and PS finish Y6. Dylan gets better and is out of hospital with an impressive row of staples on his chest. But on that last day Nate thinks he sees someone he knows across the park. A ghost? His imagination?
Summer comes and goes and High School starts. But it doesn't start well. The boys have a new friend in Muna. She and Caleb are good at calming Nate down. But it doesn't always work.
When Nate flips and has a go at Turner, he gets it backand more from Turner's brotehrs and his friends. But Nate doesn't tell - it would only make things worse.
Christmas comes and a fancy coat is delivered, with no card. But it soon becomes clear who sent it. Mum gets a message - he wants to see Nate.
All seems good but is Nick as good as he seems? Nate starts to stay over. He finally talks about Turner. And for some reason they all start to avoid contact with Nate.
And then comes the day....
This is every bit as good as The Final Year. There are a lot of pages but some have few words on so don't let that put you off.
5*
September 18, 2025
The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow was superb. How do you follow such a winner?
Simple ..The First Year! And what a brilliant sequel..dare I say it’s even better?
Nate is back with Jax, Dylan, Mum and Auntie San along with PS and Caleb and new friend Muna.
This time Nate and his friends are navigating the first year of secondary school and their nemesis Turner and form tutor Mr Peters.
As well as this a figure from the past appears causing inner conflict for Nate.
Following the same poetic form and variety, the stories are told so beautifully.Your heart goes out to Nate and his family and friends with the hope that love and friendship will win through and Nate can find his own identity, strength and path.
Matt Goodfellow’s words are pitch perfect and his wry humour towards the robotic nature of school Academy world shines through. But it is the emotion we feel through the poetry that is the true magic here.
Joe Todd-Stanton’s illustrations are utter class brining even more beauty to the book.
If you’ve read The Final Year then you must read this to yourself and / or class. If you have not yet read either start with the Final Year and then move on to the brilliance of The First Year. You won’t be disappointed .
Simply superb
Simple ..The First Year! And what a brilliant sequel..dare I say it’s even better?
Nate is back with Jax, Dylan, Mum and Auntie San along with PS and Caleb and new friend Muna.
This time Nate and his friends are navigating the first year of secondary school and their nemesis Turner and form tutor Mr Peters.
As well as this a figure from the past appears causing inner conflict for Nate.
Following the same poetic form and variety, the stories are told so beautifully.Your heart goes out to Nate and his family and friends with the hope that love and friendship will win through and Nate can find his own identity, strength and path.
Matt Goodfellow’s words are pitch perfect and his wry humour towards the robotic nature of school Academy world shines through. But it is the emotion we feel through the poetry that is the true magic here.
Joe Todd-Stanton’s illustrations are utter class brining even more beauty to the book.
If you’ve read The Final Year then you must read this to yourself and / or class. If you have not yet read either start with the Final Year and then move on to the brilliance of The First Year. You won’t be disappointed .
Simply superb
August 24, 2025
I just couldn’t enjoy this book for multiple reasons.
The entire book was written in poetry and I didn’t really enjoy that. Even though there wasn’t much writing this felt like such a drag to read.
I thought that some aspects of it just weren’t realistic. If you beat someone up you wouldn’t just go to isolation- you would be suspended.
There were questions that I wanted answers to but sadly didnt get them. I wanted to know what Nate’s dad did for a living and what happened to Turner. I had some vague ideas but I’m one of those readers who needs definitive answers- I don’t like guessing/ leaving it to my imagination.
I also thought this was way too dramatic and quite unrealistic. Don’t read this before starting secondary as it will definitely scare you and make you feel nervous about starting S1. I know people will have very different opinions on this book but I really didn’t like it and was forcing myself to read it. I did like how little writing there was so I could read tiny bits at a time.
Side note- I personally didn’t like the language used as it felt outdated/ was something I would never say.
The entire book was written in poetry and I didn’t really enjoy that. Even though there wasn’t much writing this felt like such a drag to read.
I thought that some aspects of it just weren’t realistic. If you beat someone up you wouldn’t just go to isolation- you would be suspended.
There were questions that I wanted answers to but sadly didnt get them. I wanted to know what Nate’s dad did for a living and what happened to Turner. I had some vague ideas but I’m one of those readers who needs definitive answers- I don’t like guessing/ leaving it to my imagination.
I also thought this was way too dramatic and quite unrealistic. Don’t read this before starting secondary as it will definitely scare you and make you feel nervous about starting S1. I know people will have very different opinions on this book but I really didn’t like it and was forcing myself to read it. I did like how little writing there was so I could read tiny bits at a time.
Side note- I personally didn’t like the language used as it felt outdated/ was something I would never say.
June 11, 2025
'The First Year' is the sequel to Matt Goodfellow's award winning verse-novel, 'The Final Year'. It begins with Nate's last day of Year 6 and covers his first year of high school. Dylan has recovered from his operation and is in good health but Nate, is dealing with his old school bully from Year 6, an unsympathetic form tutor, and a new arrival upending his life.
Like 'The First Year', the text is organised in short, readable stanzas so, even though it is a longer book, it is still a very quick and engaging read. Once again, Matt Goodfellow beautifully captures Nate's conflicted emotions and the angry beast that threatens to burst out of him when he's under pressure, as well as the loving and supportive relationships between Nate, his Mum and his younger brothers. Nate's new friend, Muna, is also a great addition to their friend group. Another poignant and authentic read - loved it!
Like 'The First Year', the text is organised in short, readable stanzas so, even though it is a longer book, it is still a very quick and engaging read. Once again, Matt Goodfellow beautifully captures Nate's conflicted emotions and the angry beast that threatens to burst out of him when he's under pressure, as well as the loving and supportive relationships between Nate, his Mum and his younger brothers. Nate's new friend, Muna, is also a great addition to their friend group. Another poignant and authentic read - loved it!
June 3, 2025
Having already read The Last Year and loved it I was sent an ARC of this and I was excited to read it and it did not disappoint!
Nate and his friends start secondary school and soon discover that it’s completely different to primary school. The school itself is bigger the teachers seem to expect more, they are stricter and also very busy so they seem to be less connected to the students than before. Nate still struggles to contain his anger but he wins the battle more than he loses, however it only takes one time for the teachers to view him as a troublemaker and that really isn’t who he wants to be! it’s brilliantly written in verse, which on the surface sounds really intimidating but actually makes it easier to read as there isn’t a word wasted. It’s perfect for reluctant readers, using slang that will be familiar to them whilst also being beautifully crafted. Highly recommend and make sure you read The Last Year first so you fully understand and appreciate the story. Now all I need is another Final Year when Nate leaves school at age 18! Please make this happen Matt Goodfellow!
August 1, 2025
A good follow up of one of my favourite verse novels of recent times, The Final Year, even though grown ups and probably a good number of young people reading this book, The First Year, will find the ending obvious. I wasn’t happy at first sight of this book given it is a sequel and is much bigger in size than the original at nearly 500 pages. Closer inspection told me that there are lots more illustrations and lots of shorter poems. Nate and his crew are back, it’s their first year of high school and get in various scrapes with some characters from the previous book and some new introductions. Goodfellow even manages to get a sensible dig in about SATS. It’s a good story and series, and is probably destined to become a favourite of y7 teachers all over the land.
April 15, 2025
After absolutely loving The Final Year, I was very keen to catch up with Nate as he made the jump to secondary school.
Picking up straight from the end of the previous book, we follow Nate and his family as they recover from a family health scare and head into a summer of change. With new rules, new teachers, new friends and old enemies to deal with at school, plus family dynamics changing, Y7 us another rollercoaster for Nate.
if you loved The First Year, you will love this. Written in the same prose-style, in Nates authentic voice, but with a slightly more mature edge, this an excellent follow-up.
Picking up straight from the end of the previous book, we follow Nate and his family as they recover from a family health scare and head into a summer of change. With new rules, new teachers, new friends and old enemies to deal with at school, plus family dynamics changing, Y7 us another rollercoaster for Nate.
if you loved The First Year, you will love this. Written in the same prose-style, in Nates authentic voice, but with a slightly more mature edge, this an excellent follow-up.
April 11, 2025
Once again, a fabulous read! I was so excited to see that Matt Goodfellow had a written a follow-up to The Final Year (firmly one of my most favourite books now!) that i put it on pre-order & read it as soon as it was delivered. Just as brilliant as The Final Year, i love the writing style and beautiful illustrations throughout the story. The characters are relatable for anyone with children finishing primary school and starting their secondary school journey and you are rooting for Nate from start to finish. I loved it!
April 11, 2025
Wow! What an emotional rollercoaster that was!
I love how Nate’s story is told; the way it’s written means I can really hear his voice and the structure of the verses really adds impact to the words. So easy to read - I received my copy and devoured it in a couple of hours but will now go back and pick over it, mulling over my favourites parts. The characters are so real, there are more storylines in this sequel but they are woven together masterfully. There’s always a slight worry that a follow up won’t lack the same punch as the first but this definitely did not disappoint!
I love how Nate’s story is told; the way it’s written means I can really hear his voice and the structure of the verses really adds impact to the words. So easy to read - I received my copy and devoured it in a couple of hours but will now go back and pick over it, mulling over my favourites parts. The characters are so real, there are more storylines in this sequel but they are woven together masterfully. There’s always a slight worry that a follow up won’t lack the same punch as the first but this definitely did not disappoint!
August 4, 2025
I was given this book from my secondary school, this year I am going into secondary and I was actually thinking of buying this book but luckily I got one for free! So I am very happy I have read this, I have a feeling this is really going to help me in secondary and the fact that it is a very different life style to what you would usually think of is great. It’s proof that everyone lives a different life, I don’t want to do any spoilers but I could go on and on. Here are some hint emojis!~ 👔🧿👀🙍🏻👩👦
April 22, 2025
Nate, his story, his friends and his family are just something I wanna wrap up in love. Following his first year in secondary school, this has so many ups and downs: new friends, old friends, old foes, learning about yourself. This proper tugged at my heartstrings as a teacher and a human. We’ve all known a Nate. This feels different, more grown, than the first book and it makes it the perfect sequel - Nate’s growing; he’s not the same person he was in primary school. Just gorgeously done.
April 25, 2025
Honestly, if I could it more than 5 stars, I would. This is such a lovely sequel. Poor Nate has such a tough life, but he is loved, and he knows it. Life has got easier at home since The Final Year, but Y7 is about to start, and things are about to get tricky. He has some tough decisions to make and emotions to deal with, but he does it all in his own way. The way it's written makes me feel like I really know him and his brothers. Such a great book, but a real tear jerker.
May 11, 2025
It’s nice to see Nate again and find out more about his life. I was a bit disappointed that it didn’t have that much about his school life in. I guess I was hoping that it would be a good book to recommend for students transitioning to Secondary. There’s not really any stand out teachers this time- only hints of. The main focus is Nate’s home life and the return of his dad. Once again it is the family and friends that surround him that support him and help him grow.
May 25, 2025
Utterly incredible, just as The Final Year was. Uniquely, heartbreaking but equally full of the strength we take from real love, friendship and family. As a mum, as a teacher and as the child I once was, I love this book and these characters with every fibre of my being. Matt Goodfellow is an absolute master and judging by the sentiment in this book, I would guess he was once an awesome teacher too.
Every teacher should read these books!
Every teacher should read these books!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews