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Last Lesson
'Devastatingly good' - Clare Mackintosh, author of After The End 13 Reasons Why meets The Wasp Factory in an impossible to put down thriller that will take your breath away.Last year, Ollie Morcombe was a star pupil, popular and a gifted musician.Then, after the accident, everything changed. Now he's an outcast, a prime target of the school bullies who have made his life a living hell.Today - the last day of the school year - he's brought those bullies a gift. A homemade pipe bomb.What has driven a model student to plan an unspeakable revenge And with the clock ticking down to home time, what can anybody do to stop him'A powerfully charged study in empathy' - Financial Times 'A sensitive, gripping book about mental health and masculinity' - Samuel Pollen, author of The Year I Didn't Eat
288 pages, Paperback
Published April 2, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
March 1, 2020
How the hell am I meant to review “Last Lesson”? It’s utterly brilliant and if I write a single detail about it, I’ll ruin the experience for the next reader.
James Goodhand is a genius. I’m a prolific reader but very few books have tattooed marks onto my brain. “Last Lesson” joins the ranks of “The Handmaid’s Tale” (Atwood), “The Power” (Alderman), “The Diary of Anne Frank” (Frank) and “The Lord of the Flies” (Goldman) - books which echo and itch, refusing to leave my skull. Goodhand’s words are indelible, urgent, original.
James Goodhand is a genius. I’m a prolific reader but very few books have tattooed marks onto my brain. “Last Lesson” joins the ranks of “The Handmaid’s Tale” (Atwood), “The Power” (Alderman), “The Diary of Anne Frank” (Frank) and “The Lord of the Flies” (Goldman) - books which echo and itch, refusing to leave my skull. Goodhand’s words are indelible, urgent, original.
April 2, 2020
Last Lesson is a debut YA novel by James Goodhand that focuses on teenage male mental and toxic masculinity.
And it is incredible. I already know this book will be in my top 10 of the year come the end of 2020.
Ollie is a teenage boy who in just one year goes from straight A student to someone so traumatised and stressed that he takes a homemade bomb into school with the intention of blowing up his classroom.
But this book isn't about extreme violence or acts of terror. It is about a young man who is suffering terribly. A young man who doesn't even realise how much help and support he needs. A young man who doesn't find that support at home or at school, the two places that he should be able to find it.
I honestly could not put this book down. I was gripped from the very beginning. It is incredibly intense and raw and by the end I felt overcome with emotion.
Goodhand has written such an important story on a topic that still, in 2020 isn't talked about enough. Ollie's situation is extreme but it raises important awareness of mental health issues and the pressures teenagers are under in our modern society.
This is an incredible debut novel and certainly one that will stay on my mind for a very long time!
And it is incredible. I already know this book will be in my top 10 of the year come the end of 2020.
Ollie is a teenage boy who in just one year goes from straight A student to someone so traumatised and stressed that he takes a homemade bomb into school with the intention of blowing up his classroom.
But this book isn't about extreme violence or acts of terror. It is about a young man who is suffering terribly. A young man who doesn't even realise how much help and support he needs. A young man who doesn't find that support at home or at school, the two places that he should be able to find it.
I honestly could not put this book down. I was gripped from the very beginning. It is incredibly intense and raw and by the end I felt overcome with emotion.
Goodhand has written such an important story on a topic that still, in 2020 isn't talked about enough. Ollie's situation is extreme but it raises important awareness of mental health issues and the pressures teenagers are under in our modern society.
This is an incredible debut novel and certainly one that will stay on my mind for a very long time!
August 7, 2020
Last Lesson focuses on Ollie who has a rough year. This book goes straight for your heart. And to be honest it was a lot more challenging to read. Ollie schoolmates made everything worst. Ollie only see one thing which is revenge so he planned to kill all the people that have been making his life hell.
The topics are complex. The author has looked at many issues that teens in high school are facing. Grief, mental health, bully and abuse. Last Lesson showed the impact of bullies and grief can have on people. It was such an intense moment.
The plot and the pace were just good. I couldn't relate with what Ollie has been through but I felt his emotions with him. It's so bad to say if I enjoyed the book with sad messages, but this book really was good. This book really has a heavy mental topics. You are warned.
If you are reading this book and if you are expecting the ending, you should just stop because I did expect and turned out something else happened at the end of the story.
Brilliant debut from James Goodhand. Highly recommend.
Thank you Times Reads for sending me a copy of Last Lesson in return for an honest review. This book is available to purchase.
The topics are complex. The author has looked at many issues that teens in high school are facing. Grief, mental health, bully and abuse. Last Lesson showed the impact of bullies and grief can have on people. It was such an intense moment.
The plot and the pace were just good. I couldn't relate with what Ollie has been through but I felt his emotions with him. It's so bad to say if I enjoyed the book with sad messages, but this book really was good. This book really has a heavy mental topics. You are warned.
If you are reading this book and if you are expecting the ending, you should just stop because I did expect and turned out something else happened at the end of the story.
Brilliant debut from James Goodhand. Highly recommend.
Thank you Times Reads for sending me a copy of Last Lesson in return for an honest review. This book is available to purchase.
May 13, 2020
To coin a well worn phrase this is a book ‘of our times’. A dark and edgy tale (written in the first person) of young teenager Ollie Morcombe, a bright, intelligent school boy and gifted musician whose life teeters on a razor’s edge as the end of the school year draws near.
In a world where ‘mental health’ is supposedly high on every agenda, Ollie’s sinister but compelling story is an example of how an individual can fall deep into the abyss of anguish and torment without those around him being aware of his inner turmoil, until it’s almost too late for everyone concerned.
The author masterfully navigates the mind of a deeply troubled teenager, taking us through every twist and turn, bumping the edges of sex, pornography and extreme violence, as well as laying bare the ‘bullying culture’ that can infest any institution but is rife to a greater or lesser extent in almost every school.
This is a great read, brilliantly paced throughout and, as the tension builds exponentially with every turn of the page the author offers the reader brief respite with glimpses of Ollie’s past, adding detail to his complex personality. The dialogue between Ollie and his friends and tormentors is ‘spot on’ adding to the very real feel of this dark and edgy story of bullying, male bravado and failure to protect the vulnerable. We’ve all been to school and I know some of us will have had our lives touched by parts of Ollie’s story. This is a fabulous first offering from Mr. Goodhand.
As with Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” I believe Goodhand’s “Last Lesson” should be on the school curriculum.
In a world where ‘mental health’ is supposedly high on every agenda, Ollie’s sinister but compelling story is an example of how an individual can fall deep into the abyss of anguish and torment without those around him being aware of his inner turmoil, until it’s almost too late for everyone concerned.
The author masterfully navigates the mind of a deeply troubled teenager, taking us through every twist and turn, bumping the edges of sex, pornography and extreme violence, as well as laying bare the ‘bullying culture’ that can infest any institution but is rife to a greater or lesser extent in almost every school.
This is a great read, brilliantly paced throughout and, as the tension builds exponentially with every turn of the page the author offers the reader brief respite with glimpses of Ollie’s past, adding detail to his complex personality. The dialogue between Ollie and his friends and tormentors is ‘spot on’ adding to the very real feel of this dark and edgy story of bullying, male bravado and failure to protect the vulnerable. We’ve all been to school and I know some of us will have had our lives touched by parts of Ollie’s story. This is a fabulous first offering from Mr. Goodhand.
As with Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” I believe Goodhand’s “Last Lesson” should be on the school curriculum.
March 8, 2020
Last Lesson was a book that I read within a day and honestly got me out of my current reading rut. Ollie was troubled from the get-go and the narrative it was told in actually worked although it took some time to get used to. Mental health in men especially definitely deserves the representation it deserves and I learned a lot about the psychology behind boys like Ollie.
Something I found refreshing in the book was that there was no closure until the end, everything being told in Ollies perspective skewed the narrative. The twist at the end was something I speculated since the beginning and I found it great how all loose ends were tied up. There is no clear black or white person in the wrong in this book; representing how mental health and your mental state impacts yourself as much as other people do.
Despite the irrelevance of middle school in the UK, I thought this book to be thoroughly notable and thanks for the ARC!
Something I found refreshing in the book was that there was no closure until the end, everything being told in Ollies perspective skewed the narrative. The twist at the end was something I speculated since the beginning and I found it great how all loose ends were tied up. There is no clear black or white person in the wrong in this book; representing how mental health and your mental state impacts yourself as much as other people do.
Despite the irrelevance of middle school in the UK, I thought this book to be thoroughly notable and thanks for the ARC!
February 21, 2020
I assumed this book was one thing I was wrong. The twist near the end of the story made this book for me.
Recently, I have read several American versions of a similar story. A bullied student seeks revenge on his bullies. This is the English spin on that trope.
I thought the book was predictable and not doing anything for about two thirds of the book. I was wrong stick with it until the end.
Recently, I have read several American versions of a similar story. A bullied student seeks revenge on his bullies. This is the English spin on that trope.
I thought the book was predictable and not doing anything for about two thirds of the book. I was wrong stick with it until the end.
April 1, 2020
It appealed to me due to the concept of a school bombing in the Uk.This was unique as other books on this topic have always been set in America.
I was gripped straight away by all the topics of bullying, mental health, family and friendship issues. It definitely showed the intensity and impact bullies and grief can have on individuals.
The layout of chapters showing you a timeline for the day as well as some back story was easy to follow and added to understanding of how this day had come around.
I definitely felt invested in Ollie as a character and felt his emotions with him. To some extent I expected the ending however there were some parts that surprised me.Overall it was a nice closure especially when bringing together the key people in his life and everyone accepting and showing compassion instead of ignorance.
I was gripped straight away by all the topics of bullying, mental health, family and friendship issues. It definitely showed the intensity and impact bullies and grief can have on individuals.
The layout of chapters showing you a timeline for the day as well as some back story was easy to follow and added to understanding of how this day had come around.
I definitely felt invested in Ollie as a character and felt his emotions with him. To some extent I expected the ending however there were some parts that surprised me.Overall it was a nice closure especially when bringing together the key people in his life and everyone accepting and showing compassion instead of ignorance.
July 24, 2020
In short, this book is utterly brilliant, and for a slow reader like myself it says a lot that I finished it in two days.
What makes Last Lesson so compelling is the way Goodhand draws in the reader; instilling in you the commitment to follow the book through to the very last line. Page by page, chapter by chapter you can sense how you are being drawn towards the apex of the story, with several narrative threads of which have potential to go into a multitude of directions. I was utterly hooked.
Having experienced my own mental health issues in recent years very similar to Ollie Morcombe (our protagonist) I found him easy to relate to. James Goodhand unapologetically takes you into the twisted and perverse world that is the head of a young person living with anxiety, depression and low self esteem. These conditions can dramatically distort a person's perception of the world around them. If Goodhand has not written these from personal experience too, he has certainly done his homework on living with these illnesses.
The book does not hold back in the darker elements of the narrative, so I would not recommend this book to anyone under 16 years, but I would highly recommend it to anyone 16 or older. A chilling tale of mental illness and teenage angst all mixed into a suspenseful thriller; this book is not to be missed.
What makes Last Lesson so compelling is the way Goodhand draws in the reader; instilling in you the commitment to follow the book through to the very last line. Page by page, chapter by chapter you can sense how you are being drawn towards the apex of the story, with several narrative threads of which have potential to go into a multitude of directions. I was utterly hooked.
Having experienced my own mental health issues in recent years very similar to Ollie Morcombe (our protagonist) I found him easy to relate to. James Goodhand unapologetically takes you into the twisted and perverse world that is the head of a young person living with anxiety, depression and low self esteem. These conditions can dramatically distort a person's perception of the world around them. If Goodhand has not written these from personal experience too, he has certainly done his homework on living with these illnesses.
The book does not hold back in the darker elements of the narrative, so I would not recommend this book to anyone under 16 years, but I would highly recommend it to anyone 16 or older. A chilling tale of mental illness and teenage angst all mixed into a suspenseful thriller; this book is not to be missed.
November 26, 2020
Exceptionally well written and eerily relatable. Capturing the atmosphere of a classroom so perfectly, this gripping read transports you straight back to that often unnerving schoolyard environment. I say back, as despite the protagonist being a young man, this book is certainly not aimed at a younger audience. In fact, quite the opposite. Incorporating issues of mental health, self-sabotage and bomb making, the author builds tension in a unique and captivating way, provoking every emotion as the story unfolds. I really was glued to the pages and cannot wait for James' next book. Highly, highly recommend.
April 13, 2020
*I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Last Lesson is a book that isn’t afraid to overstep boundaries and deal with some pretty dark topics, such as toxic masculinity, bullying, death, mental health, sexual assault and pornography. So, you do have to go into it with an open mind, knowing that it isn’t going to be the most lighthearted of reads. It is also a book that I feel you need to be in the right mindset for, and that’s why I didn’t read it sooner. You need to feel ready to face the themes that are scattered within the story.
The plot, itself, despite being very easy to follow takes you on a journey through the complex and damaged mind of Ollie, our protagonist. It really does draw you in, and you want to know more about how this promising young man came to want to do something so drastic and life threatening. The layout of the story shows you Ollie’s past and present and throughout the story you do build up a picture of how Ollie came to be so unstable. It really helped me to understand how if we bottle up our feelings when it comes to grief it can mutate into something much worse. Also, with regards to the bullying aspect of the plot you really start to feel empathy for Ollie and also disgust and contempt for those bullying him. Put all this together and you can really see how Ollie’s mind came to be so fractured.
Ollie is a character that you can feel sympathy for, but at the same this doesn’t deter you from excusing his actions. I felt afraid for him, but I also felt scared of him at times throughout the book. With his mental health becoming more and more unhinged as you journey through, you start to wonder what he’s really capable of. Mind you, I did understand why his motives were what they were, and to be able to create a character as complicated as Ollie is commendable to the author. Ollie is really a one of a kind character and one that in one way or another you will feel sorry for at some point throughout the story.
Mental Health in men is something that isn’t spoken about or tackled enough in fiction, in particular YA, so I applaud the author for making this the main topic of Last Lesson. We see through Ollie, how harshly your mental health can deteriorate after a traumatic experience such as being in an accident or experiencing a death. Men, are often the ones that try to hide their mental health issues, for not wanting to be seen as weak, and this, I feel, came across extremely well in Last Lesson. With regards to Ollie’s mental health, it’s never glamourised and doesn’t excuse why he did what he did. It just shows us that there are no sides to take when it comes to this issue.
Last Lesson was a complex, intriguing read, that yes, will be controversial, but is a book that is solely needed in today’s times. It will hopefully force conversations out with regards to mental health in men and maybe bring someone the courage to get help for the issues they are facing.
Last Lesson is a book that isn’t afraid to overstep boundaries and deal with some pretty dark topics, such as toxic masculinity, bullying, death, mental health, sexual assault and pornography. So, you do have to go into it with an open mind, knowing that it isn’t going to be the most lighthearted of reads. It is also a book that I feel you need to be in the right mindset for, and that’s why I didn’t read it sooner. You need to feel ready to face the themes that are scattered within the story.
The plot, itself, despite being very easy to follow takes you on a journey through the complex and damaged mind of Ollie, our protagonist. It really does draw you in, and you want to know more about how this promising young man came to want to do something so drastic and life threatening. The layout of the story shows you Ollie’s past and present and throughout the story you do build up a picture of how Ollie came to be so unstable. It really helped me to understand how if we bottle up our feelings when it comes to grief it can mutate into something much worse. Also, with regards to the bullying aspect of the plot you really start to feel empathy for Ollie and also disgust and contempt for those bullying him. Put all this together and you can really see how Ollie’s mind came to be so fractured.
Ollie is a character that you can feel sympathy for, but at the same this doesn’t deter you from excusing his actions. I felt afraid for him, but I also felt scared of him at times throughout the book. With his mental health becoming more and more unhinged as you journey through, you start to wonder what he’s really capable of. Mind you, I did understand why his motives were what they were, and to be able to create a character as complicated as Ollie is commendable to the author. Ollie is really a one of a kind character and one that in one way or another you will feel sorry for at some point throughout the story.
Mental Health in men is something that isn’t spoken about or tackled enough in fiction, in particular YA, so I applaud the author for making this the main topic of Last Lesson. We see through Ollie, how harshly your mental health can deteriorate after a traumatic experience such as being in an accident or experiencing a death. Men, are often the ones that try to hide their mental health issues, for not wanting to be seen as weak, and this, I feel, came across extremely well in Last Lesson. With regards to Ollie’s mental health, it’s never glamourised and doesn’t excuse why he did what he did. It just shows us that there are no sides to take when it comes to this issue.
Last Lesson was a complex, intriguing read, that yes, will be controversial, but is a book that is solely needed in today’s times. It will hopefully force conversations out with regards to mental health in men and maybe bring someone the courage to get help for the issues they are facing.
July 21, 2020
Ollie Moorcombe, pianist and star student, about to take his GCSEs and seemingly on the brink of great things. Yet Ollie seems to be hanging on by a thread. On his last day of school he arrives with a home-made pipe bomb in his bag...how did it ever get to this stage?
We cut between past and present as we learn a little more about Ollie. We learn about the bullying he has endured at the hands of his classmates. We learn about the relationship he has with his grandpa, who he lives with as his mum is receiving treatment for schizophrenia. We learn that he fears for his life as he receives daily threats from some of his more sadistic classmates. And we learn something of the catalyst for some of these events - the death of his Aunt Kaye in a car crash, which Ollie was also part of.
There’s no getting away from the fact that this is a tough read. Graphic accounts of sexual violence, the flashbacks to the car accident and the details about Ollie’s treatment do not make for a comfortable read. The subject matter of a planned school bombing is scary - and getting into the mindset of the person planning it doesn’t make it any easier.
While it was easy to see some of the signs surrounding Ollie’s behaviour as potential triggers, it doesn’t go anywhere near explaining fully why he plans what he does. The author ensures we feel some sympathy for Ollie, which makes what he’s planning even more chilling. Seeing the decline in his mindset/behaviour was worrying, and not least because someone should have seen things were not right and done more. I got cross at all the missed signs that could have minimised the damage caused, and it certainly examines the toxic culture surrounding boys and mental health issues. I also found myself increasingly unnerved by the voice of Ollie, which was - perhaps - the first indication that this seemingly straightforward story was a little more complex than we might have been led to believe.
This will not be a book for everyone, but I do feel it raises important questions. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this and offer my honest thoughts prior to publication.
We cut between past and present as we learn a little more about Ollie. We learn about the bullying he has endured at the hands of his classmates. We learn about the relationship he has with his grandpa, who he lives with as his mum is receiving treatment for schizophrenia. We learn that he fears for his life as he receives daily threats from some of his more sadistic classmates. And we learn something of the catalyst for some of these events - the death of his Aunt Kaye in a car crash, which Ollie was also part of.
There’s no getting away from the fact that this is a tough read. Graphic accounts of sexual violence, the flashbacks to the car accident and the details about Ollie’s treatment do not make for a comfortable read. The subject matter of a planned school bombing is scary - and getting into the mindset of the person planning it doesn’t make it any easier.
While it was easy to see some of the signs surrounding Ollie’s behaviour as potential triggers, it doesn’t go anywhere near explaining fully why he plans what he does. The author ensures we feel some sympathy for Ollie, which makes what he’s planning even more chilling. Seeing the decline in his mindset/behaviour was worrying, and not least because someone should have seen things were not right and done more. I got cross at all the missed signs that could have minimised the damage caused, and it certainly examines the toxic culture surrounding boys and mental health issues. I also found myself increasingly unnerved by the voice of Ollie, which was - perhaps - the first indication that this seemingly straightforward story was a little more complex than we might have been led to believe.
This will not be a book for everyone, but I do feel it raises important questions. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this and offer my honest thoughts prior to publication.
March 6, 2020
This novel felt exceptionally brave. A male lead who is bullied, emasculated, and mentally unwell is something I don't think I have ever seen in YA, and I think that's a travesty. Mental health among young men is a subject frequently over looked and ignored and this book is smart enough to show us what terrible consequences that could lead to. The book was well written, I really enjoyed the non-linear style. It is unflinchingly honest about life as a young man in the modern world and I think it would be an asset to my library in many respects.
However, I was thoroughly irritated by the early inconsistencies of Ollie's schooling... Everything felt very English until he mentioned middle school and Kindergarten, leaving me a touch confused about the books location.
The "it was all in his head" twist at the end wasn't hugely exciting, and I wasn't actually very surprised despite what some other reviews might say but I felt it was very satisfying, and all the other aspects of the story were very original leaving it a well rounded and emotionally charged novel, that will stick with the reader for a long time.
However, I was thoroughly irritated by the early inconsistencies of Ollie's schooling... Everything felt very English until he mentioned middle school and Kindergarten, leaving me a touch confused about the books location.
The "it was all in his head" twist at the end wasn't hugely exciting, and I wasn't actually very surprised despite what some other reviews might say but I felt it was very satisfying, and all the other aspects of the story were very original leaving it a well rounded and emotionally charged novel, that will stick with the reader for a long time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2020
3.5/5
This is a book that I have mixed feelings about. On the one hand, it includes a great discussion on the way mental health affects men as well as women and it provides a great insight into toxic masculinity. I did really like the twist at the end, though it was rather predictable considering how exaggerated some scenes were. I liked the jumps between timelines, something that worked really well in the narrative's favour.
However, at the same time, I thought a lot of the incidents that took place were really bottom of the barrel incidents, almost as if the author thought he had to go above and beyond to find something so extraordinary when a standard, everyday situation would have worked.
Trigger warnings: rape, sexual assault, schizophrenia, psychosis, PTSD, graphic car accident descriptions, death threats, overly sexual language/pornographic references, school bombing, mental health/hospitalisation.
Thank you to Penguin and James Goodhand for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This is a book that I have mixed feelings about. On the one hand, it includes a great discussion on the way mental health affects men as well as women and it provides a great insight into toxic masculinity. I did really like the twist at the end, though it was rather predictable considering how exaggerated some scenes were. I liked the jumps between timelines, something that worked really well in the narrative's favour.
However, at the same time, I thought a lot of the incidents that took place were really bottom of the barrel incidents, almost as if the author thought he had to go above and beyond to find something so extraordinary when a standard, everyday situation would have worked.
Trigger warnings: rape, sexual assault, schizophrenia, psychosis, PTSD, graphic car accident descriptions, death threats, overly sexual language/pornographic references, school bombing, mental health/hospitalisation.
Thank you to Penguin and James Goodhand for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
April 2, 2020
This novel goes straight for your heart. It's one that lingers with you for a very long time after you've finished as it makes the reader think about their outlook on topics discussed within it such as toxic masculinity and mental health in young people, It looks at how we treat people influences and affects them from their beliefs to the choices we make as individuals.
It shows it costs nothing to be kind and shouldn't be judged by a mistake they made.
A fantastic debut from James Goodhand and one that is so different from anything currently on the YA market. Well worth a read!
It shows it costs nothing to be kind and shouldn't be judged by a mistake they made.
A fantastic debut from James Goodhand and one that is so different from anything currently on the YA market. Well worth a read!
May 20, 2021
Harrowing is a good word for this book. I need to think about whether or not to use it at school - it’s quite full on... I think I may ask some pupils for their response before deciding.
I read it in a day, as close to in one sitting as possible, and ended in floods. I think I will remember this book for a long time.
I read it in a day, as close to in one sitting as possible, and ended in floods. I think I will remember this book for a long time.
September 2, 2020
3.5 stars & 7.5/10
Not my usual book choice but decided to give it a go as it was the book club read for August in Claire Mackintosh's book club (Facebook).
The story kept me gripped & just wanted to know the outcome. Covered mental health & bullying - very topical subjects & I didn't expect the ending at all. A really good YA book. I definitely won't judge a book by its cover in future!
Not my usual book choice but decided to give it a go as it was the book club read for August in Claire Mackintosh's book club (Facebook).
The story kept me gripped & just wanted to know the outcome. Covered mental health & bullying - very topical subjects & I didn't expect the ending at all. A really good YA book. I definitely won't judge a book by its cover in future!
January 16, 2023
2,5 decent story kinda of a good plot twist but too many flashbacks
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2022
School's last out lesson forever. Ik zou zeggen "ça va", maar dit is een Engels boek...
June 24, 2020
This book was an incredibly raw, and at times, difficult book to read. James Goodhand tackles some very difficult topics including sexual assault, bullying and toxic masculinity as well as the main character's deteriorating mental health. This is not an easy read so I would recommend that you prepare yourself with the mindset required to go into a heavier read.
The plot is very well written and is easy to follow despite the fact the author is taking us down an increasingly dark mental spiral of the protagonist Ollie. I felt that Goodhand got Ollie's voice spot on and it became clear to see how Ollie's mind became so fractured. I found it interesting that I was able to empathise with a character with such questionable actions. I found Ollie to be unlikeable but at the same time I could completely understand how he ended up where he did. I think this illustrates the importance of being able to understand someone without agreeing with their actions.
This is the first book that I have read that tackles the struggle of male mental health issues, which I found to be a refreshing angle. This is such an important issue that people are becoming increasingly vocal about so it was great to see this in a YA novel which will hopefully bring about vital conversations amongst teen/ya readers. I really appreciate that Ollie's mental health issues are not glamourised or used as an excuse for his actions but Ollie's experience is vital in the readers' understanding of what happened.
I thought this book was an excellent read however I would certainly warn potential readers about the more difficult, triggering content. The book is an excellent example of the conversations that need to be taking place amongst young society. I also really enjoyed that this book was set in the UK rather than being a US high school novel. I'm really looking forward to seeing what Goodhand writes next.
The plot is very well written and is easy to follow despite the fact the author is taking us down an increasingly dark mental spiral of the protagonist Ollie. I felt that Goodhand got Ollie's voice spot on and it became clear to see how Ollie's mind became so fractured. I found it interesting that I was able to empathise with a character with such questionable actions. I found Ollie to be unlikeable but at the same time I could completely understand how he ended up where he did. I think this illustrates the importance of being able to understand someone without agreeing with their actions.
This is the first book that I have read that tackles the struggle of male mental health issues, which I found to be a refreshing angle. This is such an important issue that people are becoming increasingly vocal about so it was great to see this in a YA novel which will hopefully bring about vital conversations amongst teen/ya readers. I really appreciate that Ollie's mental health issues are not glamourised or used as an excuse for his actions but Ollie's experience is vital in the readers' understanding of what happened.
I thought this book was an excellent read however I would certainly warn potential readers about the more difficult, triggering content. The book is an excellent example of the conversations that need to be taking place amongst young society. I also really enjoyed that this book was set in the UK rather than being a US high school novel. I'm really looking forward to seeing what Goodhand writes next.
August 22, 2020
This is an extremely topical book for 2020. It deals with mental health issues seen through the eyes and experiences of a young teenage boy named Ollie. It is a difficult read at times, but it reads very quickly. After I started it, I put it down for a couple of weeks as I didn’t think it was my sort of book.
Indeed, reading it as a fifty something woman, I felt that the book wasn’t written for me in any way and I found it difficult to identify with Ollie. Bullying is bullying however, and that was dealt with brilliantly in my opinion. How Ollie suffered when he was with the bullies and also when he wasn’t showed how pervasive the issue is. It coloured his whole world.
I didn’t like Ollie but loved the character of his aunt who was a wonderful, vibrant person who shone in Ollie’s life. I didn’t guess the ending of the book and it was written so very well.
For a debut novel it was brilliant. I believe this story must have resonated in the writer’s head for a long time, and writing it and having it published must have been marvellous. Despite the target audience I would hesitate to give this book to a young adult however. I have a son of twenty five who would now cope with the subject matter. Younger though? I’m just not sure.
Will I read more of James Goodhand’s work? Probably, yes. Will I pass this book to friends? Only those who would enjoy debating the issues with me over the coming months. It’s one that will stick with me for a long time.
Indeed, reading it as a fifty something woman, I felt that the book wasn’t written for me in any way and I found it difficult to identify with Ollie. Bullying is bullying however, and that was dealt with brilliantly in my opinion. How Ollie suffered when he was with the bullies and also when he wasn’t showed how pervasive the issue is. It coloured his whole world.
I didn’t like Ollie but loved the character of his aunt who was a wonderful, vibrant person who shone in Ollie’s life. I didn’t guess the ending of the book and it was written so very well.
For a debut novel it was brilliant. I believe this story must have resonated in the writer’s head for a long time, and writing it and having it published must have been marvellous. Despite the target audience I would hesitate to give this book to a young adult however. I have a son of twenty five who would now cope with the subject matter. Younger though? I’m just not sure.
Will I read more of James Goodhand’s work? Probably, yes. Will I pass this book to friends? Only those who would enjoy debating the issues with me over the coming months. It’s one that will stick with me for a long time.
June 26, 2020
Last Lesson focuses on Ollie who has been through some massive change in the past 12 months and they have had a profound effect on him and how he is handling life. For Ollie, he can only see one option. To get revenge on the people that have been making his life hell. He plans to kill them all in their last lesson of high school.
What a complex topic wrapped in a really readable novel. James Goodhand has looked at many complicated issues within his novel Last Lesson. He looks at the hierarchy within the school system, he looks at grief and he looks at mental health.
I think what Goodhand has done well with Last Lesson is to look at the complexities of mental health and its correlation with extremism. He has handled it sensitively and without pushing blame or agenda other than trying to help you spot the signs.
It seems strange to say I enjoyed this novel because I shouldn’t have enjoyed a novel which has such a sad message but it is hard not to like it. Goodhand is a great writer who engages you in the story and really makes you care for the characters. It will be interesting to see what he writes next.
Last Lesson by James Goodhand is available now.
What a complex topic wrapped in a really readable novel. James Goodhand has looked at many complicated issues within his novel Last Lesson. He looks at the hierarchy within the school system, he looks at grief and he looks at mental health.
I think what Goodhand has done well with Last Lesson is to look at the complexities of mental health and its correlation with extremism. He has handled it sensitively and without pushing blame or agenda other than trying to help you spot the signs.
It seems strange to say I enjoyed this novel because I shouldn’t have enjoyed a novel which has such a sad message but it is hard not to like it. Goodhand is a great writer who engages you in the story and really makes you care for the characters. It will be interesting to see what he writes next.
Last Lesson by James Goodhand is available now.
August 22, 2020
At the time of reading last lesson I would have given a 4 star rating. Now I have taken sometime to think about it I have given it 5 stars.
The book tackles a subject that I wouldn’t have normally read but did so as it was a book club read.
Ollie was a popular child at school who was a bright student and gifted musician.
This is no longer the case following constant bullying he has failing at school and no longer finds joy in music.
The story follows his relationships with his grandfather, mother and auntie as well as his classmates and girlfriend.
As the story progresses it is clear that Ollie is suffering from mental health issues but the extent is unclear until towards the end.
I found this hard hitting and quite disturbing but a worthwhile read.
The book tackles a subject that I wouldn’t have normally read but did so as it was a book club read.
Ollie was a popular child at school who was a bright student and gifted musician.
This is no longer the case following constant bullying he has failing at school and no longer finds joy in music.
The story follows his relationships with his grandfather, mother and auntie as well as his classmates and girlfriend.
As the story progresses it is clear that Ollie is suffering from mental health issues but the extent is unclear until towards the end.
I found this hard hitting and quite disturbing but a worthwhile read.
March 17, 2020
Ollie's had a rough year. His schoolmates are determined to make it worse. But he has a plan to teach them a lesson. They won't mess with him again.
This is a heartbreaking story. I started to suspect what was happening about two thirds in, a while before Ollie figured it out for himself.
The bullying he went through is heartbreaking, as are his home circumstances. It's strange being this deeply in his mind; I finished reading a while ago but I still feel blurry, trapped in his world. It's a sign of a good book.
I really enjoyed this one and I'm looking forward to some of the discussions that will arise from it.
This is a heartbreaking story. I started to suspect what was happening about two thirds in, a while before Ollie figured it out for himself.
The bullying he went through is heartbreaking, as are his home circumstances. It's strange being this deeply in his mind; I finished reading a while ago but I still feel blurry, trapped in his world. It's a sign of a good book.
I really enjoyed this one and I'm looking forward to some of the discussions that will arise from it.
August 12, 2020
This book was chosen on a Facebook book club i’m part of, after reading what it was about I was interested in giving it a try.
It’s a different style of book to what I’m used to but I’m glad I gave it a go nevertheless.
I really liked the theme of mental health throughout the whole book, it portrayed the illness very well and showed you how even high functioning people can be suffering badly. And that it can feel so real to that person.
It was clever throughout as I didn’t see the ending coming.
Overall it wasn’t a favourite read but enjoyable all the same.
It’s a different style of book to what I’m used to but I’m glad I gave it a go nevertheless.
I really liked the theme of mental health throughout the whole book, it portrayed the illness very well and showed you how even high functioning people can be suffering badly. And that it can feel so real to that person.
It was clever throughout as I didn’t see the ending coming.
Overall it wasn’t a favourite read but enjoyable all the same.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2020
Fast paced and challenging read.
An interesting read and good knowledge of the subject matter by the author. Not my usual type of book and I read it as part of a reading group and glad I did read it, I enjoyed the focus on the relationship but the main character and his grandfather, I would have liked more dialogue on the relationships between the grandfather and his daughter.
An interesting read and good knowledge of the subject matter by the author. Not my usual type of book and I read it as part of a reading group and glad I did read it, I enjoyed the focus on the relationship but the main character and his grandfather, I would have liked more dialogue on the relationships between the grandfather and his daughter.
August 15, 2020
Not one I’d have picked up for myself but I read it as a book club choice. It makes for very uncomfortable reading at times but, when the book comes to the end, you’ll realise that it wouldn’t have had the same impact if written without those scenes. Goodhand has written an extraordinary account of the culture many teenagers face today, and the effect it has on mental health.
April 30, 2020
Was recommend this book by a friend, they said it was a great read.
Once I started reading I was unable to put it down, I became lost in the story of Ollie’s life. With all the twists and turns, of his thoughts and feelings.
Amazing book!
Once I started reading I was unable to put it down, I became lost in the story of Ollie’s life. With all the twists and turns, of his thoughts and feelings.
Amazing book!
August 8, 2020
This went straight into my top three of unreliable narrator books. And to the top of my unreliable narrator / coming of age / tense thriller list. This feels like the author’s been to some of the places his hero has. Visceral, twisty, heart-felt. Recommended.
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