The First Year

Nate is about to start secondary school. After a challenging final year at Primary, things seem to have settled for him and he is ready for a fun-filled summer before a fresh start in September. However, a new school brings new challenges- and some old. Avoiding Turner, conforming to endless rules and adapting to new teachers combined with a growing sense of distance between Nate and his brothers combine to unsettle him. And then, there’s a surprise reappearance in his life…

Writing the sequel to an incredibly popular book must be a daunting task. Reading such a sequel is hard enough- will the character maintain their personality? will they grow? will the plot be engaging or contrived? And most importantly, will it leave you with the same sense of awe and wonder as the first?

‘The Final Year’ made a huge impact on me - and on many children and adults who I have had the joy of discussing it with. In Nate, Matt managed to capture the very essence of many children I have taught over the years and really give them a voice. His extraordinary ability to do this continues in ‘The First Year’.

Starting secondary school is a massive change for children. Primary schools offer a far more secure, comforting environment, even for those who struggle with it, than the impersonal, large scale nature of secondary schools. For those already vulnerable and adrift, this can be completely overwhelming. Nate’s bond with Mr Joshua, the pull of the familiarity of his old school, the fact that his brothers are still there all combine to emphasise Nate’s sense of growing disaffection with his new school where he feels he is being labelled and judged. There is no empathy, no consideration for the turbulent emotions and confusion which might be colouring an individual’s life- and behaviour.

The seeming simplicity of the text belies the complexity of emotion and experience which the story explores. The power and poignancy in places is breath taking, making Nate’s continued story ever bit as engaging as it was in ‘The Final Year’. There is no doubting the skill of Matt’s writing- ‘The First Year’ is sure to gain just as many well deserved accolades as ‘the Final Year’.

The First Year

Matt Goodfellow, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton

Otter Barry Books ISBN: 978-1915659606

You can read my review of ‘The Final Year’ here.

FCBG Children’s Book Awards 2024

Yesterday, I was delighted to be able to attend the Federation of Children’s Book Groups Children’s Book Awards 2024 Ceremony. This year, it was being held in Birmingham so I was up bright and early for a very exciting day out!

I hadn’t been to Birmingham for years and so was really grateful to one of the members of the Birmingham group who had not only written directions to follow from the station, but had also added in things of interest to look out for along the way! The famous bull, Ozzy, from the Commonwealth Games 2022, the lovely Piccadilly Arcade, the impressive Council House building and the domed Hall of Memory were all features of my mini guided tour as I made my way to the Novotel where the ceremony was being held.

Had the incredible library been open, I might never have made it to the ceremony, but that was a treat I had to save for later. The gilded bronze statue, known as the ‘Golden Boys’ honours Matthew Boulton, James Watt and William Murdoch, shown studying steam engine plans.  Together, these three revolutionised the steam engine. Also on my route was the Black Sabbath bench, a tribute to this Birmingham metal band, located on Broad Street, above the bridge on Canal Street, also named after the band!

At the Novotel, excitement was mounting as the dedicated and hard working team of FCBG members, led by Sarah Stuffins, were putting the finishing touches to preparations for the ceremony. Always a lovely occasion, the Children’s Book Awards ceremony keeps children- the voters- at its heart as members from each of the testing groups are invited to attend the occasion. Each child arrives to find a bag of goodies ready for them-including a Fed Ted- and that they will be sitting at a table with one of the shortlisted authors or illustrators! There are not many events which offer that!

As the guests all started to arrive, there was a wonderful atmosphere as everyone circulated and asked for their books to be signed. There was so much excitement from young (and somewhat older!) readers and so much excited book-ish chat, proving that these awards really do encourage reading for pleasure and that there are plenty of young readers who enjoy a great story.

Once everyone had eaten a delicious lunch, the ceremony was ready to begin and Korky, Winnie the Witch and Wilbur treated us to much wand waving and merriment, including a masterclass in how to draw Winnie. Every child had a numbered ticket in their goodie bag and one won a signed book and another won the picture. Sadly, adults weren’t included!

Each shortlisted author was then presented with a portfolio of work, full of pictures and writing from the children who voted for their books. These are so special and each author was genuinely moved to see the contributions these contain. Sadly, Karen Obuhanych, Philip Reeve, Sarah McIntyre, Michael Rosen and Simon Fox were not able to attend, but they sent messages which were shared at this time.

And then, the winner of each category was announced. Rob Biddulph won the Books for Younger Children’s category with ‘Gigantic’, Thomas Flintham won the Books for Younger Readers’ category with ‘Press Start! Game On, Super Rabbit Boy!’ and the Books for Older Readers’ category was won by ‘The Final Year’, written by Matt Goodfellow and illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton. Although everyone had their favourites that they were rooting for, the results were received with great delight and much cheering.

As with each category, the overall winner was announced by children from one of the FCBG groups- another thing which is special to this award! Overall Winner of the Children’s Book Award 2024 was ‘Press Start! Game On, Super Rabbit Boy! ‘ by Thomas Flintham.

It was a fabulous occasion, greatly enjoyed by everyone! The Federation of Children’s Book Groups Children’s Book Awards is absolutely about children having a voice and genuinely reflects their interests and reading tastes. Huge congratulations to all the shortlisted authors and illustrators - and their publishers- and a huge well done to those involved in the organisation of the event!

This has nothing to do with the awards, but on the way home, I visited the wonderful Birmingham Library and then the ‘Victorian Radicals: From the Pre-Raphaelites to the Arts and Crafts Movement' at The Gas Hall, part of Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. The perfect way to end the day!

You can read about CBA2023 here and CBA2022 here.

The Final Year

As Nate heads into his final year of primary school, he is ready for anything with his best friend, PS, by his side. However, they are put into different classes and PS develops a friendship with Turner, the school bully, leaving Nate struggling to make sense of things. When his youngest brother, Dylan, is rushed into hospital, Nate feels as if his life is spiralling out of control and his anger is rising.

Matt Goodfellow is a stunning poet, well known for his beautifully crafted, often poignant work, which is highly relatable. In ‘The Final Year’, he has brought all his skill with language to create a very powerful verse novel which is sensitive and incredibly relevant.

Nate could be one of any number of boys - or girls- who I have taught. His homelife, though loving, is chaotic. He and his two brothers have different fathers and, as the oldest, Nate carries plenty of the responsibility for caring for them. He has had support to control his anger- The Beast- which overcomes him at times and he has developed a range of techniques to help with this yet still it lurks within him. He is sensitive and caring, a loyal friend, a loving son and brother. Matt has captured all of this with great skill, creating a very recognisable ‘real’ character who inspires empathy in the reader. Where some other writers might come across as patronising, Matt’s portrayal shows genuine understanding and compassion.

School and teachers are often condemned in stories, reduced to stereotypes and showing the system at its worst. Here, Nate’s teacher, Mr Joshua, is shown as a more rounded figure. He only gets cross when he needs to, sings all the time and notices Nate when he (Nate) needs to feel seen, nurturing his love of reading and words, offering him an outlet for his emotions. Mr Joshua (like many of us) tells his class there are more important things in life than SATs, that they should just do their best, and when Nate needs him, is right there. It is a thoughtful portrayal of a caring teacher, striving to do their best for their class and I am sure Matt has drawn on his personal experience to create this.

Told in the present tense, the story feels even more authentic because dialect has been used consistently and accurately throughout. This is Nate’s voice and you can almost feel the places he breathes whilst he tells you his story. In places, his pain is so raw, so real, all captured by Matt’s beautiful words.

‘The Final Year’ is illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton and the proof copy I have read shows a mixture of finished pieces and rough artwork for the story. These draw perfectly on the emotions of the text, capturing Nate’s feelings as he navigates his final year at primary. I can’t wait to see the joy of a finished copy!

There are a million more things which I could say about this incredible book- the skilful use of ‘Skellig’, the carefully observed friendship spilt, the essential role of libraries, the sensitive portrayal of Nate’s mum, the ending… but I just suggest people read it and get it into the hands of children who will see themselves and feel understood, recognised and valued. More books like this are needed.

The Final Year

Matt Goodfellow, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton

Otter-Barry Books ISBN: 978-1915659040

Out on the 7th September 2023

Luna and the Treasure of Tlaloc

This is the latest of the legendary stories about Professor Brownstone’s ancestors. Luna’s story is somewhat different as she was the most devious of the Brownstones, taught by bitter experience that helping others solve their problems can cause problems and so resolved to only look out for herself. She quickly amassed a more riches than she could count until a chance meeting with a young girl called Atzi lead her on a quest which changed everything…

The ‘Brownstone’s Mythical Collection’ books have been a huge hit since the first story, ‘Arthur and the Golden Rope’ appeared. Each story sees the Brownstone ancestors in a different setting, with their adventure offering historic and mythological details. I love these stories and have used them regularly, very successfully in schools, with children finding them accessible and engaging, enjoying the plentiful illustrations. This latest adventure sees Luna’s hunt for riches lead her to Aztec lands and the great rain god, Tlaloc. This setting adds enrichment to historical and mythological learning as it is sure to spark children’ interest in period not taught as part of the KS2 history curriculum.

In addition to the setting, the story reminds the reader that each person has the ability to change, to reassess their choices, and about the importance of thinking of others. Due to her experiences, Luna sets on a path of selfish interest, determined not to be hurt or vulnerable again. There is so much to discuss here as the story unfolds, so many points at which children could use drama and role play to deepen their understanding of the characters, places which lend themselves to writing in role and so many illustrations which cry out to be lingered over and enjoyed… As you can tell, I love ‘Luna and the Treasure of Tlaloc’ and cannot wait to use it with children in school. However, gift as it is for teachers, it is also a fabulous story to be enjoyed as a great independent read and is a must have for all bookshelves (along with the rest of the collection!).

Luna and the Treasure of Tlaloc Joe Todd-Stanton

Flying Eye Books ISBN: 978-1838740801

Out in June!