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