The Final Year

What do our readers think of The Final Year? (Generated from the text of reviews of the book)

Children find the story moving, relatable and easy to connect with, especially its ideas about friendship, family, school and strong feelings. Some children need time to get used to the poetry style, but many soon find it flows quickly and say the story stays with them.

What does the Pageticker team say about The Final Year?

The Final Year is a powerful verse novel. Nate, is navigating his last year of primary school whilst dealing with friendship, family pressures, anger and the unsettling prospect of moving on to secondary school. At the centre of the book is Nate’s growing discovery that reading and writing can give him a way to understand difficult emotions and find his own voice.

Genres

What is The Final Year about?

Nate's final year of primary school is filled with challenges: his best friend drifts away, his younger brother falls seriously ill, and he grapples with rising anger. With the support of his new teacher, Mr Joshua, who nurtures his love for reading and writing, Nate learns to navigate these hardships and find his place in the world.

About the author

Matt Goodfellow is a poet from Manchester who loves writing fun and thoughtful poems for children. His books, like 'Bright Bursts of Colour' and 'Caterpillar Cake', are filled with imagination and creativity. Matt enjoys visiting schools to inspire young readers and writers, sharing his love of poetry with everyone he meets.

Discussion ideas around The Final Year

Friendship changes: How does Nate’s friendship with PS change during the year, and what do you think each boy needs from the other?

Anger and feelings: What seems to make Nate’s anger grow, and what helps him begin to understand and manage it?

The power of words: How do reading and writing help Nate make sense of his life? Can words change the way we see ourselves or our problems?

A teacher who notices: What makes Mr Joshua different from the adults around Nate, and how important is it for a teacher to see more than a child’s behaviour?

Growing up and moving on: Nate is preparing to leave primary school while dealing with changes at home and with his friends. Which change do you think is hardest for him, and why?