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The First Year

By Matt Goodfellow

Adjectives

heartfelt emotional relatable

Genres

Friendship/Family Feelings/Wellbeing Realistic Fiction

Synopsis

Nate, 11, is excited to start secondary school with his best mates after a tough final year at primary. With his brother's health improved and family bonds strong, things are looking up. However, new challenges arise: making friends, facing old bullies, and dealing with a strict teacher. When an unexpected figure from his past reappears, Nate's inner 'Beast'—his struggle with anger—resurfaces. Can he navigate these trials to keep his family together?

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.

Pages

480 pages

Reading age

Junior (8-13)

Published

2025

Community rating

Average score: 4.8

From 5 readers

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