An amazing book, with captivating text and illustrations from the beginning to the end..
‘These are my streets, these are my people, this is my story.’
The first novel, told in verse for middle-grade readers, by a leading children’s poet, with atmospheric pictures by a Carnegie-shortlisted illustrator.
Life can be tough in your last year of primary school. Tests to take, preparing for the change to high school. Nate is ready for it all, knowing his best friend PS is at his side – they’ve been inseparable since Nursery.
But when they are put in two different classes and PS finds a new friend in Turner, the school bully, Nate’s world turns upside-down. As he struggles to make sense of this and forge new friendships, he’s dealt another blow when his youngest brother, Dylan is rushed into hospital.
His new teacher, Mr Joshua, sees a spark inside of Nate that’s lit by his love of reading and writing and shows him how to use this to process what’s going on. But with so much working against him, and anger rising inside him, will this be enough?
A powerful and lyrical story about finding your place in the world and the people that matter within it.
Matt Goodfellow is a former primary school teacher and now a full-time poet living in Stockport. His visits to schools are dynamic and have lasting impact. Watch the video…
Joe Todd-Stanton is an author/illustrator who won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize with his picture book, The Secret of Black Rock.
Otter-Barry Books have a powerful portfolio of books and The Final Year joins their strong interest in publishing children’s poetry books.
Sue Martin – Children’s Literacy Specialist
