The Final Year, a highly emotive, sensitive story told in verse, takes us through Nathan (Nate) Wilder’s last year in primary school and his struggle to deal with friendships, school pressures, stressful family situations and ‘The Beast’. Set in the north of England it’s a sensitive and powerful portrayal of challenges faced by a ten year old from a single parent, working class family.
The Story: Nate and his best friend, PS (Parker Smith), have been inseparable since nursery and Nate is upset when they’re put in separate classes for Year Six. He’s even more devastated when PS becomes friendly with school bully, Turner, and his anger grows as he feels the loss of their close relationship. Nate’s new teacher, Mr Joshua, gives him a special notebook and encourages him to write down his thoughts. But then life takes a turn for the worse when Nate’s youngest brother, three year old Dylan, becomes seriously ill.
Nate lives with his mum and two younger brothers, Jax and Dylan. His mum goes to bingo most days with her neighbour, Auntie San, and depends on Nate to help with his brothers. Despite the absence of father figures the house is full of love and the brothers are close. When Dylan, aka Spiderman, is taken into hospital Auntie San moves in to support the family as they experience a roller coaster of emotions and hope for his survival.
At school Nate struggles with his best friend’s disloyalty and tries to keep his anger (The Beast) under control. He’s previously had counselling and support to help him with his anger issues and we love the way that Mr Joshua, a wonderfully supportive teacher, recognises that Nate’s creativity and love of words can give him an outlet for his emotions. Karen, the librarian, introduces him to David Almond’s Skellig and a classmate, Colin, also becomes important to Nate who, over the course of the novel, learns who he can depend upon when times are tough.
Intertwined throughout the text are line drawings which accentuate the stark realities of Nate’s life. Told in the first person with a northern dialect The Final Year provokes a fierce sense of empathy as we experience Nate’s innermost thoughts which range from intense pain, frustration and anger to hope and love.
Both heart-wrenching and hopeful this powerful novel has stayed with us since we read it. We love the way that Mr Joshua supports Nate through his final year and the way that his actions acknowledge the challenges that Nate faces both as a result of his school and social situations and his brother’s illness. The Final Year can be read as a class novel in Year Five to help children navigate their last year of primary school and deal with the emotions and challenges it can bring.
Age Range: 7 +
Author: Matt Goodfellow / Illustrator: Joe Todd-Stanton
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