The Final Year

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 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, his 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 make sense of what's going on. But with so much working against him, and anger rising inside him, will this be enough?

This powerful and lyrical story, told in verse, about finding your place in the world and the people that matter within it explores themes of family, identity, belonging, navigating friendships and the hardships of everyday life in a working class family in the North of England. With line drawings by award-winning illustrator, Joe Todd-Stanton.

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Published Sep 7, 2023

283 pages

Average rating: 9.32

22 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Ld teacher life
Apr 07, 2024
10/10 stars
Such a beautiful, wonderfully written, powerful and emotional book! I couldn’t put this book down. I think my class would get so much from this book - the theme and message of hope is so inspiring. This book made me cry 😢 My favourite quote from the book: ‘In the darkness you will find yourself and your people, those who have seen it too, those who navigate and find a way. Stick with those people, Nate. Stick with yourself, your pen, your dreams. Ideas will guide you.’

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