The First Year – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Poetry, family, school, friendship, feelings.
Children’s book title: The First Year.
Children’s author: Matt Goodfellow.
Children’s illustrator: Joe Todd-Stanton.
Genre: Verse novel.
Published by: Otter-Barry Books.
ISBN: 9781915659606.
Recommended for children aged: 9+ year-olds.
First published: Paperback April 2025.
This children’s book is ideal for: Readers concerned over the transition to secondary school.
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Our review:
The only thing that’s left behind
when I wake up from this dream
is the sound of someone leaving
before they’re even seen.
11-year-old Nate had a tough time in Year 6. There were friendship break-ups and make-ups, his single mum frequently struggled to put food on the table, and his youngest brother, Dylan, was seriously ill in hospital.
Thankfully, that’s all behind him now as Nate looks forward to the freedom of the summer holidays and the excitement of starting a new school in September.
But things don’t go quite to plan. Secondary school brings new teachers and old bullies, and Nate misses spending time with his younger brothers. He even finds that he’s not needed as much at home now that his mum is getting back on track with the help of her ever-loyal best friend, Auntie San.
A surprise addition to their close family unit further disrupts Nate’s life and threatens to unsettle their fragile peace. As events start to spiral, Nate fears he is reawakening The Beast – the overwhelming anger he tries so hard to control, which now threatens to tear both him and his family apart.
Mornin’ Poem
I dream I’m a swift
screaming high and free.
The curve of the earth
belongs only to me.But something happens
to the wings of my mind
and I’m falling towards
some place I can’t find.
The First Year is the highly anticipated sequel to The Final Year, which told the story of Nate’s last year in primary school amid family illness and friendship troubles. The book picks up exactly where its predecessor left off, at the very end of Year 6, and fans of Matt Goodfellow’s previous novel will relish the chance to find out what happens next to Nate and his friends. However, The First Year also works as a standalone novel – a complete and highly engaging story with a relatable narrator and a well-developed cast of secondary characters, including Nate’s Spider-Man-loving younger brother, Dylan.
The Final Year won the Centre for Literacy in Primary Poetry Award (CLiPPA) in 2024 and has been nominated for the Carnegie Medal for Writing in 2025. A high-profile marketing campaign is planned for The First Year in spring 2025, including extensive author promotion and festival events.
There is a noticeably different tone and rhythm to The First Year compared to its predecessor, reflecting Nate’s growing maturity and shifting focus. As with the previous novel, the verse format makes for an accessible read, enhanced by Joe Todd-Stanton’s engaging illustrations. Most verse novels feature teenage protagonists, often female, and tend to focus on romantic relationships. The young male narrator in this case offers a refreshing change. The realistic language and inner-city setting add to the text’s authenticity and will help ensure wide reliability.
The First Year is a powerful and engaging novel, particularly relevant for Year 6 pupils facing their own imminent move to secondary school, as well as those who may be struggling to fit in once they reach Year 7. It will appeal to fans of David Almond and Onjali Q. Raúf, who appreciate realistic stories where protagonists must shape their own happy endings.
Many thanks to Otter-Barry Books for the review copy.
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