Children’s / Teenage: Poetry / poems

Otter-Barry Books Ltd The Final Year

15 in stock

Book SynopsisSee that tall, skinny kid with the ball in his hand sayin see ya later to his mate? That’s me: Nathan Wilder Nate. 10 years old and a week away from the end of Year 5. 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.Trade Review"I am pleased to report it is EXCELLENT in every way. Told in verse, with illustrations, it focuses on a young boy going into school year 6. Think friendships, SAT’s, family life. This book will steal your heart, rearrange it and return it. Lovely references to David Almond. This is most definitely recommended to all age 8 upwards, all parents, all teachers. Simply go buy it!" -- Fiona Sharp * Independent Book Reviews *"A beautiful story of friendship, family, grief, falling apart and putting yourself back together again. Also a love letter to David Almond who I agree is one of the Greats of All Time." * Manjeet Mann *"Matt Goodfellow is a stunning poet, well known for his beautifully crafted, often poignant work, which is highly relatable. In ‘The Final Year’, he has brought all his skill with language to create a very powerful verse novel which is sensitive and incredibly relevant... There are a million more things which I could say about this incredible book… but I just suggest people read it and get it into the hands of children who will see themselves and feel understood, recognised and valued. More books like this are needed." * Through The Bookshelf *"Well-written, authentic and very moving. And could really help to inspire children to write their own stories in their own voices.” * David Almond *"Written with compassion and sensitivity by Matt Goodfellow and blessed with Joe Todd-Stanton's distinctive illustrations, this eminently relatable coming-of-age verse novel revolves around Nate's troubled journey into the final year of primary school." * Waterstones: The Children's Books You Need to Read in 2023: July - December * "Coupled with illustrations by Joe Todd Stanton – bringing Nate’s extended family & The Beats to life. There’s a certain Ghibli-esque style to its “No Face” tendril-like arms. Some really affecting work from both creators.” Early September OBB are releasing some amazing stuff! -- Rich Charlesworth via Twitter"Loved it, read it in one! Putting it in our Back to School bundle for September!" -- Heath Books via Twitter"A stunning, emotionally charge verse-novel." -- Chris Routh * @writeaboutbooks (Twitter) *“A beautiful verse novel out with Otter Barry Books. Nate’s last year at primary school is turned upside-down by friends and family - it is heart-wrenching and heart-warming and I loved it.” -- Maz Evans"A powerful story told in verse about Nathan’s last year of primary school. Nathan has something special in him… poetry. A powerful and absorbing read." * Inspire: Education Library Services *"This tender and insightful poetry novel by Matt Goodfellow is a paean to young carers, books (especially by David Almond), good teachers and wings! A sure fire book of the year." -- Gordon Askew"If you give this book to someone, they’ll need a big hanky with it. Written by a children’s performance poet and former schoolteacher, this tearjerker is a novel in free verse about a working-class boy’s experience of Year Six. ...With black-and-white illustrations that capture its moods, the book explores the hurt of shifting friendships — but the real whammy involves an ill child. It’s one to read aloud to leavers so they will never forget their final year." -- Nicolette Jones * The Sunday Times - Children's Book of the Week *"An extraordinary verse novel about the final year of primary school... Through his powerful verses, ex-primary school teacher Matt Goodfellow pays testament to the impact of a great teacher in supporting pupils through this time, as well as the power of words and writing to help manage big emotions. Joe Todd Stanton’s drawings add to the text, with the simple drawings softening the harshness of the story’s real-world themes. ...Believe the hype and the praise, this book is every bit as good as everyone is saying." * Books for Topics - Books of the Month *"I’m sure that this book is going to find a place in a lot of classrooms and that, just like Skellig, it will become a book that many people remember as ‘that book’ that turned them on to reading and the power of language." * Just Imagine *"The end of Year 5 through to the end of primary school is told through fragments of life in this unique and powerful verse story... Accessible, powerful, and highly relatable, Year 6 children will empathise with Nate and the challenges he faces at home, his struggles with bullying at school, and deciphering what really matters between the ages of 10 and 11. Highly recommended for reading with UKS2 classes, ‘The Final Year’ is 285 pages of verse story genius." * School Reading List *"Highly accessible, lyrical and life affirming, this is must-have novel that will authentically resonate with so many under-represented children and perfectly captures what this crucial transition period feels like. As such, it is a must-read for adults as well as the children who will devour it. It will also resonate with children who have made that transition and perhaps help them with their own feelings, as well as encouraging them to write for themselves." -- Joy Court * LoveReading4Kids - Book of the Month *"The Final Year is a book that needs to be read in one sitting in a quiet room where no one can you hear you sob. Beautiful verse novel about a boy heading into Year 6 Joe Todd Stanton's illustrations are perfect for Matt Goodfellow's words." * Caroline Fielding *"A profoundly moving verse novel for 9+ about change, adaptation, the power of words and the struggle to find your people." -- Imogen Russell Williams * The Guardian *"Goodfellow’s writing is outstanding and this book is beautifully designed and illustrated. Powerful, compelling and heartwarming, I can’t recommend it highly enough." -- Sarah Webb * Irish Independent *"This incredibly powerful novel, written entirely in free verse, really packs a punch." * BookTrust: Book of the Day *"It’s an important and powerful story to tell because it’s a celebration of a way of life which has too often in the media been stereotyped and maligned." * Letterbox Library *"Beautifully poetic and heart-stoppingly brilliant, your more emotionally mature and able Upper KS2 readers will be in for a treat if they try this unique story. Also, a must for David Almond fans!" * Creative Learning Services *@A powerful story about growing up and coping with loss – both at school and at home. Written in verse, it plays with words so cleverly, so beautifully, carrying all kinds of emotion and conflict between its lines that linger long after you’ve finished." * Book Clubs in Schools *

1500 products

Otter-Barry Books Ltd The Final Year

Faber & Faber Old Possums Book of Practical Cats with

Simon & Schuster Ltd The Words We Keep

Random House USA Inc The Cat in the Hat

Penguin Random House Children's UK Silly Verse for Kids Puffin Poetry

Pan Macmillan A Poem for Every Day of the Year

Pan Macmillan A Poem for Every Day of Christmas

Penguin Random House Children's UK The Puffin Book of Fantastic First Poems

Hachette Children's Group The Black Flamingo

Enchanted Lion Books Book of Questions

Walker Books Ltd Twas the Night Before Christmas

Quarto Publishing PLC Our Tower

Quarto Publishing PLC Smile Out Loud

Magic Cat Publishing Leave the Trees Please

Simon & Schuster Away

HarperCollins Publishers The One and Only Family

Workman Publishing Everything You Need to Ace English Language in

Pan Macmillan 50 Ways to Score a Goal and Other Football Poems

Penguin Young Readers Group How to Be Confident in Kindergarten

Otter-Barry Books Ltd The First Year

Nosy Crow Ltd What Are Little Girls Made of?

Pan Macmillan Poems to Perform

Pan Macmillan A Nursery Rhyme for Every Night of the Year

Editorial Deja Vu, C.a De Mí Para Mí, La Tormenta Pasará

Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Pocket Book of Pocket Poems

Otter-Barry Books Ltd Boing

Little Tiger Press Group Once Upon a Raindrop: The Story of Water

HarperCollins Publishers Inc Zarina Divided

Ebury Publishing A Children's Treasury of Milligan: Classic

Candlewick Press,U.S. The Owl and the Pussycat

Oxford University Press The Highwayman Oxford Childrens Classics

HarperCollins Publishers Catching Flies

HarperCollins Publishers Im Growing a Truck in the Garden

Walker Books Ltd Snow in the Garden A First Book of Christmas

Central Avenue Publishing If You Knew My Name

Union Square & Co. The Night Before Christmas Deluxe Edition

Little Tiger Press Group Once Upon a Big Idea

Pan Macmillan Wriggle and Roar

Pan Macmillan A Poem for Every Spring Day

Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Where the Heart Should Be

Nosy Crow Ltd A Whale of a Time: A Funny Poem for Every Day of

Walker Books Ltd A First Book of Dinosaurs

Red Comet Press LLC Aloha Everything

Walker Books Ltd What Is Poetry?: The Essential Guide to Reading

Pan Macmillan Childs Treasury Of Nursery Rhymes

HarperCollins Publishers WinniethePooh The Christopher Robin Collection

Faber & Faber Long Way Down Jason Reynolds

Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc Poetry for Kids: William Shakespeare