SuitabookThe First Year
Matt Goodfellow
- Reading
- Read The Final Year first if possible: this story begins immediately afterwards, and earlier events, including Dylan’s illness and Nate’s previous year, are important context for understanding the sequel.
- Themes
- Starting secondary school: Nate begins Year 7, adjusts to new teachers and expectations, makes friends and feels distance from the familiarity of primary school. The transition is presented as emotionally unsettling and socially significant, with attention to how school systems may interpret behaviour.
- Family change and unexpected return: Nate lives with Mum, Jax and Dylan, while a mysterious or unexpected father figure re-enters his life temporarily. The book leaves its stance open to more than one reading.
- Behaviour, anger and judgement: Nate manages fits of anger called ‘The Beast’, while his new school may label and judge behaviour without understanding the emotions behind it. The book takes a critical view of this.
- Worth knowing
- Be ready for emotionally weighty material involving a younger brother’s earlier life-threatening heart condition, family disruption, school conflict, anger, and a mysterious figure returning to Nate’s life.