If I’m being extremely harsh, I think this book was a little too similar to Arnold’s ‘Skellig’. In my opinion, although the morals in this story were quite good, it also felt a little too much like Arnold’s, and I don’t really think that enough was dissimilar for it not to be a copy. It’s unfortunate, because it was a simple read, it was a nice read, and we got off to a very good start, but I just felt the ending was very lacking for me. I like the morals in the story, the importance of friendship, but also, I think PS’s actions weren’t justified, and Nate didn’t deserve that. I think there would have been a better moral of friendship with Caleb, but that’s just personal preference. I also think the actions of his mother were 'normalised', which I think could possibly be detrimental for the age group reading this, but this is a reality for some children, so it's fair enough.
However, my tutor has enlightened me, and given me something to think about. His mother's actions weren't 'normalised', as I put it, but it was actually inclusive to people in real life who are young carers. It's an isolating feeling, being a young carer, and so this book will make them feel seen, and less alone. So, I take back my point on that. In addition, my tutor said 'Skellig' is a book about finding peace with yourself and writing, which is exactly what Goodfellow is trying to do with this book too. Again, it's a good point, but I still do think it's too similar, and it doesn't work for me, personally speaking. 

 

We follow Nate as he goes from Year 5 into Year 6. He’s nearly in big school now, and he’s facing his SATs this year. He has two younger brothers, Jax (8) and Dylan (4). Dylan believes he is Spiderman, and is seen as the ‘baby’ out of them, and Nate and Max often play video games with each other. Their mother normally goes out with their neighbour, who’s called Auntie San, and they often go to Bingo and get drunk, coming home and laughing at ridiculous hours of the morning. 

Nate’s best friend in the whole world is PS. They have been friends for years, and Nate never wants anything to change about it. Unfortunately, in Year 6, they are arranged into two separate classes, and Nate and PS aren’t in the same one. Nate is gutted. Not as gutted, however, as when he finds out that PS has been on holiday and seen none other than his enemy and bully, Turner, and has pretty much become friends with him. PS starts to hang out less, text less, and then he stops responding at all. He even goes around with Turner, leaving him out, and no longer walking to school with him. It gets worse, because Turner still bullies him, and PS starts to join in! He feels betrayed. 

His new teacher, Mr Joshua, is lovely, and really kind. He gives Nate a book to write his ideas down, as Nate is really good at poetry. He helps him, as he sees what troubles he has in his friendship with PS. They bond over Skellig, as he really likes Arnold’s books (fun fact, the author idolises David Arnold as an author!) and they are learning about it in class. He starts hanging out with Caleb, who is similar to him in mindset. 

Everything goes downhill when Dylan, his brother, is rushed to hospital. Before he is in the hospital, he is pronounced dead. When Turner teases him for it, PS turns around and hits him, and suddenly, they’re friends again. 

Dylan is still alive, but in hospital. He has endocartitis, which is a congenital heart defect, and he has an infection, which means he could be fighting for his life for a while, unless they get rid of the infection. It happens again, and they know that he has to go into surgery. 

Just like with Skellig, Nate’s sibling is rushed into surgery to try and fix their heart. And it works! He’s back, good as new, and everyone is so relieved. Nate passes his SATs, goes off to secondary school with his friends around him, and a newfound talent for poetry.