In this episode of Once Upon an Adventure, we explore the idea of transition, those moments when life shifts, routines change, and we find ourselves stepping into something new. January often brings that feeling into sharp focus, whether through resolutions, fresh starts, or the mixed emotions that come with looking back and looking forward.

Our children’s book spotlight features The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow, a verse novel that captures the final year of primary school with honesty and warmth. It follows a boy navigating friendship changes, family pressures, and the uncertainty of growing up, offering young readers reassurance that feeling unsteady during change is completely normal.

For adults, we turn to Ann Patchett’s The Dutch House, a reflective novel about siblings shaped by the home they once lived in. Through memory and perspective, it explores how transitions continue to affect us long after they’ve passed, and how returning to the past often reveals the ways we’ve grown.

Together, these two books show transition as it is felt across ages; immediate and emotional for children, layered and reflective for adults. They remind us that change is a universal experience, and that the way we approach it helps the young people around us understand their own shifts with more confidence and compassion.

Send us a text

Find the books mentioned in this episode

Most titles referenced are listed on our affiliate bookshop that supports independent and local sellers.

Visit our linktree for more information: https://linktr.ee/onceuponapod_