Do you need help to restart your life?

[Re]start – It’s Never Too Late

Author: James Pattinson, Julia Cockerham, Latreya Nelson

About the Author

Our founder, James Pattinson, an award-winning entrepreneur who benefited from an education at Oxford and Cambridge, conceptualised this graphic novel just before the COVID-19 pandemic. James’ work has long been founded on principles of access and inclusion; from mentoring young people while Global Brand Manager at P&G to co-founding creative consultancy Reluctantly Brave, where he trained over 170 16-24 year olds to consult for world-class brands. [Re]Start: It’s Never Too Late has followed suit: co-written by young creative and UAL graduate Latreya Nelson, Cornish illustrator and Falmouth graduate Julia Cockherham and Bristolian comic artist and illustrator Eddy Nicholls.

Published by: Whitefox Publishing @wearewhitefox

Published on: 23rd February 2023

Price: £16.99

ISBN: 9781915036360

First line: Imagine growing in more ways than you thought possible.

Genre: Graphic novel, self-help, journal, biography

Age: 15+

What’s it all about? The first line really says it all. This is a new way to engage young people in thinking about what they want to get from their life. It offers practical tips about how to manage the complex road from childhood and schooling to whatever you want to do next as an adult. It will try to help you become the best you can be. Basically, it’s a road map to help you be happy in life. Through the lives of a few different characters, you can start to see that everyone’s journey is different and everyone has to work hard to get where they want to go and that if obstacles come up in the way, that there are ways around them. Ways that won’t harm you. It’s interactive – it gives you space to breathe and try out different activities, just like the characters in the book.

Why should I read it? I’ve put the reading age as 15+, but the whole point of the book is that you might want to read it at any age. The charity that is involved with the book works with people from the ages of 16-24, but you could be older and still benefit from the tips. Quite a few of the tips, such as listening to your inner voice and finding somewhere quiet to reflect, are things that I’ve come across before, but they really work. I remember when I was about 14 being asked to take a test that would determine what job I should have in the future. When done, I received a printed spreadsheet with my analysed answers and job suggestions. No tips of what to do next, no advice, just a robot saying go to university and do this job. I envy the advice in this book. If I had known the different routes, struggles others were going through and opportunities back when I was 15, I might have ended up in a different place! An engaging and thoroughly worthwhile book that fully lives up to its price tag.

Thanks to lovereadingforkids for their copy of the book!