Last December

by Matt Beam

A teenager, struggling with depression and contemplating suicide, tries to sort out his emotions in a letter to his unborn sister. Fifteen-year-old Steven needs to explain everything to his sister, Sam. She needs to know about Jenny from his new high school and how the freckles on her arm make his synapses go crazy. She needs to know about the Toronto Maple Leafs and trying out for the school hockey team. She needs to know about eighteen-year-old dropout Byron, all his fascinating ideas about chaos and coolness and trying to keep it together. And she definitely needs to know about what drastic measures Steven is now considering and why. But his sister isn't even born yet, and Steven is seriously struggling with the why part. In fact, Steven doesn't even know why his mother's having Sam in the first place ... and if Sam's actually a she. Whatever happens, though, Steven knows one he needs to get this all down, so that someday Sam'll know what happened to him—to all of them—last December. I'd better restart at the real beginning or something, somewhere where all this will make sense, like last spring, at the end of eighth grade, because that's when I shot up 2 3/8 inches, and I basically felt like I'd been abducted by aliens, like in Invasion of the Body Snatchers, except I didn't get covered in a sticky cocoon, just a lot of zits. Yeah, that's also when things started happening to me out of the blue, like when my voice shot up so high that it went silent during my biography-presentation thing about Mike Palmateer, the totally amazing Maple Leafs goaltender, and the whole class was in stitches and falling out of their seats while I felt like I was going to die. —FROM THE BOOK

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Teen, Sports

160 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2009

About the author

Matt Beam was born in Toronto in 1970. He was a sports fanatic as a young boy, playing everything from baseball to wall ball, ice hockey to road. His favourite writers at the time were Gordon Korman, John Christopher, and Susan Cooper. He seriously disliked (and still dislikes) turnips, bubble gum and the smell of new cars.

After a fun and fruitful childhood and his chock-o-block teen days, or as he likes to call them, "his research years," Matt got serious and studied history at Dalhousie University. After 4 years of heads-down work, Matt decided it was time to have some more fun. Over the next five years, he went to Guatemala, Vancouver, Australia, Fiji, and New Zealand. Down under, he earned a degree in education, and hopped across the ditch to NZ, the land of the Kiwis, sheep and the All-Blacks, where he taught grade 8 for a year, before finally deciding to return home to follow his (almost) lifelong dream of becoming a writer.

Matt has been writing fiction since the winter of 1999. When he started he had no idea what he was doing. He's only recently been upgraded to the uncertain status of having some idea of what he is doing. How boring would life and writing be if you had it all figured out.

Reviews

[Cameron Cannizzaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steven, a teenage boy that was about to get a baby sister, but him and his mom are moving to a new town where they don't know anyone and Steven has to start a new school with no friends. And when Steven goes to school on the first day and immediately he gets picked on because he is the new kid. And now Steven is trying to explain how hard things are going to his baby sister and meanwhile he's trying to make new friends at a new school. One aspect i have on this book is it's very interesting because when I first started to read this book I didn't want to stop reading because it was just that good and not many books make me want to keep reading but this one definitely did. Another thing I would like to say about this book is I think it's kind of sad because it makes me feel bad for him at times when the older kids are beating him up and making fun of him because he's new and they didn't give him a chance to prove himself as a new student. And it's hard for him to make any friends because no one knows him and everytime he talks to someone they are either mean or boring. Lastly, I would like to say this book is very action filled because it seems like there's always something going on between him or other people. And at times he's trying to avoid the bullies in the school and he's trying to make the hockey team at his school. One positive aspect I have on this book is it's very interesting because it always had me wanting to read more. A negative aspect I have on the book is at many times it had me feeling bad for him. I would recommend this book to people that like books where there's a kid that basically has two lives in one and people that like sports books because there's a little of both. This book did meet my expectations because I was expecting a little less but it really was a great book and I liked it a lot. And finally an emotional part in this book is when he always got beat up and picked on and I don't think it was a good thing for him to do nothing about it.

[sephora ౨ৎ⸆⸉]

hi ok so i need to rant about this book and i implore u to read the rest of this pls <333

picture this: 6th grade me, not knowing what to do with her 12th grade reading level she's had since 3rd grade, stumbles upon this book due to the hub.lexile.com thing
she's ecstatic
this book has one of the highest reading levels she's ever seen
it's not near the lexile she has, but it's damn close and she is willing to do whatever it takes to get her hands on this book

and she does
it's not what she expected
the only reason its classified as such a high lexile level is because THE BOOK IS ONE SENTENCE LONG

THERE IS NO PUNCTUATION-
IT'S A 224-PAGE LONG SENTENCE

this is that book.
the book that drove me into gifted kid burnout

i was so ahead of the curve, the curve became a sphere

it made me realize
there's nothing left for me
i've done it all
i'm at the top of the hill
the only way out is down

sorry this is such a mess but so am i

[Princess Godoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book made me realized that part of growing up is being shitty and annoying but it will all boils down on how you will handle things.

[Swara]

hi ok so i need to rant about this book and i implore u to read the rest of this pls <333

picture this: 6th grade me, not knowing what to do with her 12th grade reading level she's had since 3rd grade, stumbles upon this book due to the hub.lexile.com thing
she's ecstatic
this book has one of the highest reading levels she's ever seen
it's not near the lexile she has, but it's damn close and she is willing to do whatever it takes to get her hands on this book

and she does
it's not what she expected
the only reason its classified as such a high lexile level is because THE BOOK IS ONE SENTENCE LONG

THERE IS NO PUNCTUATION-
IT'S A 224-PAGE LONG SENTENCE

this is that book.
the book that drove me into gifted kid burnout

i was so ahead of the curve, the curve became a sphere

it made me realize
there's nothing left for me
i've done it all
i'm at the top of the hill
the only way out is down

sorry this is such a mess but so am i

[Carolina Colleene · Rating 1 out of 5]

Language - PG-13 (37 swears, 6 "f"), Sexual Content - PG-13; Violence - PG
Steven has a hard life and is trying to figure out how to handle it. This book is a letter he's writing to his future sister and is his way of dealing with and figuring out everything. He tells his sister about one of the hardest weeks of his life and eventually, it works out.
Though it has its good moments, I didn't especially enjoy reading this book. I didn't like how Steven was dealing with things, I didn't like the swearing, and I really didn't like all the drinking and partying that was involved. It sounded like a depressed kid telling a sad story and it was a pathetic waste of my time.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/

[Micah Toub · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book blew my mind. Matt captures the mind of a teen boy discovering himself so perfectly that it took me right back to that time in my own life. And I'd wish this book had been there for me to read at that time—it would've helped to hear about somebody going through all the trials of first love, bullying and struggling with parents that we all go through in one way or another.

[Louisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2.5, really)

I mean...I guess this is coming-of-age and all but I'm just very....hmmmm @ all of this.

[Karma Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, I’m going to start with, I had very different expectations of this book, and I think it’s why I ended up disliking it so much. The description I was given was that this was Steven’s suicide note to his younger sister - these kinds of books are always a favorite of mine as mental health is a big topic for me, but that’s… not what ultimately happened. If anything, it felt like this note was a letter to Sam about why not to drink, do drugs, have unsafe sex, but some of these descriptions I couldn’t imagine giving to someone, not to mention my younger sister, regardless of age. If this did end up being a suicide note, I think I could have side-stepped it as Steven word-vomiting to his sister, but that’s just not the vibes I got in the end.
Actually, on the topic of this being a suicide note, I think that’s the direction the book was going but ultimately didn’t… for some reason. Spoilers but, Steven’s friend, Byron, attempts to take his own life. Steven and even the audience assume he’s already dead which leads to Steven ultimately spiraling and saying he’s going to end his own life. Even on the day he says ‘I’m writing you this letter’, he says “There’s one last thing I need to do. The one last important thing.” and until the end, I thought this would be him taking his own life. But, obviously, no - he goes to the hospital and ultimately wants to meet his baby sister.
And finally, I think the biggest reason I just didn’t like this book is… I genuinely hated Steven. I completely understand the stress of moving to a new place, randomly having a new human join your household; new school, having to make new friends, but I see so little redeeming qualities in Steven, I don’t feel bad for him. If anything, I was honestly hoping he would get what was coming to him - yes, his mom was completely focused on her pregnancy and very little on him, but if my son treated me as poorly as Steven treated his mother, I think I’d start focusing on myself and the child literally growing inside my body.
All this to say, I don’t think Last December is an entirely horrible book - I did think the ending was cute, but I did ultimately hate it. I found the book very misleading and there just wasn’t anything redeeming about this character to make me feel sorry for him. But, I do think someone’s like and dislike of this book is really 50/50, and I think it really depends on what you’re expecting.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

When his mom's boyfriend takes off, Steven's relieved. He never really liked Mike. Unfortunately, Steven's mom is pregnant. She says she's having a girl, and they begin calling her Sam.

Steven's dad died when Steven was only one. He doesn't know a thing about him. Now, about to have a little sister who also won't know her dad, he sets about trying to explain things to her. He begins to write Sam a letter. He's not sure when or if she will ever read it, but he writes about everything that's happened to them last December.

There was the new high school and Steven's desire to be part of the hockey team. There was a fight with a group of skinheads and the threat that they might come back for more. There was the irresistible Jenny and new best friend, Trevor, who got Steven involved in the high school social scene. There was Byron, the Ms. Pac-Man playing stranger, who always seemed to show up at the Donut Hole. All of these are intertwined in Steven's letter, along with the stress and pressure of being the man in the family for his pregnant mother and his soon-to-be little sister.

LAST DECEMBER describes Steven's struggle to adapt to the normal ups and downs of being a teen at the same time he comes to terms with being there for a mother about to become a single mother of two children. Using the concept of a letter, author Matt Beam takes his readers directly into Steven's thoughts as he attempts to provide history and guidance for his unborn sister.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of reminiscent of Punkzilla, a first person, stream of consciousness, narration without the edge.

Contrary to the book cover of a boy with hockey equipment over his back, Last December is not about hockey. Steve tries out for the team in his new high school. He doesn’t make the team but makes a friend in Trevor. The story is told by Steve in a series of letters to his future baby sister about what happened that December. The prose style is almost stream of consciousness, jumping from one thought to a completely different thought at times, which can get confusing and is not all that compelling. Steve feels like his life is a mess and he’s confused. He and his pregnant single mom had to move and Steve began high school in a new town. He isn’t getting along with his mother and is unsure how he feels about having a new sibling. He is confused about girls and friends and where he fits in. He meets an older teen, Byron who teaches him about Ms. Pacman and his philosophy on life even though as time goes on Steve knows something is wrong with Byron. He goes to parties with his new friends, Trevor and Alistair, and experiments with drinking to disastrous results and makes a fool of himself in front of his crush, Jenny. This coming of age story might appeal to boys who like sports but are not necessarily jocks.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely, well-written book that was very entertaining in all its aspects.
The main character, Mike (not his real name) moves to a new place and goes to a new high school and kind of matures. It's told in possibly-imaginary letters to Mike's unborn sister, Sam...yeah, I'm not one for the letter format (usually) but with this it works. Mike's unique voice along with an admirable love for the Maple Leafs and sense of confusion that I can completely identify with, well...I gotta love it.
And I'm betting you will, too. Mike is very human in that he's not boring or stereotypical very often, not perfect or perfectly flawed...
And the first good sports novel I've read in a long time!

[Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last December was a book about hockey . Even thought hockey isn't my favourite sport I still liked this book . Last December was about this boy named Steven who is writing to his unborn baby sister . So your reading this book as if you were reading someones journal . As well as writing to his unborn baby sister Sam , you read about Steven trying out for the hockey team and him meeting a new girl , and about his relationship with his mom . Over all I would say this book was really good and any one would enjoy this book .

[Kendall · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was reading this book I liked it. I remember how I liked the awkward narration and different though process of Steven, yet whenever I'm looking back at my notebook (because I'm one of those nerds who writes down every book they've read with the name of book, author, date finished and page number of each book) I always forget what this book was about. It takes a while for me to remember it. And I think that pretty much speaks for itself. This book is good while you're reading it, but ultimately forgettable.

[Leslie Barrett Garel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author did a good job looking into the teenage brain and how quickly their thoughts and feelings can change. Most characters are kind of superficial but the point of the narrative came across. It was a quick/easy read.

[MMatchak · Rating 1 out of 5]

A 15-year-old boy writes to his unborn sister about the trouble he is having in life, hoping that she can learn something from his letters, if he doesn't happen to be around when she is his age.

[Christy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing happens Last December. It is a story about a young man discovering himself and the world around him. I expected something big to happen but it didn't. A bit disappointing.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just utterly real. It felt as if you really were in the head of a fifteen year old boy. Just an great book with a wonderful storyline and wonderful characters

[Ashleigh]

i loved reading this book :)

[Amanda]

I love the idea of this book. I love the emotion and how it makes you realize the different reactions a kid can have about their mother being pregnant.

[Fahad · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very well written book but i have to say, definitely not what i was expecting and it didn't exactly have a plot line. Also the point of view did not seem like one of a 15 year old boy!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Realistic fiction. Well-written but not terribly compelling.

[Donna Mason]

Last December by Matt Beam is a book about a Freshman in high school who is trying to make friends and make it onto the hockey team. Although he doesn't make the team he ends up making lots of friends along the way, whom are seniors but they end up getting him into drugs, going to party's, and drinking, and trying to get him past his baby sisters birth. Overall this is a very good book and i recommend it to people who like books where you can be put in the main characters shoes.