Rainbeau Readers
Play
Play is about four boys who are close friends. The story switches between each of their perspectives, giving us a look into what’s going on in their individual lives. Luc pushes himself to the limit to win his father’s approval, Mark gets caught up in drug dealing and starts drifting away from his friends, Matt escapes into his imagination, and Johnny just wants to feel free.
This is a very mature book that explores serious themes like drugs, love, masculinity, and alcohol abuse. Although the switching perspectives were a bit confusing at times, I still found the book really gripping and powerful.
I would recommend it to readers aged 13 and over because of the mature content. It’s a thought-provoking story that shows how different people deal with pressure in their own ways.
Isabella
Treacle Town
Treacle Town by Brian Conaghan is about a boy called Con O’Neill, who lives in a town torn apart by gang violence, sometimes even leading to death. The story follows Con as he tries to break free from the cycle of violence and tragedy and find a way out of Treacle Town.
At first, I found the book a bit hard to get into because it’s set in Scotland and the language took some getting used to. But once I got into it, I really enjoyed it. The book deals with deep and meaningful topics, and I thought it was powerful and thought-provoking.
I would recommend this book to readers aged 13 and over, as it covers mature themes and contains quite a bit of strong language. It's a gripping and emotional story that really makes you think.
Isabella
King of Nothing
This book is about a boy called Anton who, along with his friends, is one of the most feared students at school. He doesn’t care about getting into trouble - it’s all just a bit of fun to them. But when his mum decides to send him to a local activity group, everything begins to change.
I really liked how the book explores the theme of toxic masculinity and shows that it can be overcome, especially when people take the time to understand themselves and others better. The topics it covers are really relevant and important in today’s society. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone aged 10 and over, especially if you enjoy realistic stories set in the present day that deal with serious issues in a relatable way.
Isabella
Little Bang
This book isn’t exactly the type I usually go for, but I still found it interesting and important. It shows the struggles and challenges young people can face when they’re in tough situations, including teenage pregnancy. The story makes it clear how important it is for young people to think about the consequences and risks of their actions. It also shows how much more education is needed around sex and relationships, since both Mel and Sid are confused and unsure of what to do at first.
Even though I didn’t find the book fully enjoyable to read, I think it’s a powerful story that represents the lives of many young people in Northern Ireland. Because abortion is illegal in the book, characters like Mel and Sid face huge difficulties with money, school, and their future. The switch between Mel and Sid’s points of view helps the reader understand how both of them are affected in different ways—whether it’s financial pressure or mental stress.
Overall, I think this book is great for young people to read, because it highlights how important it is to think carefully about our choices and how they can affect our lives and others around us.
Hayden
Play
This book is about four boys and how their friendship grows and changes over time. It explores important themes like friendship, masculinity, and loyalty. The short chapters help keep the story fast-paced and gripping, but the main message is never lost. It doesn’t shy away from serious issues and shows how the characters’ decisions have a big impact on their lives. I found it honest and intense, and it really made me think about how even small choices can affect not just you, but the people around you too.
ethan
Little Bang
Little Bang is about a girl called Mel and a boy called Sid. It’s a dual narrative, switching between their points of view and showing how their lives and families change after their first date. I really liked this book because it deals with serious and important themes, especially abortion, which I think is very relevant today. Reading it opened my eyes to how difficult it can be to get the support someone needs in that situation. The story hooked me from the start, and I genuinely enjoyed reading it and learning more about the challenges people my age might face. I would definitely recommend it to anyone aged 12 and up, especially if you’re interested in real-life issues and powerful, emotional stories.
Isabella
The Final Year
After being given a note book by his teacher he finds his passion for poetry. he finds he can show his emotion through poems. He feels in a good position until his Brother drops dead. But that's what he thinks. He is actually alive and has a really big heart condition. During this time he also had problems with his friends but in the end, they made up and everyone is happy. I think this books was better than I thought and I also really liked the way it is written, like ''the crossing'', in a poetry form. I guess writing in poetry form expresses your feelings and emotions a bit more, also emphasizing Nate's love for poetry after discovering that poetry is his thing and hobby.
Charlotte
King of Nothing
I think this is a really good book. Standing up for yourself and your opinions is something we should all be able to do - not just because of what our friends think. I love how this book feels so relatable and delivers an important message about identity and the kind of person you want to be.
I also think the choice to have Anton’s dad in prison is really smart because it highlights how learning from your own or other people’s mistakes can help shape your decisions in life. At first, I didn’t expect this to be one of the best books I’ve read, but it completely proved me wrong. The way the characters' lives intertwine makes the story so engaging, and the theme of friendship is both powerful and heartwarming.
Charlotte
Little Bang
I really enjoyed this book. It deals with serious topics like teen pregnancy and illegal abortion in today’s world, and I think it handled them really well. I liked that the story wasn’t just told from Mel’s perspective but also from Sid’s, showing the different struggles teens face in this situation.
I found it interesting how the pregnancy changed both of their lives in completely different ways - Sid’s life actually improved because he became more motivated, whereas Mel’s life was completely uprooted. Before the pregnancy, she had a clear future, but her parents pressured her to take time off school, which completely changed her plans. I liked how the author explored the differences in how teen pregnancy affects boys and girls.
I also thought the book handled the topic of abortion well. It showed that if you take the time to look at your options and do your research, you can make the right decision for yourself. I liked that Mel was confident in her choice, even when others disagreed with her. The ending was really sweet and showed that there can be light at the end of tough decisions.
Lea
The Things We Leave Behind
This book is set in a dystopian world where London has an authoritarian regime and civil unrest. It's about a girl called Clem and how she is separated from all of her family and friends in an attempt to hide from the police after her stepmother was taken away. This book is set in the present, where the protagonist is speaking to a counsellor recounting her story. I liked the ending of this book, and how things turned out, but I felt that the book had a very slow pace and it was only in the last quarter of the book that I really started to enjoy it more. I would recommend it to fans of dystopian books.
Isabella