VISTA Academy

Glasgow Boys
Glasgow Boys is a compelling story of two boys - Finlay and Banjo - who three years ago took separate paths and never saw each other again. Finlay goes to university, struggling to find paid work and living off instant noodles, but then he meets someone who he just cannot stop thinking about. Meanwhile Banjo is in foster care, and has joined the athletics club in his last year of high school. He too finds someone who begins to occupy his mind constantly. But will their two worlds eventually connect together again? My favourite character in this book was Alena, who showcases in Banjo's story. This is because she always smiles, always has a good thing to say about people, and her positivity never falters when something doesn't go right. What I also liked about the novel was that there were two different stories alternating between chapters - I was either reading about Finlay's life or Banjo's. I enjoy this way of structuring a book - it allows you to take a break from one of the characters and cone back to them later after reading about another. However, there were some things I disliked about the book. Even though I liked the two different stories going on at once, it was a bit confusing at times with the flashbacks randomly happening in chapters, and then going back to the present tense of the book. To end on a positive note, this was a very good novel - it was an insightful story telling us about the world of young people and the challenges the can face. I would recommend this to all young adults, it was a worthwhile read!

Emma M

Glasgow Boys
This book was truly amazing and I struggled to put it down! So many topics of distrust,love, hate, envy and fear all expertly written so that I ,as a reader, was able to grow almost attached to the the two main characters (Banjo and Finlay). I found that the flashbacks were a nice touch and eventually I was able to find out the whole story and helped the story line to flow nicely. Overall, this book covers topics that are sadly common in society today (such as anxiety and suicide) and it was written so attentively, helping me to understand what Banjo and Finlay were feeling throughout the story. I would recommend this to anyone and would love to re-read it! I also really appreciated the 'Scots dictionary'.

Libby A

The Things We Leave Behind
I thought it was brilliant,I loved how it was different to other refuge novels and also since it was set in London I could relate to the characters feelings about the country. At the end I felt that they shouldn't of made Billie die because it would of gave it a happier ending I also thought that maybe they should of found the dad again in the end but other than that I loved the writers wording and how they described how Clem was feeling and I also liked the little Mischa voice in her head at all times.

Sophia

Glasgow Boys
This book surprised me, as it is not a book I would usually read. it is a great novel, and, though I didn't expect it to be, I found this book difficult to put down. The flashbacks break up the writing nicely, and the different, yet intertwined, story line flowed well. Unlike other books in the Carnegie shortlist, the author used swear words sparingly yet effectively. The relationships worked well, and the fostering element added another layer but all the different layers of hate, love, distrust, jealousy and fear between the two protagonists worked really well. The inclusiveness in the book was also very heart-warming. over all, I have nothing bad to say about this book, other than the fact that it is not my preferred genre. 8/10

Elijah

Treacle Town
This book is a moving book, starting with the death of Con's best friend, Mark(Biscuit). It touches upon the death (suicide) of Con's mother and drug and alcohol misuse, but has gang violence and toxic masculinity as the larger problems for the protagonist. It introduced me to slam poetry, which before I had not heard of. on the other hand, however, it uses more swears than are really necessary, with the book dragging on a bit from the swears and the book was slightly depressing. I have seen other reviews where they have said that the Glaswegian dialect was confusing, however, I did not find this a problem, as long as you know the context it is used in. I would not recommend for readers who do not like to read foul language but it is good for young adults and older. 6/10

Elijah

Glasgow Boys
In Glasgow boys, there are 2 kids who grew up together but found out they are not close friends. Banjo and Finlay both got separated so Finlay is at university studying to be a nurse and Banjo is still in high school. They both are also described as resilient and perseverant and also confident in life

Ellie J

Glasgow Boys
This book made me feel more emotions than I thought was possible . I felt happy , sad , confused , excited , angry , you name it , I felt it . While the topics were very deep I also couldn’t put this book down . The relationships that were developed were also very moving . However , if there was one thing I would change about this book , it would be how it was written in the the 3rd person . Overall , I would give it a 4/5 .

Holly H

Little Bang
Sid had a crush on Mel ( a class mate) and he decided to invite her to his new year party. They started dating and something unexpected happened, Mel got pregnant but she struggled a lot so she secretly went to London to get an abortion because abortion was illegal in Ireland. Her loved ones and her friends were really angry at her including Sid. No spoilers, you will need to read the book to find out what happened to Mel and Sid in the end. It was interesting learning about the different rules in Ireland and understanding the different beliefs people have about abortion.

Michelle Ogunbode

The Final Year
This was a really good book. I really enjoyed reading it. This book was full of different emotions. This was my first long book I ever read but I really loved reading it. The most emotional part was when Natey's brother didn't wake up from his bed and had to go through an operation. At first I found it hard to get used to the word "Summat" which mean "something" from a 10 year old boy's language ,but it shows that it's the way different people write. Even though this was my first time doing Carnegies I really love this. This is one of my favourite book I've ever read. I would rate this a 10/10. I would definitely recommend this.

Hannah S

King of Nothing
King of Nothing is a laugh out loud novel concerning women’s rights and what it means to be a man. It includes witty characters such as Rochelle and Grandma. I loved reading about the unlikely friendships and funny misadventures of Anton and Matthew at the happy campers and beyond! It had a slow start but completely made up for it by the end. 8/10

Elijah

Glasgow Boys
This book was an uplifting tale of two boys who couldn't be more different to one another, learning to overcome their pasts and hope for a better future. I thought that this was expertly written, in a way that had me rooting for the characters from the start, the sheer amount of personality present in even the minor characters being a highlight that made this a very compelling, and overall satisfying read.

Eleni O

Little Bang
Little bang was a great read . It explored teenage pregnancy in a emotional , heartfelt way . I really enjoyed Mel and Sid’s relationship and also the relationship that is built throughout the book between Mel and Lucille . However , I didn’t really like the end as it wasn’t very satisfactory . Overall , I would give it a 4/5

Holly H

Play
I loved this book as it took me out my comfort zone making me try new books. It was really enjoyable as I learnt about different peoples perspective, when usually it is only one person writing and how they develop as characters. It focuses on drugs, sexuality and friendships. I would rate this book 5 stars as the writing was nice and I couldn't put it down.

Isabella B

The Final Year
I liked it the most when Nate writes poems about different people. The teacher (Mr Joshua) is a teacher that always helps him through life, for example, when he cheered him up even if his youngest brother was in hospital with his heart disease. I love the characters the most in this book because they show the life of actual people.

Michal.M

The Things We Leave Behind
In the book there is this girl called Clem who has a birthday, so she decides to have a party with a picnic somewhere for her 16th birthday, because there is a lot happening in her life that is upsetting. She wants to move away to Scotland with her sister to start her new life because she wants to be in a healthy and peaceful environment not a nasty one .She doesn't want to ruin the memories with her family.

Ellie J

Treacle Town
'Treacle town' was a book that if I saw on a book shelf or in a shop I would probably not pick it up. Not because the book is bad (it's fantastic) but because I don't typically read this genre. I'm so glad I got the chance to read this book, learning about some of the pressure and experiences people go through relating to gang violence was something I enjoyed because I'm not as educated in the topic. As I read the book I got to discover more and more about Con's struggles with his best friend Mark's (Biscuit's) passing. How his friends are always telling him 'do it for Biscuit'. I really admire Connors resilience to them saying this (although at times he may crumble and give in) I think them saying this really makes it harder for him to cope with the grief and struggle of his friends passing which is why SLAM poetry and some of the connections he makes with it is so vital for his character development. In addition, I like the idea of starting off the book with everyone at Biscuits funeral- this made me want to learn more, want to know how he died. It felt like I was there- in the moment. Overall, I enjoyed this book however some of the foul language and slang is ,at times, unnecessary and also a bit confusing. Finally, I would rate this book a 6/10

Libby A

Treacle Town
Treacle Town is about main character Con - he is trapped in his town, surrounded by gang violence and occupied with the constant thought of his best friend Mark 'Biscuit' McVitie, who has been murdered. He needs to find a way to get out, and when he discovers slam poetry, it presents itself to Con as his perfect escape route. My favourite character was Con, because he was resilient - throughout the book he was pressured into doing things he didn't want to do, and even though sometimes he gave in, towards the end of the story he made a decision and stuck with it, refusing to let anyone change his mind. I also liked the fact that some scenes were written very well. For example, at the start of the book at Biscuit's funeral, the atmosphere and mood were described in such a way that I felt as if I was there in that moment, feeling the grief and guilt of his friends and family. However, I think that there didn't have to be as much swearing or foul language, while it may add to the story and make it more interesting, Brian Conaghan could have used different words that potentially might not be as offensive to other readers. I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to young adult readers who like learning about challenges some individuals face in different parts of the U.K or other countries.

Emma M

The Final Year
Discovering the final year was as though I had been walking through my local library like a long street on a cold day, windows frosted. Until I wondered upon a brightened window among the darkness, clear in its view. Reading the final year was like looking through this window and in to the perspective of what many people in Britain today experience. It inspires a new sense of compassion and understanding in those who have many luxuries that most cannot afford. It bridges a gap in our minds, taking across new logical steps. The hopeful and relatable story of the final year humanises the people who most of the time are reduced to a percentage of those in the lower poverty brackets. Truly a wonderful experience.

Theo U

Little Bang
This book was a hauntingly human exploration of the complexities of self discovery as well as the conflict between the self and the ideas friends and family have of what that self should look like. I thought that the depictions of Mel and Sid were expertly crafted to juxtapose their youth with the adult struggles that they go through. Additionally, their relationship was not only very sweet and wholesome, but also realistic of two people their age thrust into such a difficult situation. The characters stayed consistent through their journey, and although the gradual decent into keeping secrets from one another was devastating to read, it felt like the natural progression for two teenagers under intense amounts of stress. Overall, my favourite features of this novel was the characterisation which I felt was expertly done and compelling.

Eleni O

King of Nothing
I really enjoyed this book . I was a bit sceptical at first because I don't tend to like these sorts of books , however I was in for a surprise . This book took me on a roller coaster of emotion and taught me many life lessons , such as , appreciate the people who love you and support you and to not take the wrong path just because it might be easier . Overall , this was a great book full of friendship , loss , family and finding yourself . It was also very funny . Not many books succeed in making me laugh out loud but this book succeeded many times over ! As a final score I would give it a 4.5 / 5 .

Holly H