KES Bookworms

Glasgow Boys
I enjoyed 'Glasgow Boys,' unfortunately I didn't love it - not for any particular reason - it just isn't the type of book that I would normally read. The plot was good, thickening as it goes, unveiling more and more about Finley and Banjo's past lives and how it has impacted the present. I liked the split perspective and the way it was written, but perhaps not the best choice for me. I'm going to buck the trend a little and say that this was not my favourite book this year, though it was still good. I would give it a 7/10 - alright but not the best.

Rory

Glasgow Boys
This is an easy-to-follow book with a beautiful story of young love and the struggles that life can present to get in the way. I could not stop reading. Banjo's accent being typed makes it more authentically Scottish, a little bit hard to read, though. Despite the multiple love stories, none were reusing the same concepts. A lot of representation was in this book, whether that be sexuality, race, wealth, or disability. As someone who has not yet been to university, I am now more informed and kind of excited and nervous. Very much enjoyed, thanks, Margaret McDonald.

Freya

Play
Everyone’s setting their socks on fire. Is a rubbish way to begin a book. However, much like the rest of Luke Palmer’s novel, now this line makes perfect sense and it being the final one encapsulates Johnny beautifully. Given Johnny sad ending, I am glad we did not get his perspective – especially because of his unique theories. I believe a story like Johnny’s should not be interpreted into first person narrative as the author would never really understand to the full extent what feelings happen. Johnny’s relations to Mark, Luc, and Matt shined a new light onto teenage male friendships to me as a teenage female reading; and learning about different dynamics, that may form for my peers. The final chapter talking about all the dissimilar realities his friends could end up with; now as much as I am not falling, I still see all the possibilities my friends’ futures entail because I know their faults but them still being up for the game – or learning from the game, whatever the game is to them. Introducing Johnny with the collapsing of dens for the control of the future but not being able to control the present gives depth to the tale and Johnny’s wants in life, foreshadowing the end of the book. Whether it be for the thrills or for the deeper understanding of ‘the map’, Johnny’s joy exudes from the book through the bleak pages of the other’s raw events (yet sadly, as it is for most young deaths, the guy with the smile is the one to go). Linking all the different perspectives and stories is Johnny, he brings his friends closer and the reader closer to them as well. But tragically he is also the end of the story too. I enjoy how straight forward and no-nonsense Johnny would ask his questions whether it be when he is on green or not. Overall, Johnny is a character with great depth and is extremely well written, thus complex. Mark, the Entrepreneur, seems to be a stereo typical teenage boy. But when we find out about his home life being hard as they do not have much money. You grow sympathetic for the young lad, yet I feel that ever reader will not except what his does to earn his money. This draws good attention towards life problems about broke teenage boys getting into terrible situations; which need to be stopped but cannot be without someone talking about it. Palmer’s description of Mark’s longing for a better life is vivid making the book more enjoyable and easier to get into. I liked that although Mark does make out with Matt, his sexuality is not a topic of discussion creating a more inclusive environment. The lesson we learn from Mark is to “never make yourself untouchable”, because you begin by feeling great, you end up losing the game. Also, that trust is something to not use lightly. The next name bothers me, as it is Luc -this is because the author’s name is Luke- and sadly, the most likely to be disliked character is called the other spelling of the author’s name which I think is just petty. Now, as I have grown up with rugby, and sport in general – I understand the competitive drive in Luc and his dad’s attitude towards it because I see the effects of it in a lot of the boys I know (even my dad and some of my friends who are girls). I also believe everyone can relate to Luc being scared to turn out like his dad, when we are kids, we swore we will not be like them, then we turn into them as parents are the biggest influences on youth. Palmer has a gift for making everyone seen and all problems relative. I am glad one of the boys is problematic for girls, so it reflects the truth of the way teenage boys behave because of the influence of others. However, I am happy that Luc (although never perfect with it) tries to get better because someone he loved told him he needed to. Breaking a bone or getting knocked down makes you realise how scorched the ground is so you need to look after the ground before you can run on it. I believe everyone can relate heavily to one character in this novel – for me it is Matt. His coming out story to his friends sounded very similar to mine. This is because I felt the moment get taken away from me too, and from the way my queer friends talk about their experiences with it, they tell similar tales. I have also had complicated relations with people of the same sex after coming out – Matt and Luc’s awkward interactions throughout the book are very close to a regular event for most gay people. Palmer not doing the stereo typical thing of making Matt’s parents do not embrace him for who he is, brings a joy to me as this is very rarely portrayed in media. Yet he still struggles with his sexuality which is heavily realistic. At the beginning of the novel, it is very clear that Matt is gay even before it is stated because of him wanting to ‘fit in’ which is a universal experience (regardless of sexuality). Matt being good with words and decently academic portrays a different side of boys that we do not see in Luc, Mark and Johnny, and so does his close relationship to his parents. Him wanting to take a stand for the environment is cool and I feel that a lot of youth get into stuff like that because it gets forced upon us. The message to take from Matt is to create because someday someone might see themselves in it, like what Luke Palmer has done with this utterly astonishing book.

Freya

The Things We Leave Behind
'The things that we leave behind' certainly wasn't my favourite book. Let's put it that way. On the blurb it says that "London is the centre of a refugee crisis" when it clearly isn't because I'm not entirely sure that you would want to want to run towards and seek help in an authoritarian regime or oligarchy. The book simply lacked plot, It was driven by the same old, same old - Lost a parent, Oh no, mental trauma - type story which gets old pretty fast. Unfortunately the "Where's my mother" subplot is never resolved even though she seems to be a key character in the story, leaving me rather frustrated. I did like, however, the fact that - and I won't give away too much here for those that haven't read the book - one of the characters is part of Clem's imagination in a way that you would not perhaps expect. Would not read again, 3/10

Rory

Glasgow Boys
This book was brilliant. I loved how the author was able to show both Finlay and Banjo, in such their own ways. The story flowed well and the character development of Finlay and Banjo was written in an understandable way. It was enjoyable to read and was hooking. It didn't give away the story when Banjo and Finlay's worlds crossed. I think this is an amazing book and I would recommend it to everyone. 10/10

Kenzie

The Things We Leave Behind
I have mixed opinions on this book. While I found the beginning very enjoyable and I thought the plot that the author had set up seemed promising, I found the rest of the book less exciting. I thought that the ending was quite pointless as it meant that the previous 200 pages were a waste of my time. So...you're telling me that this happened...but at the same time it didn't happen? And although the ending provokes some emotion and is sad, the whole plot twist could have been written so much better. I also felt like some characters that were introduced didn't get enough background and I thought the dialogue at some points was incredibly cringe and corny; no-one in real life talks like they do in the book. If this book had been longer and the author could have expanded on the world and the characters more then The Things We Leave Behind could have been a lot better. I just feel like the author was trying to get across a message, but couldn't and instead we got a book that was boring, corny, repetitive and could have been so much better.

Ela

The Things We Leave Behind
Whilst I absolutely adored the beginning of The Things We Leave Behind, I felt that unfortunately the rest of the book didn't manage to capture the expertise so evident at the start. The plot had so much potential- a dystopian story placing London at the centre of the refugee crisis- however the middle of the book felt like a bit more like a draft than the final book, as it rushed things a bit and didn't fully elaborate on the characters thinking processes and feelings. It also seemed like some of the characters had been written just to move forward the plot, and once they had served their purpose they were never mentioned again. I would have loved something like a chapter from Danny or Jonas's perspective. I found the foreshadowing too spaced out the majority of the time. I managed to guess the plot twist about halfway through the book, when they arrive at the Grandpa's house, and I would have preferred if there had been some slightly more subtle foreshadowing. Even so, I was enjoying The Things We Leave Behind until I got to the end. Personally, the ending ruined what I had enjoyed of the book. Even though I had guessed the plot twist, the way it was written was still extremely confusing and I wasn't quite able to piece together what had happened. Whether this was supposed to be a metaphor for Clem not being able to process what happened I don't know, but even if it was, it still could have been a lot clearer. That being said, I really loved the way that the political system was portrayed, as I felt that it depicted the way that many past fascist regimes have managed to gain more and more power. Overall I would rate this book 5/10, because whilst the ending spoiled it all for me, I can see how others would have liked The Things We Leave Behind.

Bee

Little Bang
I immensely enjoyed Little Bang. I found how Kelly McCaughrain used the debate club to present different sides of the argument about abortion very interesting, and I liked how the book alternated between the different viewpoints of the protagonists, Sid and Mel. Sid's mother, Lucille, was an extremely interesting character, and it was intriguing to hear her views on the issue. However, I did find the ending a little bit rushed. I think that the book could have benefitted from being slightly longer so Mel's decision and the impacts could have been explored more. That being said, I found the way that Mel is shamed but Sid is shamed nowhere near as much sadly realistic, as Little Bang manages to explore many different themes other than solely abortion. Overall I would rate Little Bang 8.5/10 because the ending could have been expanded as it felt a bit like the author had been told they had to cut down a few chapters and therefore had to compress the ending down a little too much.

Bee

The Final Year
I must admit, at first I was not a fan of this book. I found the way it was written annoying and felt that it was geared more towards younger audiences. However, as the book progressed, I became attached to the characters, especially Nate's younger brother Dylan. When Dylan is thought to be dead, I will admit I did cry a little bit, as I had become so invested in the lives of Nate and his family. I also liked the way that Matt Goodfellow depicted being in the last year of primary school, as it echoed many of my own experiences, particularly regarding friendships. Overall, I would rate The Final Year 8/10 for spectacular characters, and the book's ability to capture friendship, however I do believe younger readers would enjoy this book a lot more.

Bee

Play
I enjoyed reading 'Play' and I like how it focused on all of the boys and how different their lives were. I adored the subplot of Matt and Mark crushing on each other, and the characters felt very real. However, at some points I felt like the author wasn't showing that the plot was about Johnny and how he was struggling. We didn't hear about him for pages while one of the other boys would go on about a game of theirs, and I found some of the book to be slow moving. If the author had focused in on Johnny a bit more and made him more of a main character, then the ending would have worked better. It was also easy to predict the ending, and it felt quite rushed, and there was no build up to the end. I did like, however, the last chapter with Johnny reflecting on everything and showing us the future of the other boys, but I felt like the plot was a bit messy at points. Besides this, I enjoyed reading Play and the author was really good at showing what it's like to be a teenager.

Ela

The Final Year
Picture this: You’ve just got into your last year of school and everything is getting rough. Your friends have left your side, money is scarce and a member of your family’s life is on the line. Your only escape is through the pages of books, and your diary. This is where Nate, the book’s main character, finds himself. The poetry book begins with variations on intros to the characters: 3 brothers, mum, friend, mum’s friend, teachers... etc. This part of the book lost me a little, but I’m glad I didn’t put it down... because what followed was brilliant. From stress taking over to bullies gaining popularity. From Spider-Man to a dad that looks like Jesus. The book covers it all. The poetry and the illustrations pair very well and the characters become so likeable, that it hurts. I have never read a book like this, but I wish to find more. Maybe with a bit more of a cut to the chase beginning. I will warn though, I am not one to cry over stories, but the end hurts. In a good way, thanks to Goodfellow’s exquisite writing. To round it all off, the final year has a rocky start but ends up being a wonderful story about what it means to be a year 6, the importance of family and even a bit of FIFA dotted around. 8/10. Would definitely recommend as an easy read and an important one too.

Tom

All That It Ever Meant
'All That it Ever Meant' is a lovely book about a family who take a trip to Zimbabwe after Mama died. I love how this book takes you on the journey with them, but occasionally the storyline is hard to follow. However I enjoyed the ending.

Kenzie

Little Bang
'Little Bang' was a good book, I enjoyed it and especially loved the physics references - being an avid fan of the subject myself - and so related to Mel quite well. I didn't know that abortion was illegal in Northern Ireland, at least up until recently, as well as the stigma of it from parts of catholicism and so I found the main premise of the plot intriguing. A young couple's struggle with the prospect of childbirth. Would give a 7/10, perhaps not quite good enough to read again.

Rory

The Things We Leave Behind
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The concept was great and in my opinion quite relevant to today. I liked the character building and overall concept, although I do feel that some of the plot points were mentioned once and never fully explained, like what happened to the mother, Danny and Jonas. I think the concept of the end was good, although I thought it was a bit of a let down compared to the book, but I LOVED the parallel fairy tale. All in all, a good book that was well written. 7/10.

Martha

All That It Ever Meant
'All that it ever meant' has an interesting story, but could get a little repetitive and dull. Books don’t need complex and full storylines to be enjoyable, but it does help to have at least something happen. I found the concept of metacais very confusing and I wish it had been explained if not when they appeared, then at the end. This book explores grief and healing together as a family, bringing people of different character together through loss.My favourite part was the ending, as the plot finally became clear.

Julia

All That It Ever Meant
All That It Ever Meant was a lovely book. I liked the plot overall and the story and meaning behind all the choices the author made were well thought through and generally added to the story's meaning. However I found the use of Meticias very confusing at times as although they were meant to pop in and out, some of their visits were too short to grasp the meaning behind it. Unfortunately I also saw the ending far too soon and this made it a very hard read as I felt that there was no point of reading the whole book if I new the twist in the story. The diversity of the family made this read very interesting as not one person was the same and I especially like Baba as the author managed to capture his grief perfectly as well as showing his trouble to keep being the strong father to his kids. Overall I would give the book a 5/10 mainly because of the ending being too predictable and the confusing nature of Meticias' visits.

Jemimah

Glasgow Boys
Glasgow Boys by Margaret McDonald was a heart-wrenching story of two boys who met in the care system. It follows Finlay, in his journey through university as he learns to love and trust others, and Banjo who is struggling to control the hurt he feels. Both characters were beautifully diverse but came together as a duo equally as well and I loved the two girls in Finlay's story who helped to show him that not everyone who you care about will leave you. I found the metaphor of the airport that Finlay shares with Akash very powerful as it really showcases how troubled he feels but also that things could change in the future. Banjo's story is also heart-breaking although his relationship gives a break to the ongoing hardships described. I think the ending was perfect for such a sad story to that point and loved how the author managed to convey a sense of moving on with the next chapter of life without making it too awkward. In my opinion this book deserves a solid 10/10. I was an incredible read and I would recommend it to everyone!

Jemimah

Play
Play was a great book. I can clearly see why Luke Palmer and this book were nominated for this award, pulling on themes of struggling to fit in in a changing world . Each of the characters try to in different ways: Luc - through toxic masculinity, Mark - through drug dealing, Johnny trying to earn respect from his friends by doing outrageous things, and Matt also wanting to fit in with his friends but still pursue his academic interests. I would say that the ending was the best part, containing - and I won't spoil it too much - a look forward to all of the character's lives and how they continue on after the story ends. Lets just say it doesn't end well for all of them. 9/10 would read again! (It even rhymes)

Rory

Play
This book follows 4 boys' struggles through school, hardship and addiction all under the guise of a "game". I feel that this book encapsulates the modern life of teenage boys and the pressures of society and friends. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. It's tone and pacing made the storytelling of the book enjoyable as well as who in which chapter was speaking, which allowed the story to flow freely. However, the chapters' layout is confusing at first but each boy is written in their own unique font which makes it easier to tell who is who. Another thing is the multiple time skips at the start that confused, so I didn't know which year group they we in until halfway through the book. 10/10

Katherine

Glasgow Boys
Glasgow Boys is a beautiful, touching tale on learning to love and be loved. Readers experience a story of hurt and struggle but also of kindness and hope. We meet two boys who are running from their past, and who are fighting to keep their heads above water. Finlay, who can barely afford enough food to live and Banjo who holds so much anger and pain, it controls him. We watch them make connections with good people and find interests that help them understand their emotions. McDonald brings us along on their road to happiness and I enjoyed every swerve and bump. Finlay and Banjo are a beautiful example of a deep, loving bond that, at points in this book, both breaks and warms your heart.

Elle

King of Nothing
The book was a decent read as it touches upon many topics that are relevant today. Such as the influence of social media and those around you. The story touches upon the themes of loss, gangs and violence. However in this novel most of the speech and some of the writing are written in slang which for me personally slightly destroyed the flow of the book. Another thing is that the ending is a bit fairy tale like for an example how none of the accomplices get punished except for the main culprit.

Katherine

Treacle Town
Treacle Town was a book I neither hated nor loved reading. At times the plot was powerful and quite moving, as it really showed what it is like to try and get out of the system you are trapped in. I especially enjoyed reading the parts where he goes to Glasgow, as these chapters are more about the beauty of life, whereas at home the book really emphasises his helplessness which is very disheartening. I also think that lots of the bad language used was unnecessary as many swear words seemed to be dropped into sentences that did not hold much meaning to the plot. I understand that Brian Conaghan was trying to write in the style of a boy living there, but there were several times that it made the plot confusing and distracted me from a key moment. The ending was very sad but had a glimmer of hope which I definitely appreciated. I would recommend to 14+ as the topic and language are very serious. Overall I would give this book a 7/10.

Jemimah

The Things We Leave Behind
The Things We Leave Behind by Clare Furniss was an amazing book! I found the ending engaging and heart-breaking and the author really got behind the aspect of a journey by introducing people and leaving them behind very quickly yet, for me, it never got confusing as there weren't many characters being written about at the same time. She portrayed Clem as a desperate, hopeful young girl which suited the plot well and I liked the dystopian feel to the book although sometimes it appeared a little artificial especially when she stayed in her grandfather's village. Malorie Blackman's words 'Lingers in the mind long after the final word has been read' really sums up the book as its incredible ending leaves you wondering why did it happen and what's next in her journey? I would give it a 8/10

Jemimah

Play
Play is an enjoyable, thought-provoking, and ultimately heart-breaking tale of four teenage boys: Mark, Matt, Luc, and Johnny. Luke Palmer manages to vividly encapture the struggles of young men in today's society, especially so in reference to toxic masculinity and drugs. I particularly appreciated the alternating viewpoint, as it managed to portray what each character was going through and the struggles they overcame. The book started when the boys were young, building dens and playing in the woods, Play took the reader on a journey from their childish innocence to the harsh realities of the world. I really liked this book and would definitely recommend it.

Bee

Treacle Town
'Treacle Town' was an enjoyable read, and gives a sometimes overlooked insight into the world of gang violence. It follows Connor, while he comes to terms with the death of his friend 'Biscuit' (Mark) as well as the sudden realisation after Biscuit's death that he can't just drown in the treacle that has held onto him for so long. My only criticisms of 'Treacle Town' would be the plethora of foul language used as it could be seen as unnecessary. Also the plot doesn't particularly thicken beyond what I have described. Entertaining, but not enough so that I would read it again. 6/10

Rory

Little Bang
'Little Bang' is truly a fabulous, thought-provoking tale. It follows two teenagers whose lives and plans for the future change drastically in a very short space of time. It captures perfectly the shock and reactions of all characters involved and as a reader you become invested in their decisions, relationships and challenges throughout Mel's pregnancy. McCaughrain writes in a flawless tone, representing both teenagers views, worries and struggles very believably. Whilst Mel and Sid's romance is beautifully crafted and heartwarming, what I enjoy most about it, is that it is realistic. I believe that the ending and how their relationship is left is more like real life than any ideal 'happy ever after'. Finally this book makes you question your own beliefs, especially on one of the main themes, abortion. Reading this book and living these characters stories with them has given me a clearer view on what I think about abortion and the politics around it.

Elle

Glasgow Boys
This book was brilliant. I loved how the author was able to portray the characters, Finlay and Banjo, in such a unique way. The relationships and friendships in the book were also written beautifully, with the complex friendship between Finlay and Banjo, and then their separate relationships with Alena and Akash. The story flowed and the character development of Finlay and Banjo was written really well. A few people have written that they didn't like that the book was written in 3rd person, and I do agree with that, I think if it was in 1st person, the characters would feel more personal and their emotions would feel more real. But even so, this book was one of the best I've read in a while and I would recommend it to everyone.

Ela

The Things We Leave Behind
When reading the blurbs of the Carnegie books, one caught my eye. A dystopia set in a Britain slowly slipping into authoritarianism, what’s not to like? And the book held up. It followed a family of four making their way through life against the backdrop of the dismantling of democracy. The tension rises to the point where the protagonist and her half sister have to flee London after a series of events. They make their way to their grandpa's house and this is where the book starts to fall apart. I struggled to work out the family tree as it was never really explained. Enter a recurring theme in the book: world building with little action, a series of interesting characters that are simply never seen again, at this point the politics basically evaporates apart from a confidently timed power cut and one or two mentions of food shortages. On top of this, a badly written character called Imogen Gras, whose main characteristics are being posh, mean and not really much else. I could fill an entire review ranting about why I did not like this section of the book, so I will proceed. One of the main selling points of the book is that it puts London at the centre of the refugee crisis, well this statement seems to be written by someone who has not even read the second half of the book, indeed few of the refugees even come from London and the majority of the refugee sections of the book are set in the the North of the UK and Edinburgh. This section of the book regains some of the beginning's greatness but the author has obviously not done her geography revision and hasn’t realised that travelling from the UK border to Scotland by boat really shouldn't take that long, even if you get really lost. Once in Scotland, all mention of all refugees getting deported or ending up in camps is seemingly forgotten. (This is basically 50% of the already mentioned sparse politics in the village so makes no sense why it does not come up now) Also the main character suddenly gets lots of money, which is not mentioned before. Finally the pair arrive at a house which the protagonist believe their mother lives in, a mother they have never met but which is never explained why (again when a family tree would be helpful), also all this was because of a scrap of paper found in a old hut in the protagonist's grandpa's house. In the end, the mother left a month ago and they decide to just forget about her. Despite all this, I was overall enjoying the book until the end hit, an ending on the same level as “i woke up and it was all a dream”. Not only this but the whole story was a untrue anyway. The final chapter feels rushed and the author's attempts at finishing plot lines are futile. The final paragraph talks of the protagonist's friend returning to the UK from Poland, despite the entire book being about how bad it is there. The book is full of contradictions. The final area to cover is the fairy tale running parallel to the plot; I never really understood this as it was in too small increments and too spread out. Overall, I liked the author's basic idea but felt she spent too long on certain areas where she didn’t need to, and too little on areas where she did. I felt the book could have benefitted from at least 200 pages more and a major plot change. Despite this, I felt the premise was very clever but was let down by the plot: like an amazing boat scuppered in a geographically incorrect North Sea. 4/10

Ben

Play
Play by Luke Palmer was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Not only was the plot interesting and not overdramatic but the characters were also described thoughtfully and their backstories were really impactful. The 4 main characters, Matt, Mark, Luc and Johnny were completely different and allowed many different perspectives of the events that unfolded during the book and there was a real sense of friendship between them especially when there was tension. The plot was very engaging as well as sad as it dealt with difficult topics such as drugs and showed the complex emotions of the characters going through these times. I also thought that the journey from innocent childhood to a more mature understanding of the world was created beautifully. I think the most shocking part of the book was the end. It was very unexpected and had a different tone underlying it but for me it didn't impact the sincerity of the story or my love for it. A definite 10/10!

Jemimah

Little Bang
Little Bang is a heart-breaking, engaging book that explores relationships in times of struggle as well as the journey to make abortion legal in Ireland. Using Mel's story, the book seeks to share the importance of making your own choices and not feeling ashamed of them even if others disagree. It also warns of the dangers of abortion through Sid's point of view whilst still maintaining that females have most of the struggle during childbirth. I thought that Mel and Sid were crafted really well especially due to the conflicting sense of childhood maturing unwantedly into adulthood. I really liked the balance between their sweet relationship but also the realistic nature of two teenagers being faced with a challenging situation. The development of the story was also expertly crafted because as the story progressed it shared slowly the secrets they begin to keep from each other and describes the pain they experience because of it. Overall, my favourite part of this novel was the ending because it was thoughtful as well as heart-wrenching. I would thoroughly recommend this book to others.

Jemimah