BCS Book Squad

All That It Ever Meant
'all that it ever meant follows a young girl named Mati (Matiponesa, age 14) and her family(her father 'Baba', her older sister, Chiwonso(Chichi), and younger brother, tana) on their journey from England to Zimbabwe after the loss of their mother in a terrible car accident. It is told from Mati's perspective with questions from the gender-neutral spirit, Meticais, who only Mati can see and hear. This book was a four out of five stars rating for me because it was hard to get into and start reading at the beginning but overall a really good book. I think the characters were described really well and made them feel real and alive, like the story was a film I could watch in my head. Mati was my favourite character because she felt the most alive, and the one I could relate to the most, even though she was telling all the stories about her siblings and very few about herself. The story kept me guessing and my favourite part was when Mati would talk to Meticais because of how many times she asked them questions and the only answer she got back was 'you tell me' I found the long names of chichi and mati hard to pronounce at first both in my head and out loud so I just use the short names when talking about the characters. I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of 12 (because the age rating is 12+) and who likes family drama or adventure books. 4/5 stars

Estie

The Things We Leave Behind
The things we leave behind, is about a girl named Clem, and her half sister Billie, having no choice but to leave London, and to try to get to Scotland after civil rest in London had reached an all time high. However, the journey won't be easy ! I don't normally read books such as this one often, so it's definitely a big change in genre, however, I did enjoy reading it, and I felt that it was quite easy to get through with its unexpected plot twists. Despite the ending being sad it also allowed the main character to move on and start at a new beginning which I found to be very engaging and very well thought through which made it one of my favorite parts into the book though I kind of wished we would've been able to find out more of what happened in the end. Overall, I thought it was a very interesting book to read with many different characters that helped it to develop in many ways and would give a rating of 4 stars, and would recommend it to people around my age who may like the set of dystopian or corrupt governments.

Chloe

The Things We Leave Behind
Clare Furniss’s *The Things We Leave Behind* is a thought-provoking dystopian novel that feels more like a wake-up call than your typical speculative fiction. Set in a near-future Britain that feels alarmingly familiar, it tells the story of sixteen-year-old Clem, whose everyday life gets turned upside down by the rise of an ultra-right regime. When her stepmother is taken by the authorities during a mass deportation, Clem escapes London with her younger sister, Billie, setting off on a journey that is as much about physical distance as it is about emotional growth. What really makes this novel shine is its emotional richness and relatable realism. The dystopia isn’t wrapped in sci-fi fluff but is rooted in our current social worries, political chatter, and the precariousness of our civil liberties. However, Furniss manages to keep the story from getting too dark by focusing on the powerful ties between family, especially the heartfelt relationship between Clem and Billie. When the twist finally hits, it carries a lot of weight, reshaping the whole narrative and making us question how reliable Clem really is. The way the story is framed—Clem sharing her experiences with a counsellor—opens up some really engaging discussions about memory, truth, and how we cope with trauma. Furniss’s writing is sharp and filled with empathy, capturing the essence of British culture in a way that makes the story feel both personal and eerily realistic. While the themes are undoubtedly political and super relevant, it’s the characters that truly drive the story. This novel not only encourages us to think deeply but also prompts young readers to reflect on their own world and consider how they might respond to unimaginable challenges. It’s a beautifully crafted tale of resistance, sisterhood, and the narratives we create to help us navigate tough times.

Mrs Ward

The Final Year
Surviving the ups and downs of the last year of Primary School can be perilous. This book deals with friendship issues and family difficulties. I enjoyed the story line but didn't enjoy the slang. I found the slang extremely "cringey". I don't really recommend this book as I didn't enjoy the way it was written, "apologies/soz/lol/fam innit bruv"

Connie

Play
There are some parts in the book that might trigger some people but this depends upon their past, but I thing that this book should have a warning as it can bring back some old upsetting memories. Having said that, I loved it but some people may not agree as there are some upsetting parts, but overall I enjoyed it. I would recommend this book to a friend if they wanted to read something a bit dramatic. 4 * from me.

Fay

All That It Ever Meant
Really good description for losing a loved one, also really realistic and probably resonates with many people. It’s very authentic and felt very real, was intriguing with good complex characters.

Scarlett

Treacle Town
Treacle town is about a boy who finds himself trapped in a world of violence and peer pressure. This book is about how he copes with these problems in unexpected ways and how he deals with conflicting emotions. This book really shocked me as it isn’t one that I would choose by myself, it really made me understand the struggles that some people face. I also think that this book has made me more open to poetry and that it doesn’t always involve fancy writing and complicated words to be meaningful. I think that the argument between Conner and Trig was written very well, and it really drew me in as a reader. This book also made me question a lot about my life and I think that I have learnt a lot from this book. Finally, I loved the way the book was written using local dialect, as someone who struggles to read complicated language it was nice for it to be written how I talk. I only wish that there will be a sequel of this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs cheering up or is going through a tough time. I would give it 5/5

Isabella

The Things We Leave Behind
This is a dystopian book set in an authoritarian Britain. A book that will always keep you on your toes, feeling the same stress as the main character and saves the biggest twist to the end. Every page left a question to be answered on the next and the ending was written beautifully and brought realisation and tears to my eyes. The ending cliff hanger was sad but overall it left you satisfied. I would recommend this book to anyone aged 14+ who wants a "What If?". 5/5

Haydn

Play
'Play' is about 4 boys who are each struggling with their own personal challenges. I found the way the author presented each of them in a slightly different way really fascinating and it was an interesting read but I found it difficult to relate to the characters. The last scene was confusing and dragged on for too long and overall it was quite depressing. I'm glad I read it as I like to try out different genres but it wasn't my cup of tea.

Evelyn

The Things We Leave Behind
The things we leave behind, follows a teenage girl in a dystopian society under a corrupt leader. It shows strong political views and discrimination between races. It also shows how protective she is of her younger sister and how much she values family. It also shows a case of her post traumatic stress, as although she has escaped to Scotland she is still haunted by her memories. I enjoyed how the author expressed a strong political opinion from the start to make it easier for the reader to differentiate between the good and bad characters while also helping them to connect with the main character. I also enjoyed the use of a flashback, the story starts at a point to interest you and make you question how she ended up in that situation and then it goes back in time to explain how the events leading up to that moment caused her situation. One thing I disliked about the book was the lack of detailed description of the characters and setting. Although the story was intriguing and well written it could have been written in a more descriptive way as to help the reader to picture the environment. Overall I feel the book was interesting and I enjoyed reading it, I feel it would be a good read for those of age eleven to thirteen.

Sophie

Play
It was really good, I loved the book, and I would recommend it to a friend.

Fay