TWGGS Carnegie Shadowers

Create Group Magazine

Little Bang
Little Bang, by Kelly McCaughrain, was one of the most compelling books that I have ever read. Beautifully written, yet representing exactly what reality is, the book resonated with me heavily. McCaughrain didn't want the book to have a perfect fairytale ending, where Sid and Mel end up being the perfect teenage parents. An underlying question runs throughout the book: Are the expectations for a father and mother the same? This question is what spurs Mel on to eventually have an abortion - she will have to grow this child in her stomach for nine months. She will have to feed it, nurture it, change its nappy, pick it up from school. She will never get a chance to become a scientist, or go to university, or work at all. In contrast, Sid has a job as a gardener that he loves. He plays music, which he loves, and goes out with friends, which he loves. McCaughrain is questioning how gender affects the expectations of a parent. Is it harder for a mother than a father? After their fight about the abortion, Mel also doesn't forgive Sid fully - she knows that there can never be the same relationship from before. And the book ends there. This is what I love about it. The ending is sharp, fragmented - Mel has been scorned by her family, her friends. Sid has had a massive argument with his mum. They are both a bit broken, a bit lost, yet they still forgive - but not forget.

Freya

All That It Ever Meant
‘All That It Ever Meant’ is beautifully written, with lots of different aspects that I found both engaging and even heartwarming at some parts of the book. I liked how some sections made you think differently and out of the box, as these innovative ideas that were in Mati's thoughts I had never really considered myself. The sudden plot twist at the end was well used but I would say that some of that excitement and gripping sensation could be applied throughout the whole book as it does drag on a bit until that plot twist on the last 10 pages. Personally, I would have liked more of an insight into Zimbabwe's culture and for Musariri to elaborate more on the beauty of Zimbabwe but also the foreignness and overwhelming differences between Zimbabwe and England for Mati, Chichi and Tana. Furthermore, It was rather confusing when the story line jumped around from flashbacks to reality, so sometimes I didn’t know if what was happening was happening now or in the past. If that had been made a little clearer I would have found it easier to read and it would flow a bit better. Apart from those minor changes I would have made, overall the book was touching and equally relatable.

Isla

Treacle Town
This story is about the life of Con O'Niell and how he views the challenges of growing up in a gang ruled town, where violence is the ordinary and fear is expected. This is something that stands out to me and seems quite bold because the book is all about gangs, and it really manages to show how sometimes people are dragged into a life they don't want just because they were born in that certain place. This story takes place in the timeframe of a few months, which I found quite effective because it shows how big problems in life are not solved easily, and that they take time to solve. The story begins with a very sudden start of "It takes three people to hold up Biscuit's mum", as you read on you find the very disturbing truth of why, it really makes the book move at quite a quick pace even from the start. I would describe Con as quite a passionate and relatable character by the way he's portrayed, he seems as quiet a perceptive person and someone who dreams of the bigger world and a better life, meanwhile his dad is shown as more of a shut off kind of person, someone who is broken by the cruelty of the world and who longs for his wife back. The author didn't really describe them in that much detail, but he described their actions and how they speak, which gives us a good idea of what they are like. My favourite character was Nails because I found her dialogues to be quite deep, she also seems quite witty and also has big dreams for a better life. I think she is hilarious and really stood up for herself at the end of the book. The story is written in first person, which I found was really helpful because it showed us how Con was feeling, and it helped us really feel the anger behind him and the reason why he feels like he has to escape his town. I believe the writer wanted to tell this story because there aren't many books that are about this issue at the moment, so this book spreads awareness and really helps you to think before you judge someone based on their background, because the past doesn't define someone. The book made me feel inspired to keep chasing my dreams, because the author really clearly embeds that you can always reach something if you try hard enough, and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is willing to try and step outside of their comfort zone and pick up a topic they haven't yet, it was a really moving book and I really enjoyed it.

Victoria

All That It Ever Meant
I loved reading this book. The story is about a tragedy - the loss of a parent, but also about connections and family, with an incredible plot twist at the end. It's a very unique story, and I've never read anything simialr before. The story follows the main characters' journey, while occasionally giving flashbacks and clues shown through stories. Mati, the narrator, is an insightful, thoughtful 14-year-old girl. The author deliberately focused the attention on her family, with lots of descriptions to help us truly understand the characters. My favourite character was Chichi, which I think is quite controversial, but I felt like I could understand her point of view and I think that her strong will and rebellion made her an intriguing and exciting character. This story is written in the first person, which is important to the story because it would change the entire story so dramatically (You'll understand if you've read it!) and the amazing plot twist would be completely ruined. The setting is described in a bit of detail, but the descriptions mostly focus on the characters' appearances and emotions. Their actions and words are also described in detail, as they are important to understand the story. Mati spoke in depth about the idea of 'looking behind things' to find secrets. This really interested me and it will interest you too if you love contemplating deep thoughts! In conclusion, I would definitely recommend this book because it is thought-provoking and a great read!

Hayley