Glasgow Boys

Glasgow Boys is an amazingly well written book that follows two boys, Finlay and Banjo, in their separate lives, and stuggles. It demonstrates their different personalities with ease, and hooks the reader into their story, and shows you their past throughout the book, without overwhelming you with it from the beginning. It is an emotional, well-written tale that had me rooting for all characters, as well as allowing me to truly feel like I was in their shoes, and immersed in their world and struggles. While this book is raw, and discusses more mature themes (substance abuse and others), it is an amazing read I would recommend for any reader, typically over the age of 13. 10/10.

Addisyn

Book Squad

I really like how the author wrote the story from both Banjo and Finlay's perspective, and that they both have their own struggles. They were both put into the same care system (St Andrews), but this was slowly introduced to the story when Banjo and Finlay started thinking about each other. At first it didn't really make sense, but I soon realised that Banjo grew up with abusive parents and was given drugs to forget his pain. This was why he needed paracetamol (because he was going through drug withdrawal) and lied to the carers that he had a bladder infection. In the present, Banjo is struggling to control himself and is getting into fights, but this is only because he wanted to get hit so he feels pain. This is really sad, because it links back to his dark childhood. However, he soon finds happiness with Alena and they become a couple. At the same time, Finlay is going to university but with a scholarship because or else he can't afford it. His mum left him and this made him wary of having close relationships with others. He also embraces his identity of being gay and realises he does love Akash who was his only friend in primary. In the end, Banjo and Finlay met up and apologised to each other. It was because Banjo thought Finaly liked him and lied to him. Finlay was insecure and decided to kill himself by overdosing himself with pain relief tablets. The story is really emotional, and I really loved it. I really felt connected to the characters, and I was so happy when they talked it out. I would recommend this book to others, and it contains serious messages and some bad words. Still, it's 10/10!!

Mila

Beauchamp Champs 2025

Glasgow boys is about a pair of boys that are living in temporary foster care together, they are both such clear characters in your head you can easily sympathise with them. I immediately loved and related to the characters and cared so much about them. It is probably the best book I ever read, it is quite heavy though so if that's not your kind of thing don't read it, but if it is you must read it! It was a fantastic book so well written.

Eben

THS Shadowing

I thought that Glasgow Boys was a wonderfully written book which diverged from the usual topics of drugs and gang violence, providing a refreshing new topic for readers. This is my favourite book so far as I thought shadowers could really empathise with the characters, and it raises awareness of the hard work put in by nurses-in-training and the NHS. 9/10.

Laurie

Bilbo Baggins’ Bookworms

This book just blew me away! Staff in schools should read it to appreciate the journey that kids in care have been on. The two main characters were drawn so well, you just knew through the narrative how they felt, how they had been let down and why they tried not to get close to people. The concept of touch was also enlightening and how both Finlay and Banjo felt that eventually they could let their individual guards down because those around did love them and care for them. They in turn found people to love and care for. The dialect for Banjo was spot on and as an Ulster Scots person I didn't need the glossary at the back but can see how it would help explain words and terms. Such clever writing, Margaret McDonald deserves a round of extended applause for this story. This should be a film!

Mrs. P

Cake a Book Club

I really enjoyed reading 'Glasgow Boys'. I think it is a book which is really well written. I like the way it splits into 2 different narratives and each has their own stories. Sometimes this can make the overall story really confusing, but not with this book. Finlay and Banjo's stories are too memorable to forget. I definitely would recommend this book to anyone over the age of 13. It is a really strong book from the very start to the very end, and the ending was really good. I would rate this book 10/10.

Jennifer

Rebel Readers

Glasgow boys is a raw, honest story about growing up in working-class Scotland with tough childhoods, tight friendships, and the quiet hope that things can get better. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would give it a solid 4.5/5.

Jola

Beauchamp Champs 2025

I really enjoyed this book as it makes you feel. I say this as you feel as if you are the character and the events are happening to you. I really liked that the book shifts between characters as you can see that they kind of mirror each other. For example, when Banjo and Alena got together, the next chapter Finlay and Akash did likewise. I also really enjoyed the sense of time travelling when it went back 3 years to give the reader more information. It is hard to describe in words how good this book was and how much you could relate to someone totally different to yourself. The only thing I didn't like was the cover as I don't think that it portrays the book as well as it could have.

Liam

Bookwizards

I really liked this; especially towards the end. One of the reviews said it was like reading your heart on a page and at times it really was

Aanya

KECHG Shadowers

Glasgow Boys is just really wholesome. It's not without dark character-shaping moments of course but on the whole both Finlay's and Banjo's journeys are really sweet. I really enjoyed the flashback sequences sprinkled throughout showing the slow creep towards friendship the two protagonists experience and even when they are ripped apart I never felt entirely hopeless, always rooting for the pair. The social lives of the two of them are also really realistically written: it's messy, embarrassing, mistakes are made and not always immediately forgiven but again, I was always rooting for them. Themes of substance abuse, attempted suicide and violence are handled in a way that they sink in and I understood what the author was trying to say without making it hard to read or too heavy. Overall, I just adored it, could just be because this is the first one I've read so far but it was just a good time.

Alexander

THS Shadowing

The layout of the book is brilliant with it swapping the point of view to the two main characters. Banjo and Finlay's backstory is excellent. They are both alone, but their lives get better when they end up knowing each other. The mix of happiness and depression is perfect. Banjo's parents set the base of his life, but he manages to be better than them. No one in the story is perfect and that's what makes it good.

Noah

Southmoor Storywriters

This book was a great read. I love how it uses double narratives and has a glossary at the end of the book for words spoken with accents.

Eva

KECHG Shadowers

Glasgow Boys is a romantic and social-realistic novel about two boys who had previously been in foster care together and had moved on. This engrossing book talks about their separate lives, how they overcome difficulties, how they find love and themselves, eventually reuniting and discovering the real meaning of friendship. I enjoyed reading this book, as it initially didn't tell how the two boys knew each other and kept me engaged until the end, as I wanted to know their relationship. I also really liked this novel, as I learnt that having true and loyal friends was beyond special and not everyone got the chance to find such people in their life. Finally, I loved the ending because not only was it emotional, when the two boys reconciled, but it was also mixed with humor, giving me a chance to cry but also laugh, and at the same time making me think thoroughly about the choices I make in life.

SrishtiHG

4Shadowers

The storyline was very good and made you want to read on however occasionally the switches between characters confuse and I had to re read it a few times to understand.

Finn

St Kaths

This book is about two different boys who knew each other long ago. since then they have gone their separate ways.one boy called Banjo had a very hard childhood. this has made him believe he needs to be hit as punishment so he gets into many fights. but now he has a girl he loves and is doing good. The other boy Finlay has a very hard time during school. trying to balance work and school. He meets up with a friend from primary called Akash. In the end Banjo and Finlay meet up and apologise. I would definitely recommend. I can relate to one of the characters. Tt's like if a path splits into 2 but has the same destination. Great book

Pranav Rajan

Ermysted’s

I think that this book was based a really good concept, but it often felt quite jolting due to being a dual narrative in third person, and the emotions may have been better conveyed in the first person. However, once the reader was introduced to the style, it became more readable as the plot progressed and I began to enjoy it around halfway through, possibly because more context was given. A multitude of sensitive themes are covered too, really detailing the complexities of the care system and how many are left feeling abandoned. Overall, I quite enjoyed this book, but thought that it got better as it went on.

Eve

St Kaths

Wonderful and thoughtful, showing how two very different people can develop such strong bonds.

Arlo

Crypt Bookworms

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

VISTA Academy

Glasgow Boys tackles heavy themes like trauma, but I found it hard to follow at times. The pacing was slow, and I struggled to connect with the characters. The setting was well done, but overall, it wasn't my type of book. 4/10

Baasit

Ermysted’s

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

VISTA Academy

The book was really interesting and heart warming. I really love Banjo’s backstory and I think that his and Finlay’s connection was very smart! At first, I was confused but as I read on I became addicted and started to understand the book and feel sympathy for the boys. I think this book is amazing and really original.

Saanvi

Beauchamp Champs 2025

8.5/10 - This book excels in conveying raw emotions from gut-wrenching trauma to ecstasy. I thoroughly love the unique way that the sentences were structured as both point of views, feeling different and like true representations of the characters thoughts. The steady build up to Finlay and Banjo's history being revealed was executed well, and was heart-breaking to read. I adored the story and progression, however, I feel it was concluded too well which slightly diminished what the characters went through although the soft finality is very cosy. I grew very attached to the main characters as they were wonderfully written and have a lot of depth that you feel relatable to them. LOVED this book.

Connie

OAJW Golden Reader Club

Hanzalah

Ermysted’s

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

VISTA Academy

OMG! I loved this book so much, I especially liked how you can see the contrasts of the two personalities in each chapter. I also thought the “ Scottish dictionary” at the back was pretty cool!!! 11/10

scarlett

The Fitzharrys Shadows

The book is a story that paints the problems that is plaguing society like suicide, anxiety attacks and others. It showed how the two characters, Finlay and Banjo, were feeling throughout the book.

Ming

Ermysted’s

Wow!! I love, love, loved this book! It was heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time. I loved how fast paced this book was and how you could feel the emotions of the characters. I could read it all over again with ease. I highly recommend it!!

Immy

Skipton Shadows

Glasgow boys is a heart-breaking story of two boys who grew up in care and is about their lives overcoming their past trauma and the reconnection between the two. This book is full of emotions and is beautifully written. A solid 10/10!

Thushara

KECHG Shadowers

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

VISTA Academy

Glasgow Boys is a novel about friendship and life in care. The two narrators are starting a new life but their secrets are slowly being revealed. Finlay and Banjo are very distinct narrators and they keep evolving and changing through their life experiences. Finlay is sensitive and guides his decisions through his interests which is nursing and caring for others. Banjo is a people-person and considerate of how he affects people around him but he often solves his problems through violence and looks up to Finlay's sensitivity because he wants to change. I also liked the patients at the residential care home where Finlay is working while studying nursing, as they are funny and cheer him up. My favourite part of the book was Finlay's descriptions of his surroundings and how he is observant and sensitive. The plot moves very quickly, mainly through the emotional development of the characters. The book made me both laugh and cry. The is a nice balance between the soft and strong moments so as a reader I didn't feel overwhelmed. The flashbacks are well laid out throughout the novel and it's made clear that the past memories are pushed away by both narrators and they only resurface in strong emotional moments like at the end of chapters. The author did a good job of fleshing out the motivations and fears of each characters so I understood them and cared about them. The novel reminds me of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe because behind the well-rounded characters there is a philosophical message about the power of friendships. I would recommend this book to readers who like to care about the characters they read about. It's good escapism because it creates a well-rounded reality for these boys and their friendships.

Ms Čechová

NA Book Club

This was a heartfelt book about love and friendship. I felt this was very emotional and well written. The dual narrative worked very well, but I felt first person present would have given an even better insight into their feelings, and third person present tense was a little clunky to me. Still, that didn't stop this from being an amazing book which really highlights what family means and the character development is great. This was an insightful and emotional read.

Iris

Skipton Shadows

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

VISTA Academy

I loved this book, it was filled with emotion and everyday I looked forward to reading it. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends (and I already have.)

Sophie

Cake a Book Club

A hopeful, thought provoking novel which spotlights the hope and love that shines throughout a touching coming of age story. The characters are filled with life and their suffering and pain is intertwined with the ways they can still find love and joy amongst all they have been through. I especially love the relationships that make the whole book shine with hope, especially Akash and Finlay. This amazing book will defiantly be one I reread over and over again.

Isla

Cake a Book Club

This is a thought-provoking story of Finlay and Banjo and their intertwined lives in the Scottish care system. I loved the depth of character and the relationships they form (especially Finlay and Akash). More importantly, I think are the friendships and the message that, with the right people, things will get better. 10/10

Nancy

Cake a Book Club

This was an extremely interesting read and it really showed how the two characters, Finlay and Banjo, were feeling throughout the book. It also seemed to have a couple of hidden morals.

Zack

Crypt Bookworms

through out the time that i read the Glasgow boys i found that i could not catch on to the plotline of this story, i personally did not enjoy the fact that this book has to be read with a bit of an accent ,however i found the power of identity striking and i enjoyed the humour of the characters and liked how relatable the characters are.

eva

OSSMAORATORS

during the time I read Glasgow boys I enjoyed the book as the style matched the perspective of what the them and time period the use of mixed classes in the boys form one of a foster background and one from a lower class point of view. the book explores the point of view through Finlay and banjo the point of identity of the world around them.

holly

OSSMAORATORS

Personally, I don't believe that this was a good book. I struggled to understand the plot and I didn't find it engaging.

Faith

OSSMAORATORS

A tough read in places but what a terrific book! It's an uncompromising look at the impact that being in the care system can have, and Banjo and Finlay's experiences really draw the reader in. An empathetic and engrossing read.

Ms Darbyshire

STAGS Shadowers

I feel this book could win Carnegie and would deserve to because it raises awareness of difficulties of care kids after they leave and have no safety net. It also represents the friendship between Finlay and banjo really well and i enjoyed it a lot!

Alice

Herts and Essex

Glasgow Boys is a book about the lives of two boys: Finley and Banjo, who live in Glasgow and have come out of the foster care system. The book describes how they are doing, and follows Finley's career path through university, while also following Banjo’s last year of Secondary school while giving flashbacks into their past. As you get deeper into the book, you begin to understand why they act the way they do and delve into their history. I liked the way Margaret McDonald slowly gives flashbacks throughout the book, revealing secrets and uncovering the past of the two boys, letting you understand them deeper and what has happened to them, giving spectacular plot twists as you come to understand what they have been through. I found the start of the book uninteresting as nothing was happening to them that was exciting, but as I came to the end it was page turning, wanting to know what happened to them in the past, and how things are going to turn out. Overall, I would recommend this book to a reader who enjoys a romance but also someone who likes the plot twists and trying to figure out what has happened before it is revealed.

Rowan

The Fitzharrys Shadows

Glasgow Boys is a book that helps readers to truly empathise, whether with themselves, the characters in the book, or other people in their lives. It helps people do this by displaying a grounded and realistic story, with situations that slightly older readers of around university or college age will find very empathetic. However, even younger or older readers will still find ways to empathise with the book’s message that contact between us (whether physical or verbal) is an important part to all of us.

James

Southmoor Storywriters

Glasgow Boys is a book based around love, friendship, family and growing up. It is told from the viewpoint of two teenage boys- Finley and Banjo. Whilst Finley has just aged out of care and has left to go to Glasgow University without any support, Banjo is trying to settle in with his new foster family during his final year of high school. At the start of the book, my favourite character was Finley since I was interested in how his story would play out as he goes through university but towards the end of the book my favourite character changed to Banjo since he had quite a bit of character development as well as more of an insight into his past. One thing I didn't like about the book was the ending since I felt like it was a bit rushed and sudden with a lot happening in a short span of time. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes coming of age stories. Personally, I really liked Glasgow Boys and since I've never read a book told from two perspectives, I found that they intertwined nicely and would give it a rating of 4/5.

Tilly

The Fitzharrys Shadows

The story was very good. The writing from two perspectives was done well. I think the message of finding and embracing yourself was conveyed effectively.

Anton

Bacon and Eggs Literary Society

I absolutely loved this book. The two main characters had such deep personas and their story and relationships were developed so well. The Scottish was written so well I could hear the Scottish in my head when I was reading it. This is the best one I have read so far!!

Willow

Ely College Reading Group

Glasgow boys is an AMAZING book. The plot twists are so interesting. The romance keeps the book exciting and has me hooked! Banjo and Finlay are amazing characters! At first I was struggling to get into the book as I didn’t think it was my cup of tea! But after a few chapters, I couldn’t get enough of it!

Alice S

Herts and Essex

I loved this book - it really told a fantastic story. I will remember it forever. 10 out of 10 from me.

kianna

QEGS CARNEGIE BOOK CLUB

I loved this book. It was so moving, so heart-breaking, but so, so, so, good

Wilf

St Kaths

I enjoyed this book. I liked how the book showed Finlay and Banjo from two different perspectives. I think it was certainly an original idea. Also, I think Banjo's accent really made it seem more realistic, but it seemed like he threw the f word left, right and centre. You couldn't go a page without having Banjo screaming atrocities. 7/10

William B

Ermysted’s

This is my favourite book so far, it is heartfelt and I really enjoyed the book. I thought that the Scottish dialect was interesting and made it seem more realistic. I also liked the dual narrative and how you read from both the perspectives. It wasn't really the style of book I normally read, but I'm glad Idid because I loved it.

Mia

Skipton Shadows

It was a heartwarming book and was filled with great descriptions. I really enjoyed following the characters journey throughout the book and enjoyed the ending greatly. The book is quite easy to read and the Scottish dialect is quite cool and it make the book feel real. The original idea was amazing and I think that the author did a great job in coming up with the idea. I would recommend this book to 12+ because there is a bit of bad language in there. Altogether I really liked it.

Amelia M

Skipton Shadows

Gurman

Lionheart25

The characters in this book were crafted to perfection with the complexity and realism in every action and behaviour they exhibited. the elusion of the hard facts of their traumas till near the end of the book rather than knowing every detail from the beginning works effectively as it put the focus on viewing and understanding the characters as real people as if the reader is coming into contact with them in real life . the emotional complexity acts a lesson in empathy and representation for how people are affected by their experiences. there were many thought-provoking, beautiful sentences which managed to be moving without feeling disjointed from the personal perspectives. overall 10/10

Mariya

Sutton Shadows

The book 'Glasgow Boys' is a nice story that portrays the problems plaguing society like suicide, anxiety attacks and others. Each problem is shown in a way the character has it like Finley. After attempting suicide it gives a perspective that makes us imagine how he would feel. I think the individual character storylines for Banjo and Finley were amazing, but as a whole it was quite dry. I would suggest this book to anyone who likes multiple perspectives and individual character's showing their own story in a vivid way

Ehinomhen

Bacon and Eggs Literary Society

Simrah

Lionheart25

I did enjoy this book, I read it quickly and it kept my attention. I liked the concept and Margaret McDonald is a good writer! Okay, just had to say that because my book reviews tend to come off quite negatively. My biggest criticism of this book is that it can't seem to decide whether it's in second person or in a diary format. Let me explain: each perspective is in third person, "he"; "Finlay"; "Banjo"; but then, occasionally, like this example from early in the book, it'll suddenly shift to being like a diary in a dork diaries kind of way: "What. What. Finlay did not just imply he literally swallowed his own vomit." This is from page 57, and when I read it it really broke my immersion within the story because for the rest of the time, the narrator is impartial and is just relaying the story, so why did it get /embarrassed/ and feel the need to tell everyone it was embarrassing? Instead of that, McDonald could've written "Finlay flushed with embarrassment. He regretted implying he'd swallowed his own vomit.". That probably isn't great, but it doesn't break my immersion. In conclusion, these occasional breaks were distracting and disruptive to my experience reading this book. I found both characters compelling, but it bothered me that Banjo seemed to get a lot more pages than Finlay. The amount of pages both of them got are probably realistically similar but Banjo's perspective always bored me just a bit more so it just feels like Finlay had a lot less pages. As i was reading it, some lines just felt like they were written to be intentionally profound, and because of that it reminded me of TikTok poetry. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it made me cringe a little bit. Here's a few of my favourite quotes: "It's such a beautiful thing to hold somebody" Finlay "What an experience to have a body. This thing that needs watered and fed and rested, is yanked around all day to various places and into various poses. This unreality of it all overwhelms him sometimes: that it's only a collection of cells and tissues and electrical synapses. /I don't exist/, the waves would come. He wanted to run out into the street and shout to anyone /please just touch me, tell me i'm alive, make sure I exist/." Finlay "Finlay realises he's resented everybody who hasn't experienced his very specific pain." Finlay

Ellie

Presdales Carnegies Reading Group

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

VISTA Academy

Three years ago, Finlay and Banjo were like brothers, sharing a room in their children's home and, despite their differences, looking out for each other and understanding one another in a way they had never previously experienced in their troubled lives. Then something happened to drive a wedge between the boys, and they have not spoken since. This book explores what is happening in their current lives alongside flashbacks to the event that drove them apart. The dual narrative works well, with each boy experiencing their own set of challenges alongside a shared grief at the seemingly irretrievable loss of their friendship. You will root for both boys and long for a reconciliation, but will they find each other again?

Mrs J.

The Maynard School

At first, Glasgow boys seemed very unusually structured - frequent flashbacks and changes in character perspectives. However, I found that as I got more used to the structure I began to appreciate the intricate writing and story that made this book a memorable read. What I enjoyed most about this book is that how throughout there is the constant feeling of - this situation could improve - a sense of optimism that leads perfectly into the book's end. Overall, a memorable but gritty read.

benjaminr

Ermysted’s

It was a book that perfectly explains some of the problems that kids and teenagers go through.9/10

Connor R

Ermysted’s

'Glasgow Boys' is the story of two boys, Banjo and Finlay as they traverse through their life in the city of Glasgow. On the one hand I enjoyed the complexity and layers that all the characters had. The relationship that Banjo and Finlay had was very unique and I don't read many books with characters like them. However, on the other hand, I must admit that the writing felt a little unversed.

Frankie

OP No Shelf Control

We read this book for the North Herts Schools Book Awards and it won, so obviously enjoyed by lots of readers in North Herts Schools!

Catherine

Books & Biscuits

It is very good and I like how it is very diverse and multi-cultural. I also like how they both become friends again even though they stopped being friends before.

Ellie-mai

SHSCC_Readers!

It was very good I absolutely loved it. LGBTQ+ is very important to me and including a gay character is always a big yes for me

Meredith

SHSCC_Readers!

On one side, you have Finlay. Shy and introvertive. On the other side, Banjo, violent and impulsive. Both have demons and shadows they need to fight with. Look past the language barrier, the strong words and heavy Scots, and you have a warm story that is pretty well written and not too hard on the mind. The emotional rollercoaster as the Glasgow Boys bond, then break, then bond to break again, then finally bond ever stronger than before. The story expresses a soft and hearty message behind a gruff facade - not too unlike Banjo - that friendships can be not unlike family, transcending distance, difference and destruction. Probably gonna have my vote. Plus, the Scots dictionary had me splitting my side.

Hanzalah

Ermysted’s

This book annoyed me at the start because of the dialect that I had to read ALOUD to understand. However, I liked it because the boys even though they had a hard start in life didn't dwell on it for long and moved on to making friends and a new family.

Abigail

St Cath’s Shadowing

Glasgow boys, by Margaret McDonald, is a great book about two boys one called Banjo the other called Finlay. Banjo is living with his new foster family. He finds it tough at school as Kyle and his group of friends start making up names and bullying him. Until one day he gets a job at the café and meets a girl called Alena. Finlay has started studying for his nursing degree at Glasgow university and becomes friends with Derya and Jun. He meets on old friend from his past called Akash who at first, he can’t remember but then all the memories of Akash come streaming back to him. My favourite character is Alena because she was always kind to Banjo and made him smile even if he was having a tough time. Alena was even happy and cheerful when she didn’t feel decent but she didn’t take her anger out on people and just accepted it for what it was. I liked the fact that it was written about two different people, and it was one chapter on Banjo then one on Finlay because you weren’t just hearing about one person the whole way through, and it was nice to hear about their different lives. I also liked, how it would go back in time because we heard about their pasts’ and what it was like for them growing up. Overall, I would rate this book for the ages of 13+ and 10/10.

Annabelle

The Fitzharrys Shadows

Breathtakingly brilliant

Laia

The Ryecroft Bookworms

I quite liked this book as it depicted real problems. Very good book but a bit depressing.

hasan i

Ermysted’s

I quite liked this book as its not unrealistic and features real problems. Very good book but it was a bit depressing.

hasan i

Ermysted’s