Andersen Press (13+) 9781839133619 (Paperback) Download activities and reading resources pack
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Content advice: strong language, drug taking, some violence, sectarianism, suicide, death, murder, mental health, knife crime.
A powerful coming of age novel. Con is trapped in Coatbridge, Scotland with few hopes for a secure future due to the harsh conditions of his home town, characterised by entrenched gang violence, sectarianism and by deprivation. With no money and few prospects for hope, can Con find a way out of the rivalries that are tearing apart his town?
Raw, hard-hitting and utterly convincing from the outset, ‘Treacle Town’ has a distinctive and compelling narrative voice with outstanding worldbuilding that creates a powerful and immersive sense of place and an authentic portrayal of characters’ lives and motivations. Con’s journey is told with utter conviction and profound insight as he forays into the world of SLAM poetry in a way that is not simplistically redemptive. Atmospheric, complex and lyrical this is a truly outstanding and unforgettable story.
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Brian Conaghan was born and raised in the Scottish town of Coatbridge and now lives in Glasgow. He has a Master of Letters in Creative Writing from the University of Glasgow. For many years Brian worked as a teacher and taught in Scotland, Italy and Ireland. His novels have won the Costa Children’s Book Award, the UKLA Book Award and the Irish Book Award for Teen & Young Adult Book of the Year.
it was a good book and it got a lot better at the end.
hasan i
Ermysted’s
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
VISTA Academy
This book made me confused as it used many slang terms and inappropriate language. However, I enjoyed how the author wrote about a difficult and avoided topic of gang violence.
Meri
Pittville School
I didn't really like this book as much because there is a lot of death and sadness in the book such as when Connor's mum kills herself. There's also a LOT of violence and gangs and also a lot of people wanting revenge for the loved ones they've lost.
Abigail
St Cath’s Shadowing
I’d rate Treacle Town a 7/10. The story was quite enjoyable, with interesting characters and a good plot that kept me engaged. However, I found the language a bit difficult to understand at times, which made it harder to fully get into the book. While I liked the overall story, the writing style wasn’t my favorite. Still, it was a decent read, and I’d recommend it to someone who doesn’t mind more challenging language.
Bassit
Ermysted’s