Glossopdale Readers
King of Nothing
This book is a must read for me. It was one of the best books I have ever read.
Normally when I see books in the library or when other people are reading them... they look very fictional but, this one isn't it is more to do with real life. The main boy in it is called Anton, and he is in yr9. He is pretty naughty with his mates but then he has to go to camp and meets a boy called Mathew. who is as Anton says a bit of a nerd. Anton doesn't enjoy it at all. At this camp Mathew keeps getting Anton in trouble for stuff he hasn't done but Mathew isn't doing it on purpose.
So I would say this is definitely a book you need to read.
alfie
Play
Play is a good book about 4 boys going through their teenage years in school, whilst dealing with their own personal challenges. This book deals with a lot of problems including the hardship of friends falling out and making up again.
I think this book was very good and had a really good story. I think that the ending was the best part but the book started quite slowly.
I give this book ⅘ stars and would recommend it to teenagers.
Harry
Glasgow Boys
I enjoyed this book as it alternates between the two different viewpoints of two teenage boys Finley and Banjo. It shows how both of their experiences in care and the different consequences they both had to live with. In my opinion some of the story went too slow but overall it was an interesting book to learn how different other peoples lives are to eachoter. I would reccomend this book to older secondary school students.
Mia
The Things We Leave Behind
The things we leave behind
Civil unrest in london has reached an alltime high after years of a growing authoritarianism regime,and it’s no longer safe for clem and her half sister billie in the city
This book was not for me but i can see why some would like it.i give it 3.5 stars i would not read again i kind of reccomend.
logan
Glasgow Boys
This book is about two boys growing up and surviving in the care system. One of the boys (Finlay) finds it hard to succeed in university coming straight from care leaving him with no one to support him on his journey. The other boy (Banjo) is filled with anger from the past and trying to settle in his new home and foster school.I really enjoyed this book. I liked the fact that every time it was a new chapter it swapped between the boys and the fact that most of the ends of the chapters ended with cliffhangers. I would give this book 4 stars because at first I found it quite hard to really get into this book but as I carried on it got better and very enjoyable.i recommend this book to children my age because it made me see the world from a different perspective. It showed me how easily people are misunderstood.
Gracie
The Final Year
The final year was a good book in my opinion. It was about a young boy who was going into year 6 and he was scared about SATS. This is a quote from the book: ‘life can be tough in the last year of primary school but it's all ok if your best friend is by your side right?’, Except for Nate it's not… and when disaster strikes for his littlest brother Dylan Nate's final year threatens to spiral out of control. This book was written by Matt Goodfellow and Joe-Todd Stanton (The illustrator). I would recommend this book to my cousin because he started year six this year . I enjoyed this book because it reminded me of my cousin and it was nice to be able to relate to him. This book was also fun and I enjoyed the illustrations.
taylor
Play
When I first started reading ‘Play’, I thought I really wouldn’t like it. It starts as teenage boys doing stupid teenage boy things, but as you continue reading, the book delves into deeper topics, and I think Luke Palmer wrote it and structured it really well. The characters are written realistically and it captures many issues that are faced by teenagers in the modern day.
‘Play’ is narrated by four boys: Mark, Matt, Luc and Johnny. They all have personal problems that are displayed throughout the book. I think that Luc’s perspective is really interesting and important to read; he is raised in an environment where his views are shaped by his father, who idolises toxic masculinity, and Luc feels pressured to live up to his father’s expectations.
I liked how the problems faced in ‘Play’ were tackled realistically, and it displayed the unavoidable consequences of them. The book was fast-paced and the ending is bittersweet, leaving the reader to their imagination of what eventually happens.
Willow
Little Bang
Clever girl Mel and bad boy Sid were never meant to be. And yet one drunken New Year’s Eve, Little Bang arrives, and their lives are changed forever. Sid steps up and works hard, determined to make money for their family, but maybe Mel has other plans for their baby. Abortion is illegal in Northern Ireland, but that’s not going to stop her trying.
Little Bang is a thought-provoking and heartfelt story of life’s unpredictability and the debate over abortion rights. I really enjoyed this book because it was interesting and engaging. I was invested in the characters and their stories. Little Bang made me happy because of the sweet way it was written- I felt as though I was there with the characters, experiencing their tales through their eyes. Mel and Sid are thrust into the world of parenthood and forced to grow up quicker than they should, and Little Bang relates their good and bad moments as part of life, painful but beautiful.
Really well-written and interesting, glad to have read it because it made me think about life’s struggles and the different ways people approach them. I would give this book a 4.5/5 and recommend it to other mature readers of my age and above.
Marianna
The Final Year
This book is about a young boy transitioning from year 5 to year 6. He experiences many struggles and is trying to navigate through his last year of primary school. I liked this book because it provides an insight to how different people experience struggles that most don’t have to think about in day to day life. The struggles that the protagonists experience really open your eyes to the different lives that others live. I would recommend this book to any child crossing over to their final year of primary school because it gives helpful knowledge to younger children and shows how people need to be more understanding that they don't always know what people are going through. I would give this book 4 ½ stars because it was very enjoyable to read. However, I felt as though I was not the targeted audience.
Myles
King of Nothing
The book king of nothing is a good representation of how people can be friends even with different reputations such as Matthew and Anton becoming friends while being completely different.
My personal opinions on king of nothing are mixed because at the start it gave me a bit of second hand embarrassment but later on in the book the embarrassment starts to go and the book becomes more nice and understandable with how the plot stirs from Anton ruling the school to going to the happy campers and starting friendships with people he never would have originally out of the happy campers.
My thoughts on this book are mixed because of the start being embarrassing and then the end being nice and for that my rating is 3 / 5 stars, I think younger people around 12-15 would enjoy this book.
Riley M
King of Nothing
Anton and his friend rule the school.the other kids steer clear when they’re about and that’s the way Anton likes it-he’s got a reputation to live up to.
But when Mathew, the biggest loser in class, unexpectedly saves his life, the boys strike up an unlikely friendship,and Anton finds himself questioning everything he thought was important to him.
Evaluation the book was alright but the thing is if you don’t understand the slang Anton says in the book it would be harder to understand but if you can understand the books alright.
Recommendation I would give this book ⅗ I would recommend this book to teenage people since the adults might not understand
kai barker
Treacle Town
Treacle town review.
Treacle town is a book about con o’neill who is stuck in a world of gang violence and desperate to get out and to find a safer,happier life elsewhere.when he is introduced to slam poetry there is hope that it could be his way out of treacle town.
I enjoyed towards the end of this book as it begins to get very interesting and tense
The book uses a lot of slang and it makes the book alot more realistic.I believe this book is a good one and I would definitely recommend it to teenagers and young adults.
I think this book is a 4 stars as it is extremely interesting and a good book to read,however I would not recommend this book to younger children because there is a lot of bad languageIncluded throughout the book.
Jack T
The Final Year
The Final Year is a book about a boy transitioning from year 5 to year 6 at school, overcoming many difficult challenges along the way.
I think one of the reasons this is a great book is because of how it can relate to certain people, possibly in different ways than others. The challenges that Nate faces, particularly with his relationships with his family and friends, make different parts of it relatable to different people. Another reason I think this is a great book to read is because of how it is written. Younger people may find this book easier to read and understand than others since it is written from the perspective of someone around their age or possibly a bit younger. Despite it being relatable, it can also show you what it’s like to be someone in a much different situation.
I would rate this book 4.5 out of 5 stars due to how it is easy to read, relatable yet also possibly informative. I would recommend this book to people who are currently in year 5 or 6 or maybe older people who have already experienced what Nate has.
Eden
Play
Matt, Mark, Luc and Johnny are best friends growing up together. As the book progresses, so do their individual stories, intertwining into a cautionary tale of pain and love. Each to their own, Matt embraces his creative side, Luc pushes himself physically and mentally, Mark delves into the dangerous waters of mysterious associates and Johnny… does what Johnny does.
Play is a compelling story of youth working themselves out. I did enjoy the book and found it to be well-written and interesting. However, the ending was confusing and at several points I found the shifting narratives hard to keep track of. With that said, I do think the book was very good and I would happily read it again. The story was engaging, if somewhat hazy, and I liked how the characters were presented. A whelming yet slightly sickening piece of work that I would probably compare to a true crime documentary- pleasant and fascinating in quite an unpleasant way.
Nevertheless, I would recommend this to older readers. I did like it, but I don’t think it’s going to be high on my list of books to re-read. While the general plot was gripping, I didn’t like the ending and struggled to keep track of what happened and when throughout the novel. Three out of five.
Marianna
The Things We Leave Behind
The Things We Leave Behind is a moving novel that blends personal struggle with a political dystopia. The book is set in a future London, ruled by a corrupt and controlling government. The story follows teenager Clem, as she is forced to flee the city with her younger sister. What begins as a journey for survival quickly becomes an exploration of identity, memory, and loss.
Clem's perspective is deeply personal and sometimes fragmented, reflecting how trauma can shape memory and perception. The bond between Clem and her sister, Billie, shows how love and reassurance can still persist, even in the darkest moments. The book also touches on racism, xenophobia and displacement, which I think is important to be read about, as it spreads awareness of real-world issues.
The book is divided into three parts, as the novel captures the different stages of Clem's journey, physically and emotionally. I think The Things We Leave Behind is a really powerful and heartfelt read that stays with you; the book is a great choice for people who appreciate thoughtful stories with depth and emotion.
Willow
The Final Year
The Final Year tells a story in poems in the most beautiful way. Nate is portrayed as a struggling but happy young boy with two little brothers, a mum with her fair share of problems, a best mate, and a dad who looked like Jesus. When Nate goes into Year 6, things get worse and worse. His best mate Parker’s in a different class, talking to Turner the bully, of all people. Nate’s new teacher is alright, he supposes, but still The Beast is rising every day. Until the night everything changes. Until the night tragedy strikes his bestest littlest brother, Dylan. Until the night the world explodes.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Final Year because it was heart-wrenching and incredibly well-written. I read it within a day; I simply couldn't put it down! Not unlike another wonderful book, Toffee, by Susan Crossan, The Final Year is written in poems. It is a brilliant way to get the story across and I thought it was charming and enhanced the book’s overall messages. Toffee is actually a winner of the Carnegie Award, so it was really nice to see this style again delivering top-notch books. Matt Goodfellow really made something to be proud of, and all those owning a copy should cherish it. The story was gripping and sentimental, and I was quietly delighted on every page. Goodfellow created a goldmine, and I was only too happy to go digging through it again and again and again. I truly loved this book.
In conclusion, I highly recommend this book. It is sweet and thought-provoking, and I absolutely loved it, it was an excellent story and a wonderful read. I couldn’t be happier with it- I don't think it had any flaws.
Marianna
All That It Ever Meant
Very complex and surprising as more of the story is uncovered.I love that we learn more about Mati's family and her own peculiar yet fascinating view on the world around her. I've learnt plenty information from this book through its complex words and in depth descriptions taking the reader on a fantastic journey with a brilliant twist at the end that shocked me but made the whole story come together beautifully.I would recommend even tho i lost interest during the beginning the story soon picks up again.
Livv
All That It Ever Meant
In All That It Ever Meant, Matiponesa tells a beautiful story about when her family went to Zimbabwe. Baba, Chichi, Tana, Mati and Meticais. Who is Meticais? Why are they here? Why can only Mati see them? After The Death, Chichi’s been driving Baba up the wall, so maybe Mati’s just going crazy. Whatever’s going on, there’s a story to be told, and Mati is not going to cut it short.
An interesting and heart-warming story, All That It Ever Meant was a delight to read. It was definitely a unique style of writing, as the main character’s narration changed from reality to (it seemed) imagination. However, it took me a while to understand this feature because the transition was unannounced and a bit confusing. Once I had grasped the concept, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The plot was exciting and the characters were funny, likable and well-written. I especially enjoyed the ending, so that is worth waiting for if you are sceptical about continuing reading, as I was.
All in all, an enjoyable if confusing book filled with just the right balance of touching sentiment and humour. I did like it and would recommend it to people looking for a quick or casual read. Not for those who like to understand everything, or at the very least the narration.
Marianna
Glasgow Boys
In Glasgow Boys, Banjo and Finlay are just trying to figure their lives out. It’s not going well. While Banjo gets into his second fight with the same idiot, Finlay is missing deadlines, and he definitely has not fallen for that hot med student. (Ok, maybe he has.) Despite the care system being disappointingly stereotypical, the boys might just find a way to move away from their troubled pasts. If they succeed alone or together is up to them.
Glasgow Boys is a tale of love, loss, pain and joy. Told from the perspective of two young men trying to find their way, it perfectly encapsulates the struggles of lonely young minds. I really enjoyed this book. McDonald has a way of keeping the reader interested while still applying humour and touching on heavier themes. Although very in-depth and almost addicting, this book is definitely not for younger or more sensitive readers, as it has quite mature themes and strong language. I found McDonald’s characters lovable and very well-written. The book also features flashbacks to the boys’ pasts, and I thought this was a really good way to capture the reader’s attention. I read this book within the day as I simply couldn’t put it down- I was hooked on the intriguing storyline from the beginning! It’s one of those incredible books where you really connect with the characters and root for them as if they were your friends. McDonald has created real art here.
Personally, I would (and have done!) recommend this to my friends and family. While for older readers (13 or 14 and above, depending on maturity I imagine), I am very impressed by this book and would not have missed it for the world. Truly heartwarming, thrilling and unbeatable. My new favourite book!
Mari