HHS
The Things We Leave Behind
At a time where the world seems to be plagued by xenophobia, The Things We Leave Behind by Clare Furniss is a welcomed reprieve from the bigotry and hatred and allows the reader to empathise with those seeking asylum and facing deportation. The story follows Clem and her little sister Billie as they attempt to find safety from the cruel new laws implemented by the new prime minister Toby Knight. The girls unexpectedly find themselves alone in a place that doesn’t want them and Furniss takes you along on their journey as they try to find security, family, and a place to call home. I really enjoyed reading this book, there were twists and turns on every page and although the plot wasn’t always ‘rainbows and sunshine’ it was engaging (albeit tearjerking) and I couldn’t put this book down. This book should be on every teenager's reading list( and I would also recommend it to a few closed minded adults). 10/10
Florence
Glasgow Boys
Glasgow Boys by Margaret McDonald is a book with a heart-warming ending and intriguing plot which explores sensitive topics such as addiction, the foster care system, abuse and suicide. It follows Banjo and Finlay, previous friends from foster care, and their lives as they move on from the past and overcome childhood trauma. Finlay is in university training to be a nurse despite his procrastination and struggle with the academic work, whilst Banjo is with his foster parents, navigating his anger outbursts, new job and participation in athletics. The story emphasises that hope can bloom in the face of adversity and that one’s past experiences and trauma doesn’t define your destiny. True friendship can last a lifetime and that family doesn’t just have to be the sharing of DNA. The author successfully amplifies marginalised voices which generates empathy from readers who most likely live a world away from that of Banjo and Finlay. I would recommend this book however some of the language and themes may be unsuitable for younger teen readers.
Florence
Play
Play follows the perspectives of a group of boys going through year 11 whilst looking back on their past experiences over their years at high school; mainly focusing on all the games and challenges they used to play to pass the time.
This included building dens, jumping into lakes and meeting up at ‘the lanes’.
TJ
The Final Year
The final year is such an amazing book ! Although it was quite sad, it ended well. Don’t carry on reading is you don’t want any spoilers! Nate is basically the man of the family helping his mum and aunt will also helping his two younger brothers . His dad has unfortunately passed away and Dylan ( the youngest brother) gets rushed to the hospital and almost dying , which is an absolutely awful experience to go through especially at only ten years of age . I definitely recommend The Final Year to literally everyone; it’s that good of a book. Hope you enjoy reading it !
Poppy
All That It Ever Meant
They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover and this is true in the literal sense when considering ‘All That It Ever Meant’ by Blessing Musariri. When I first started reading, I assumed this would be yet another stereotypical book about teenage angst when dealing with grief. However, the plot of this book offered so much more. The story is written in first person perspective and it follows Mati, her father, and her siblings as they navigate life following the death of their mother as they travel back to her home country of Zimbabwe. Although difficult for her to come to terms with and admit to herself, an unexpected, (possibly spiritual in nature) friend , named Meticais, helps to eventually guide her through and to tell the whole story. Rather than being sombre, which one might expect when considering such emotive topics, the story was uplifting, heartfelt and offered insight into a different cultural perspective and you’re left with the positive feeling that life can and does carry on after a loved one’s death. The creative descriptions of Meticais and all their wonderful outfits added to the enjoyable experience of the read;I loved this book and would highly recommend to anyone. The outcomes of this story were emotive and unexpected but made things click into place leaving the reader questioning the afterlife, their own perspectives of life, and for myself a sense of relief for Amati’s family’s gradual peace and healing with their loss, leading me to reflect and appreciate my own family.
Florence
The Things We Leave Behind
'The Things We Leave Behind' is an amazing book, it explores what our future could be if we don't sort ourselves out. The main character, Clem, finds herself no longer able to stay in her family home in London, so she and her sister Billie run away to Edinburgh. This story is brilliant in the way that breaks your heart, for there are many plot twists. I highly recommend this book for anyone who doesn't mind crying at a good book.
Isolde
Little Bang
Little Bang by Kelly McCaughrain follows Mel and Sid’s journey navigating teenage relationships and the dilemmas they face when Mel unexpectedly gets pregnant. It is written in first person narrative which helps the reader to connect with their experiences, thoughts, and emotions from both perspectives. The book attempts to challenge some stereotypes(e.g Mel isn’t the typical teen often portrayed in teen pregnancy dramas) however fails in other ways (e.g. the wayward ‘bad boy’ falling for the ‘school nerd’). I liked how the author has tackled a currently controversial subject (abortion) which may encourage positive discourse; however I found the plot tedious, predictable, and ultimately quite boring. If you are looking for a quick, easy read with a happy ending then give it a try, otherwise give this one a miss.
Florence
The Final Year
This is the second book I have finished reading for the Carnegie medal shortlist and I found it so heartwarming, I really emotionally connected with each of the characters and cried quite a few tears at multiple points. The final year would be an amazing book for any year 6 worried about leaving primary school and I only wish this book existed back when I was in year 6.
TJ
The Final Year
‘The Last Year’ is a book that is told in poems, which makes the themes of poverty, hospitalisation of a sibling and bullying even more powerful, and makes it seem more real. So, in conclusion, I think this is an amazing book and anyone who’s started high school would love it.
Isolde
Play
Luke Palmer’s novel is emotionally gripping and depicts realistic circumstances that teenage boys experience in this modern world. He explores ideas of toxic masculinity, sexual assault, drug use and county lines; all essential topics to be explored given that many young men currently face them. Through changing first person perspective, the reader has the opportunity to fully understand and explore the feelings of the characters. Emotive and engaging language also enables the reader to fully connect with the characters and the challenging experiences they were facing; this was particularly beneficial as I am not part of this demographic but could still empathise with their situations. I admit that it was initially challenging ‘to get into’ and reading it felt more of a chore at first, than a joy, however after a couple of chapters, I was hooked and I found the novel a quick, easy, albeit powerful and emotional read. Be prepared, the ending is definitely a tearjerker and you’re left with thoughts of an existential nature and the endless possibilities that life can bring. The book would appeal to anyone in Year 9 or above, however you may want to give it a miss if you are currently dealing with unresolved trauma as some of the content may be difficult to read. Additionally, I feel this would be useful to parents of, or those working with teenage boys if they want to gain an insight into the complex minds of them and understand the possible reasonings behind some of their decisions.
Florence
The Things We Leave Behind
When I first picked up ‘The Things We Leave Behind’ I thought it would be a generic story about somebody who went on a journey to save humanity or something like that - but it wasn’t. This book showed me the much smaller problems within a larger problem and within minutes I was hooked to reading it.
Clem, the main protagonist, and her half-sister Billie must flee London because of Toby Knight, the new Prime Minister who wants all immigrants out of his country. This affects Clem because her stepmother, Claudia, is an immigrant living in England. As a result of Claudia being an immigrant, she is taken away from her family to a ‘better place’. This causes Clem and Billie to flee to their grandfather's house, where he forgets who they are, and a mysterious man is in the kitchen the next morning…
For now I’ll let you read on, but be prepared for countless plot twists and unexpected events.
I’d say this book is perfect for anybody looking for a mild read with some action and a lot of adventure.
Charlie
All That It Ever Meant
All that it ever meant is a touching story about a family who, after they lose their mother in a car crash, decide to take a trip to their home country of Zimbabwe to regain a connection with their heritage. The whole story is told from the point of view of the middle child , 14 year old Mati, who is explaining the whole situation to this omnipotent spirit called Meticais, an enigmatic and curious overseer who only Mati can see. I was enthralled by the fascinating and intriguing structure but I will warn that the ending is really sad and it made me want to read it all over again once I discovered the plot twist!
TJ