LGGS Shadow Questers

Clever Crow
This book is packed with information about crows and just overall birds and I like the information but I especially like the drawing of all the birds. It's really as if they have just come to life on the page and the bird is really there. The drawings are really beautiful.

Elliot

I Love Books
I really loved the message this book displays about how not everything is bad just because you think it is. This book is about a little girl who hates books at the start and really doesn't want to read a book for her summer homework but as she dives into the world and imagination of books, she realises there's so much more to books than just reading boring words. The illustration really links to the storyline and I like how the colours are almost "splashed around". Overall I would give this book an 8/10.

Elliot

Wolf and Bear
Wolf and Bear is a heart-warming story following quiet, reserved bear and buoyant, joyful Wolf. This book tenderly expresses emotions through gorgeous illustrations, which really make the story special. The contrast between light and dark colours makes each and every page pop, drawing the reader in. I love this book as I feel it has an almost magical look to it; almost like it's from another world.

India

Grey
This illustrated book is all about a child who is feeling down and "Grey". The illustration adds a key part to the book and I think without it the book would seem very dull. The creative cut-outs throughout the pages add texture and feel to the story as well as making the book more interactive. I love how on the last page the child is by themself and then when you flip the page it shows them with their mum through the cut-out. I also really enjoyed the message conveyed through this book. That it doesn't matter how you feel and your still appreciated and loved no matter how you feel. So overall, this book is really wholesome and a really nice cosy read to tell you that even if you're down, it's okay.

Elliot

Glasgow Boys
This book follows two estranged teenage friends who grew up in the care system- Finlay, who is studying nursing at university without much support, and Banjo, who is struggling in both high school and his new foster home. Three years after their unfortunate last meeting, the two find and reconcile with each other. The third person narrative switches between Finlay’s and Banjo’s perspectives, including flashbacks from three years ago, bringing these characters to life. Glasgow Boys carries an emotional message about love and healing from trauma. I would recommend this book to Young Adult readers, although it includes potentially triggering subjects such as self harm, child abuse and mentions taking drugs.

Anna

The Final Year
The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow has a really compelling storyline. I find that the book is very relatable in the sense that it's full of poems and it's from an 11-year-old's perspective on starting Year 6. The formatting of the book is extremely unique and is helpful for understanding the storyline as it's broken down into what happens, the boy's perspective of it and how he is feeling throughout. I really enjoyed reading this book and I read it really quickly because of how captivating it is. I really recommend reading this book as I think it's just a really peaceful read and is nice to settle down before bed or just to relax and read through the poems. The end however has a major twist that will put you on the edge of your seat.

Elliot

Grey
Grey by Laura Dockrill and Lauren Child is a heart-warming story about feelings and accepting your mood. The illustrations in the story are magical, making the read highly enjoyable and calming. The words themselves are written in a sort of poem, drawing the reader in and creating a tranquil environment. I would recommend this book for anyone that wants a snug read, or as a children's story book. I love this book as I feel it puts you at ease; I would read this book to settle down before bed or relax during the day. Overall, I think if you want a short story to fill you with joy and happiness, this book is for you.

India

Glasgow Boys
If I had to rate this book out of five stars, I'd give it four stars. My favourite character is Banjo, as his character is so well-written and has so much depth. I really appreciate how his character isn't that one angry character with no good to him who suddenly improves and becomes an empathetic angel like people usually do in movies. He has so much more to him, and I felt as if I could feel his raw, unfiltered rage and hatred at the world through the pages. I love the layers in his personality; how deep down he isn't throwing a pity-party for himself. He isn't a sad, weak person, yet is still upset and hurt at heart, and just wants to be wanted. His character development is amazingly represented - his trauma from the foster care system and abuse of pain-killers is portrayed in a real-life situation and not romanticised at all. He is a stubborn person at heart and his struggle really helped me relate to him, I particularly adore the way his anger and rage is portrayed and the thin line between anger and hurt. The way he begins to love Alena genuinely isn't too passionate, movie-seeming or instant and I feel as if that was a really good touch, since the emotional connection between the two builds up gradually and the slow process is shown realistically. Finlay, on the other hand, is a great character as well, since the way his financial situation is portrayed, his own struggles from the foster care system and the exhaustion from schoolwork really ensured that he is a relatable and well-written character. I really feel as if we could've done with more of the context of his and Akash's previous friendship in Primary school, as I felt as if Akash confessing to him seemed all too good to be true. It comes across as very sudden and their relationship should've had more depth, with a longer, maybe more pained process to it, rather than being easily resolved. What I absolutely ADORE is the way Finlay and Banjo's friendship seems neither platonic nor romantic, but just this really complex yet understanding love: a quiet, simple, yet simultaneously complicated understanding and intimacy, not physically but emotionally, with one another. It is such a rare and difficult platonic-seeming love to portray yet is written and represented so beautifully through their shared traumas and experiences. It isn't too movie-like and they don't fall in love at all; they just appreciate each other as companions. Overall, the realistic experiences, trauma and emotions (except maybe Akash in general) were quite impressive. Would recommend!

Rameen

Little Bang
This book follows two teenagers - a church-raised, science-loving girl and a hopeless, music-loving boy - as they attempt to deal with an unexpected pregnancy in a country where abortion is illegal. Little Bang carries a powerful and thought-provoking message about the sensitive and controversial topics of abortion and teenage pregnancy. Although it may not be suitable for younger readers, I would recommend this book to many audiences, especially Young Adult readers.

Anna

Little Bang
I would say that this book is a must read as it has a rollercoaster of emotions and makes you feel like you are there experiencing what Meg and Sid are going through. Sid is such a relatable character as he is trying his best to balance a family and his passion. When a 'little bang' threatens to ruin Meg's dream of university she tries to cope in a country where abortion is illegal...

Freya

All That It Ever Meant
This book is set during a road trip through Zimbabwe, following a young girl and her family grieving the death of her mother. As she is pushed by someone named “Meticais”, the narrator switches between recounting past events leading up to the death and participating in what is happening in the moment. All That It Ever Meant carries an impactful message about grief and the death of a loved one, particularly an unexpected death. I would recommend this book to many different audiences, although it may be triggering for those who have lost loved ones.

Anna

I Love Books
I love this illustration book! It follows the story of a little girl who, at the beginning, hates books. But when she is given a school assignment to read a whole book, she ventures out to the library. She picks a book and falls into a storybook world, with different characters. I think that Ilustrajo really captures the enticing nature of books, and how you are transported into a different, magical world. I would recommend this book for all ages, but especially children. Overall, I think the illustrations are what make this book so magical. I would 100% recommend this book.

India

Treacle Town
This book takes place in modern-day Scotland, in a poverty-ridden “Treacle Town”. The reader follows a teenage inhabitant of this town, Con, shortly after the murder of his friend, ‘Biscuit’, as he struggles with his position in society. When he discovers “slam poetry”, he finds a glimmer of hope that, if pursued, could lead to his escape. This book carries a powerful message about the inequality in our society and the violence and discrimination faced by the less privileged. While I wouldn’t recommend it to younger audiences due to strong language and sensitive topics, I would absolutely recommend Treacle Town to young adult readers because of how it handles said sensitive topics.

Anna

Play
'Play' by Luke Palmer is an excellent interpretation of the mindsets of modern teenage boys growing up together and exploring the changes between being just innocent boys and what the real world is like. It perfectly handles challenging themes that many young people experience in the world and helps to convey these points of view to readers in a powerful, yet sensitive, way. I also like how the story goes through many years of these friends' lives and shows just how much they change in them. However, I also think that sometimes having four main characters with their own individual stories can make it quite challenging to remember what previously happened to them, as it flits a lot between each of them in chapters. I also think that sometimes the language and references to other mature themes is a bit too much. I also sometimes find it hard to connect with the characters, and I struggle to see their thoughts and opinions on certain matters discussed in the book, but I think that maybe other readers will be able to understand these characters further than me. But I find the story very interesting, and I do like how each of the four friends is able to express their thoughts and feelings in each of the chapters on certain matters that have taken place. The ending is also very creative, and it leaves the reader with lots of different ideas on what could've happened to each of the characters in the coming future, which is a very interesting thing to think and reflect on after finishing reading this book.

Tess