MHHS Shadowers

All That It Ever Meant
This book is told in the narrative of a young girl. She talks of her family and of her mother dying and how that affected everyone in her family. She talks to what we think is her imaginary friend that seems very flamboyant dressed each time they appear. It's a story of loss, grief and a new life coping with it and it's very cleverly written in that nearing the end you find out that the little girl telling the stories actually died at the same time as her mother in a car crash, but she sees how the family are coping after she is gone with the spirit. It makes you want to go back re read, knowing what you know. It's a very clever and very intriguing book.

Lydia

Treacle Town
I found this book a very powerful read. I did enjoy this book, something different than I've read before. Written from Connors POV. Connor is torn between friends and family and everything he has ever known and a new life, a new challenge, and the hope of something different, something better. After his best friend is killed, he wants more from life but struggles with what people will think, doesn't think he can do it or deserves it. The language used is very real. It's relatable to younger readers. Dealing with issues of mental health, grief, peer pressure, gang violence. It's very in the moment, real. Abit too descriptive in parts for me but I think it would be good for people in in a similar situation to read and realise there is always a choice to be made, a way out. A very interesting book.

Lydia

The Final Year
This was the first book that i have read in verse, I was unsure at first about the structure but i enjoyed it, it was a lovely story about brothership and how sometimes the little things are the most missed. after reading it i wanted to give my (usually) annoying little brother a hug. I'd recommend this book to other people with (usually) annoying siblings.

Ben

Glasgow Boys
"Love me, just love me, even if it's hard and painful , please just do it, Banjo thinks. He needs Finlay to be the one to do it." Banjo, a seventeen-year-old foster child, has grown up with a fighting spirit, using aggression as a way to prove himself, but in doing so, he has pushed away those who care about him. However, a job at a cafe and a budding friendship with a troubled young girl, Alena, begin to show him that there is more to life than just violence and that he can find happiness and acceptance. Through his interactions with others, Banjo learns that he can trust them and let them in, and that vulnerability isn’t a weakness “... he wanted this tender love. He wanted someone to come along and adore him, and he wanted to adore them in return.” The narrator desperately longed for a tender, loving connection with someone who would appreciate and adore them in return. It was a story that moved them deeply, filled with beauty, courage, and warmth. The narrative transitioned effortlessly between the present day, with the perspectives of the two main characters, while also delving into their past to reveal how they once were friends. The book was a smooth read, with a natural and easy-to-follow writing style that made it easy to understand and relate to both of the characters’ experiences..

Owami

All That It Ever Meant
It is a well written and emotional story about the grief of losing someone of such important. I found it interesting to read through how the characters dealt with the loss , how it changed their life and the ways they adapted to it.

Anna

Play
Great book for teenage boys to understand life and growing up, shows how good friends can work together and get through life together

Ashley

The Things We Leave Behind
I enjoyed how the writer developed the characters throughout the book and particularly enjoyed the relationships that Clem built up throughout the story. Took me a little while to get into the story and make sense of it in my head but I enjoyed it overall.

Mrs Ashworth

Little Bang
This book isn’t my normal read as I tend to stick to fantasy and thriller books but for the first book I’ve read of this type, its convinced me to read more like it! Little Bang is a beautifully written, thought-provoking novel that tackles teenage pregnancy in Northern Ireland with honesty, heart, and a touch of humour. Told from the perspectives of Mel, a science-loving girl from a strict religious family, and Sid, a laid-back musician, the story explores their struggles when faced with an unplanned pregnancy in a society where abortion was still illegal in 2018. What I loved most about this book is how real and nuanced the characters feel. The author doesn’t just present a one-sided debate—she dives deep into the emotions, fears, and pressures both teens face. This book isn’t just about politics; it’s about choice, autonomy, and the messy realities of growing up. Little Bang is powerful, emotional, and at times even funny—an unforgettable read that lingers long after the final page. Highly recommended!

Hollie