MSJ Shadowers

King of Nothing
Very funny book but also very sad. Loved what it had to say about making your own way in the world.

olivia

Treacle Town
Not easy to get into, but it was quite readable. The dialect felt real. The opening was intriguing. The language felt real and Con felt like a real character. It was a satisfying read and all the bits came together. I would give this book 7/10.

Bella

Play
I really enjoyed this book, the beginning hooks you in by describing the setting but doesn't give any information away about the plot of the book so it allows you to imagine what you think the book is going to be about. I like how throughout the book it changes between each of the characters perspectives so you can see what's going on through their eyes. The book felt very authentic, I feel like people could relate to some of the characters, and the language they use is very modern day and uses slang so you can understand the characters better. All of the characters are very different and have different personalities which gives the reader an idea of the different types of people and their experiences. The book was very engaging and made me feel like I was part of the story the writer captured the struggles that teenagers may experience really well. Overall I rate this book a 10/10

Cece

Little Bang
At the start of the book, it hooks you by starting on New Year's Eve and you are straight into the thoughts of one of the characters. The writing style is very truthful, believable and people could definitely relate very much to this book. The setting is a usual council house street and a rich housing estate for the two characters. The two main characters are very different one is very smart and kind and the other is not as intelligent and a bit rough. I would rate the book a 9.5/10 as it was just a really hooking book and you always wanted to know what happens next and how would the other person react to something as they always had different opinions.

Hannah

Play
I think the book is a very good book as it goes deep into characters thoughts and feelings. It tokes a while to get started. It was more enjoyable than I thought it would be. It was very realistic and made you think and understand different types of people.

Tallulah

The Final Year
I found that Final Year is a really good book.I like how the author wrote it in a different ways, he introduced his family members in rhyme and he chose to use some simple words to instead of using a long sentence to introduce.I feel it is quite authentic , and that these things happen to some students when they are in the last year of primary school. I will rate the book for 8/10.

Janice

Little Bang
I found Little Bang easy to read and engaging. I liked how it explored the different aspects of teenage pregnancy and put me in the shoes of a girl suffering with that problem. Even though this book was written from the perspective of two people older than me, I still think this book is relevant and relatable. I would recommend this book to my peers and those older than me.

Isla

Glasgow Boys
I only read the first six pages of Glasgow Boys but it seemed like a good book and it got my attention quickly. I like how it is set in Scotland. Banjo has some anger issues but I think that he is still a good person.

Hannah

King of Nothing
The book starts off in a school setting and we are introduced to 2 characters and the main character who is called Anton. Anton is this funny character who is kinda care free in a way, he acts really tough and he holds a lot of pride for example in the first scene we see that he is starting to insulting the teacher when going into detention but when he was about to back down he see's this person recording and because he built such a reputation for himself he kept it going not wanting to back down now knowing there were cameras on him. overall I would rate this book a 3/10 since it was not my kind of book but it definitely had some funny lines I think some readers would enjoy and I also didn't find it as gripping as it could have been.

Aeife

Little Bang
I think the book covered good topics and im happy that Mel got to make her own choice.

Izzy

The Things We Leave Behind
The Things We Leave Behind is a thoughtfully written book about learning to move forward whilst dealing with loss and growing up. The way Clem handles her grief is authentic, showing how hard it is to move on from your problems. The friendships in the book felt honest. The writing style was pretty simple but impactful. It wasn’t too unrealistic, which I liked. I’d recommend this book to people who like simple, quiet but still meaningful and quite immersive stories.

Carena

Glasgow Boys
Glasow Boys is an incredible book, it has great character exploration and development throughout. The part that hooked me was the first conflict scene between Banjo and Kyle, I was intrigued and wanted to see Banjo’s reasoning behind his actions. As I read the book, I understood Banjo and his complex personality. He displays himself as tough and indestructible, which is a complete contrast to the other main character, Finlay. Finlay is shyer and more self-conscious. However, I enjoyed reading about him finding his confidence and breaking out of his shell. The writing style was also very impressive: The way the author uses the common dialect and writes words in the way are spoken makes the more seem more authentic and continuous. Overall, I would rate this book 7/8 and would definitely recommend to other people.

Stephanie

The Final Year
This book was an amazing read! so many emotions. I really felt as I knew Nate personally. So motivational and proof you can get through everything.

Sophia

All That It Ever Meant
I found all that it ever meant a realistic but not an engaging book. I found that I was not hooked whilst reading. but the reflections were true to life throughout the beginning of the book. I think this book is good for people looking for a detailed narrative voice and deeper reflections. However this book was not for me

Michelle

The Things We Leave Behind
This book wasn't my favourite, as I found the switching from the past and present confusing.

Sophia

The Final Year
I enjoyed the authenticity of the characters, like how Nate let the beast out and how Mr Joshua comforted him. I also really like the illustrations, and I think they captured the characters well. I really enjoyed this book and it wasn’t a chore to read, I also liked the writing style and how it made it feel like it was in the POV of a child.

Isabelle

The Things We Leave Behind
At first I found it a bit hard to get stuck in, but after about halfway it was really interesting and I found that I could hardly put it down! I thought that the plot twist at the end was well written in that it made sense the more I thought about it and yet I didn't see it coming. I also enjoyed the bitter-sweet ending. I really loved it and I'm glad I stuck with it to the end.

Izzilizzi

King of Nothing
This was the last book in the shortlist that I read - but it didn't disappoint! I thought it was really well paced, had engaging characters and dealt with the issues of friendship & difference really well. The wider themes of masculinity, beliefs and values was dealt with convincingly and clearly - it was great to see how the main character grew.

Dr Jones