OLSB Shadowers

The Things We Leave Behind
The Things We Leave Behind broke me in the most beautiful ways, I felt it so easy to feel sympathy for the characters. My favourite character was definitely Mischa as I thought she was really funny. I love the idea of having three interlinked storylines, however I personally found this quite hard to follow at times. Overall I thought this story was beautifully written and in my opinion a dystopian story set in a world not to different from our own is an amazing way to raise awareness to what is going on in the world currently.

Lauren

Play
The story is about when four friends grow up together at school , playing games , anything to keep there minds busy until they all slip into their own imagination . I liked reading this book because it helped explain how different peoples mind sets work in the same situation . One main feature in the book is repetition which had a strong effect on the storyline which i liked .

Isabelle

Homebody
This book was a breath of fresh air in which shows us a different perspective of the trans community. Theo shows us a long journey of finding ourselves and becoming comfortable in our own skin. I personally loved this book as it not only showed us the highs but also the lows but also showed many support systems like friends, family, ect and how they can help us become the best versions of ourselves. Amazing book!

Ellie

Glasgow Boys
This book i would love to win its a heart breaking and rebuilding story. Two boys come out of foster care but have not spoken in years. they build a life but something is missing. They go through so much only to find they need each other

Anastaisa Oliver

Wolf and Bear
This book was a lovely representation of strong emotions and I love how it was simplified for younger ages. It really represents how as friends we can build boundaries and overcome different struggles together. The illustration is adorable and the book in general just comes across as a gentle approach to younger ones that embraces and portrays different emotions and how we can handle them with those around us.

Ellie

King of Nothing
I really enjoyed this book .I teaches you that being the king of the school is not as fabulous as it sounds. Anton has a unexpected turn of events when a boy called Matthew changes his life. it teaches you a great many things.

Anastasia

Play
This book, personally, was not for me. it switches from different perspectives during the book.

Isabelle

King of Nothing
This book accurately depicts the positive character development of the protagonist, whilst exploring a multitude of sensitive topics, such as toxic masculinity and sexism. This enjoyable, coming-of-age story is a perfect read for young adults who are seeking a entertaining and enthralling read.

Aryanna

The Final Year
I loved the book and would love for it to win. Its an emotional rollercoaster. Nate is a young boy just living his life when an unexpected thing happens. He must keep a brave face on and be ready for the biggest test of his life all while keeping the beast at bay.

Anastasia

The Final Year
Wow. This book was an absolute emotional rollercoaster, and it really gave me a new outlook on life. Nathan (the protagonist) has to deal his new arising problems of growing up, friendship changes and trying to keep 'the beast' at bay, all while juggling the troubles with his two little brothers. The display of emotions and brotherhood are portrayed so well I could feel them through the page. I absolutely see this going in my top options. Reading this would benefit someone in a way not all books could do, i felt an emotional connection throughout and encountered a new perspective. An absolutely outstanding read.

Ellie

All That It Ever Meant
'All That It Ever Takes' by Blessing Musariri is a book that discusses the loss of a family member, and the journey of overcoming grief. What I liked about this book was how lively the characters were, and how many young readers could relate to the main character in this book. However, the writing style slightly put me off reading this book as the sentence structures confused me.

Sophia

Grey
This book is about a child who feels as if all of their colours have disappeared, but their mum shows them that even when they feel "grey" and like there is no colour, "each one of them is still inside you". The book itself starts off with no colours and gradually the colours appear back into this child's life which implies that when we feel empty, over time we will start to see these colours come back into our lives again. I think this is a beautiful story and really easy to read, therefore I would recommend this book to anyone.

Lauren

I Love Books
I loved this book . A little girl says she hates reading she thinks its the worst thing in the world. Yet she sits down and reads a book and finds she is under a spell- the spell of a story. This shows that no matter who you are there is a book for you somewhere only if you look hard enough

anasstasia

Wolf and Bear
I really enjoyed this book as it conveyed the power of friendship through an interesting and unique form of illustration. i learnt that even if you and another person don have the same interests it is still possible to find a level ground with each other.

lauretta