STAGS Shadowers

Glasgow Boys
A tough read in places but what a terrific book! It's an uncompromising look at the impact that being in the care system can have, and Banjo and Finlay's experiences really draw the reader in. An empathetic and engrossing read.

Ms Darbyshire

The Things We Leave Behind
The Thing We Leave Behind is beautifully written. It follows a girl and her sister fleeing their home and trying to find somewhere safe while everything they know changes . I loved how there is a story told along with the main plotline which relates to the situations they are in. The ending was surprising while still making sense. The book really makes you think about what the world is like and what it could be like. I loved it and will definitely read it again although it was very sad .

Evie

Little Bang
Little Bang was definitely one of the best books I've read probably ever. It was emotional and I loved how it tackled the subject of abortion from both the perspective of men and women. The tensions are high in this book and personally, I believe it tackled all of the subject matter very well. Both of the main characters I loved which I don't normally so that was a massive benefit for this book and I understood the motives and beliefs of both the points of view. It was a wonderful experience to read this book and I would definitely recommend this to a friend who wants something to read and anyone who is debating the topic of abortion. I also loved how this book tackled the issue of wanting a child but not to be a parent which I believe many people experience. Personally, I believe people I know would benefit from reading this as it gives a very good look about what pregnancy is like and doesn't just show the shiny and perfect side of motherhood. This book was unafraid to tackle harsh issues and I would give it 11/10 stars if I could.

Megan

King of Nothing
King of Nothing was a wonderful book and I couldn't wait to finish it. It constantly kept me wanting to read it and I was so excited to finish and know how it ends but at the same time disappointed that the funny commentary and amazing three dimensional characters were gone until I decide to reread it which I'm sure I will. This was such a good book and none of the characters I found were flat which I do with quite a few books. My personal favourites were Grandma and Anton himself and loved the character development that Anton went though. Overall, my experience reading this book was wonderful and I will never forget the range of emotions this book made me have.

Megan