The Fitzharrys Shadows
Play
i enjoyed this book because of its short chapters which made the pool more fast paced and exciting, i also liked the friendships between the boys and how each character was unique. although, i did find this book the hardest to follow out of all but i think it was very cleverly written. 7.5/10
scarlett
Glasgow Boys
Glasgow Boys is a great book following the story of two boys who are in Scottish foster care the plot is really good and it is not very confusing.
Arthur
Glasgow Boys
Glasgow Boys is a great book following the story of two boys who are in Scottish foster care the plot is really good and it is not very confusing.
Pola
Play
Play is a book about 4 teenage boys, all struggling with different aspects of their life. Luc is an athlete, who drives out his problems into sport, Matt struggles with his emotions and feelings for Mark, who has started doing “business” with a friend of his brother; and Johnny is a mystery… I think this book was good as it teaches people about the struggles of boys and teenagers of present day. Something I think was controversial about this book was the ending because even though it was upsetting, I think it was a good and relevant end to the story. I would rate this book a 7-8/10.
Isla
All That It Ever Meant
I liked this book because of the complexity of all the characters, especially Chichi and her sassiness! I definitely recommend this book. 7.5/10!
scarlett
Play
Play is a book about four 16 year olds who are each dealing with different difficult problems. I liked how the 4 perspectives and different stories kept the book exciting and varied. I really enjoyed reading about Mark's involvement with county lines and Matt's struggles with being gay. I didn't like the way Luc treated Mark and Sara badly, especially as he did not apologise. The ending of the book felt inconclusive and rushed. Personally I would have preferred a longer ending that finished the relationship with Matt and Mark, Luc talking to Matt and Mark fully getting out of county lines. I also found some parts of the book confusing such as the 4 perspectives, at the start where they changed years and the ending. Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to secondary school children but not younger children because it includes drug-taking, drinking, swears, sexual stuff, death, sexism, homophobia, toxic masculinity and neglect.
Sophie
Little Bang
Little Bang is a book about a 16 year old couple who fall in love and are happy, until the unexpected happens and Mel, falls pregnant. Desperate to help his girlfriend, Sid drops everything to help. But when two sides of the family are telling her what to do with the baby, Mel is lost on what she wants do. I really enjoyed the suspense in this book because the whole way through you were trying to guess what Mel was going to choose. The characters in this book were also very well written. Overall there wasn’t much wrong with this book, but it isn’t my favourite compared to some if the others. I would rate this book around 6.5/10.
Isla A
Isla
King of Nothing
I really liked this book because of the banter and Anton’s personality. I particularly liked the realisation Anton has throughout the book about toxic masculinity and I think it spreads awareness about important issues. Definitely in my top 3 favourite EVER books. 9.5/10
scarlett
The Things We Leave Behind
The Things We Leave Behind by Clare Furniss is the story of Clem and her sister Billie fleeing from civil unrest in London. I enjoyed the plot and found it gripping, and it was very well written too. Personally, I found it difficult to care about the main character, although overall I enjoyed it. I would give it 3.5/5 stars.
Oliver
King of Nothing
King Of Nothing is a book about Anton (who rules the school) has to go to a community project called the Happy Campers but a lonely boy saves his life. I liked this book because I never wanted to stop reading. I didn't really dislike anything but I feel like some people might not understand some things as there is a lot of slang. I would rate this book 10/10.
Mason
The Final Year
The Final Year is about a boy in year six whose brother is diagnosed with a life threatening heart disease. I found Nate the most engaging character because of his struggles with school and wondering if his brother is ok. The book explored grief, friendship struggles and school stress. I liked how the book Skellig was connected to the story. The uncertainty and grief when Dylan is hospitalised and how he tried to comfort his brother felt very emotional. The book was written in poetic verses. Sometimes this made the pace of the story feel too rushed, didn’t provide a lot of detail and didn’t feel like I was fully engaged in the plot. Overall I liked the book and would recommend it to children who are about to leave primary school like Nate but not younger children who might find the subject of a young child with a life threatening disease too sad.
Sophie
Little Bang
I liked how this book was written in two perspectives. I also like how it talks about issues that are often classed as quite ‘taboo’. Overall, I really liked this book, especially the deep conversations Mel and her teacher would have. 8.5/10
scarlett
All That It Ever Meant
In this book Mati goes on a road trip across Zimbabwe because her mother recently died. Travelling with them on the trip is a spirit called Meticais. I liked this book because of the plot twist at the end and I also like Meticais because I thought he was mysterious. However sometimes it was hard to follow what was going on in the book but overall, I really liked it.
Eloise
The Things We Leave Behind
A very good book about how people protest and cause people to flee London in search of a safer home with a good switch between past and present events of one girl and her sister’s life. This book is very good because it shows how unsafe the modern world really is.
Arthur
The Final Year
This is a wonderful and emotional book that is overall one of a kind. I feel very deep emotions from the perspective of Nate as I am also eldest of three. However , I had to take a few minuets to understand the poem-like structure of the book.
Pola
The Things We Leave Behind
The Things We Leave Behind is a book about how Clem and her half-sister Billie go on a treacherous journey from London to Scotland. The characters felt real to me and I always wanted to find out what happened next. There wasn't anything that I didn't like about the book. I would recommend this book to older readers as the ending might be a bit emotional to some people. Overall I would rate this book 9.5/10
Mason
All That It Ever Meant
All That It Ever Meant by Blessing Musariri is a gripping book about Mati and her family’s grief for their mother’s death. I enjoyed how the main character narrates the book and it did a good job of keeping me guessing! At the beginning of the book I didn’t understand the storyline, but as I kept reading it made more sense to me. I think that this book is 3.5/5 stars overall.
Oliver
Play
Play is a fantastic book about four boys- Mark, Luc, Matt and Johnny- growing up together playing games and having fun. My favourite character was Johnny because even from the start he always seemed happy and cheerful. At the start, I found this book a bit confusing because it was told by more than 2 people but when I got used to it, it was an amazing book to read, and I couldn’t put it down. The end really surprised me, and I wasn’t expecting what had come next to happen next. Overall, I liked this novel and would recommend it for people who like reading about friendship and adventure. I would rate it an 8/10.
Annabelle
King of Nothing
The book King of Nothing is a book about Anton who is forced to join an activity group called the Happy Campers. In this book he forms an unlikely friendship with Matthew and has to rethink what truly matters to him. I liked this book because it is engaging for teens using a certain language. Overall, I would recommend this book to people who like coming of age stories and also books with friendship and self discovery.
Eloise
Little Bang
The book ‘Little Bang’ is about two teenagers; Mel and Sid. On their first ever ‘date’ they make a decision that could change their lives forever. Soon after, they realise Mel is pregnant. However, abortions are illegal in Ireland so they, with the help of their parents, must figure out how they’re going to get through uni with a baby. I thought this book reflected a struggle that so many people go through really well. It was really honest and raw and I can’t imagine having to make such a tough decision. My favourite character was Lucille because of how supportive and shameless she was. It really made me realise how little schools actually teach teens about sex education. I would recommend it for ages 14+.
Hannah
The Final Year
This is a book about one boy's final year in primary school. I think it is a good book on all accounts I really like how it is a quick read of poems that all become one book.
Arthur
King of Nothing
The King of Nothing by Nathanael Lessore is an engrossing book about Anton and his unlikely friendship with Matthew. I really enjoyed the plot of the book, and especially the big twists. Overall, I found this book entertaining, and I would rate it 5/5!
Oliver
All That It Ever Meant
“All That It Ever Meant” is a good book about a girl called Mati who is traveling from England to Zimbabwe with her father, sister Chichi and her brother Tana, after her mother’s death. This is when she meets Meticais, she is the only one who can see them. Meticais is trying to get Mati to tell her story of when everything started to change for her. I didn’t really have a favourite character but, if I had to choose any of them, I’d chose Chichi. At the start I didn’t really like her because she seemed quite mean but at the end she changes, and I preferred who she was becoming because she had started to become a better person and was becoming kinder and more generous. I liked the plot and the story line as it seemed quite relaxing, calm and slow going but also full of change, loss and how losing a family member and someone you care about, and love can affect the whole family relationship and connection. The ending really surprised me, but it felt simple, as if I should have thought of that before. I would recommend this book for people who like reading about adventure and change. Overall, I would rate this book an 8/10.
Annabelle
All That It Ever Meant
This is a very good book which follows the events of one child's life after a tragic event. It is a good book but it is very confusing with the time and place switches. All in all a good book.
Arthur
The Things We Leave Behind
I loveeeed this book! I really liked the relationship between Billie and Clem and the tension at certain points of the book. I quite enjoyed this book because it was very emotional and things aren’t always as they seem. 9.5/10
scarlett
All That It Ever Meant
All That It Ever Meant is a book about a troubled teenage girl who sees the world in different way to her friends and family. After losing her mother, Matiponesa and her family go on a road trip to her father and late mother’s childhood home in Africa but while on this road trip Mati begins to be visited by a cryptic spirit. She slowly begins to tell the spirit her life story and the truth of her family. This book was extremely satisfying to finish as all your questions are finally answered. It had many twists and turns and was a fun and upbeat read (most of the time). The only bad things that I found in this book was that it was a little emotional and some of the names and places in this book took some time to get my head around! Even though this book isn’t my favourite, it pushed me out of my comfort zone in reading and I did enjoy it. I would rate this book a 6-7/10.
Isla
Play
I think it is a good book to do with the dangers of being a teenager in secondary school. I liked the book because you do not really know what comes next until you read the next part of the book with interesting parts overall it is a very good book.
Arthur
The Things We Leave Behind
The Things We Leave Behind is about how when Britain descends into authoritarianism, sixteen-year-old Clem flees with her sister (Billie), whilst facing the aftermath of the arrest of her mum and dad. Personally, my favourite character was Shaun since he helped them even when he didn’t need to. In my opinion, this was an action packed novel with many plot twists and I would recommend this book to people over 13. I would give this book a rating of 4/5.
Tilly
Glasgow Boys
‘Glasgow Boys’ is about Banjo and Finlay- two boys that grew up in foster care- and their journeys through uni and high school. They both struggle with their past in different ways, and as they mature, find love, and have new experiences, they begin to miss their past relationship.
I absolutely loved this book. The way it flowed seemed almost poetic, a style I really enjoy. It felt really raw and honest and beautiful. It’s a great coming-of-age story for teens- especially those in foster care. I really enjoyed how relatable certain bits were. My favourite character was Alexa because she seemed really confident and supportive. I would rate it 9.5/10.
Hannah
King of Nothing
The book ‘King of Nothing’ is about how Anton starts to realise that his friend group is actually quite cruel to the people at school. He also starts to feel uncomfortable with their sexist comments. When he gets into trouble at school, his mum forces him to join a local activity group- the Happy Campers. It personally wasn’t my favourite book because of the slang and the storyline. I also don’t particularly enjoy this sort of book however people that like reality based fantasy might. It’s very similar to another book by Nathanael Lessore: Steady For This. I would recommend it for ages 8+ and I would rate it 6/10.
Hannah
The Final Year
‘The Final Year’ is a story about a boy called Nate who is going through his final year of primary school, however he and his best friend Parker Smith (who is referred to as PS in the book) are in separate classes for the first time and because of this they drift apart. Personally, I wasn't a big fan of this book- especially since I'm not a lover of free verse books and if I'm being honest, I just found the story boring and not very exciting to read. Whilst I wasn't a fan of the book, I did think it was well thought out and I liked how the author chose to write about a child who has a few struggles to deal with, such as ‘the beast’, as well as having to look after his brothers and help around since it's different from the perspective of the ‘perfect kid’. I think my favourite character would have to be Mr Joshua since he helped Nate and was just really kind and friendly throughout the whole book. I would recommend this book to people between the ages of 10- 13 since they are going through/have been/are about to go through the same thing Nate has, I would give this book a rating of 2/5 simply because it is not the type of book I enjoy reading.
Tilly
Little Bang
The book ‘Little Bang’ is about two teenagers called Sid (a rebellious teen boy) and Mel (a teen girl that gets good grades and is born into a super strict religious family). On New Year’s, Mel becomes pregnant after her first date with Sid. This book is set in Northern Ireland where it was illegal to get an abortion. I personally really liked the characters in the book and I think that my favourite is probably Lucille since she is kind and really supportive of Mel and her decisions throughout the book. One thing I didn't like about the book was the middle/end since I feel like they could have chosen a different way to sort things out and they could have reacted differently- I also at times found it hard to remember who was speaking since the book is written from two different perspectives. I would probably give this book a 3/5 since although it had a good story line and well written/thought out characters, I became bored around half way through the book.
Tilly
Glasgow Boys
The book Glasgow Boys is a book about 2 boys who have grown up in the foster care system and both struggle with past trauma. I think this book was good because it was insightful and showed how people grew up in the care system and how people struggled with their mental health. Additionally, I like how this book is written from the boys' different points of views and follows them on their journey and their struggles. Overall, I would recommend this book to people who like books about coming of age and friendship.
Eloise
King of Nothing
King of Nothing follows Anton, who is dubbed ‘king of the school’, because of the reputation of his father who is in prison. He stays in a gang with his four friends, and they terrorize the smaller kids while also getting into fights. This all changes when a ‘loser’ boy, Matthew, saves his life, and helps Anton to start to see life a different way. This book follows the changes he must face to be the better person, and how he must stand up to those closest to him to do that. This book has the most compelling storyline, looking to people to change and be the best version of themselves they can be, and tackles toxic masculinity while also showing and explaining it on an easy to understand level. I feel this book was my favourite for its storyline, as it left me wanting to read more, to find out if he did make the right decision as I read it and if everything ended well. I would recommend this to people my age as it’s a good book and one of my favourites.
Rowan
The Things We Leave Behind
The Things We Leave Behind is a book on a dystopian future of the UK, one we hopefully will never have to see. It is based in a future where people are hunted for being refugees, families whose ancestors came to the UK being taken away and deported, with neighbours turning on neighbours, reporting each other, people being unable to trust anyone. It follows the story from Clem’s perspective, how she is forced to run to Scotland after her father and stepmother were taken away, England now being unsafe for her and her younger sister Billie. It’s a bit confusing at the start, as it jumps about the timeline a bit, from going from the present day to her telling the story of her journey. The book leads to amazing plot twists that you'll never guess, but the end is heart-warming and sad all at the same time. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a book that keeps you guessing, and it has been one of the best books for a deeply layered story I’ve read in the Carnegies so far.
Rowan
Little Bang
Little Bang is a book following the life of two very different people: Mel, a science whiz looking to star her GCSE’s, and Sid, a want to be rockstar who is skipping classes and about to fail his own GCSE’s. Little Bang follows the story of these two people, and the unlikely outcome of their first ever date. This book is controversial because it debates abortion in Northern Ireland, which at the time was illegal. It follows the decisions the characters are forced to make, Mel’s family being strictly Christian, and her own thoughts on what to do with the baby. I think the book is for an older audience due to the topics it covers, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone my age. I feel it is more factual, the back of the book having a section specifically about abortion, but the storyline was good, and watching the characters’ inner thoughts was intriguing and the conflicts and judgments they had to face was eye opening on a subject we don't often talk about.
Rowan
The Final Year
The Final Year is a book following a young boy called Nate’s last year in primary school. It starts at the end of year five and follows him through year six all the way up to his SAT’s. The book was short and easy to read as it was written in verse, emphasizing the fact that the character likes to write poetry and really adds that touch of first-person persona. It follows how he is split up from his friend in the last year and how his struggles at home lead to some scenes that leave the reader feeling very deeply for the character and what they're going through. I liked the book for the way it was written and how the author portrays the life of a character living in poverty. Overall, I would recommend it to someone looking for a book more for the poetry rather than description, as the style of writing is more for the effect than description.
Rowan
King of Nothing
King of Nothing is a book about school life, violence and changing friendships. My favourite character was Matthew because he was funny and unique but he was also kind and smart. I liked how Anton's grief was written because it made me feel really sad. The book had a mix of dramatic fighting scenes, emotional sad scenes and light-hearted fun scenes which made it interesting to read. I liked how some of the characters' sexist views made me feel annoyed. This made the book very engaging. The scenes where Anton talked to his dad were interesting to read because of the conflicting ideas and values that were discussed. The only thing I didn't like was the fact that in the start of the book it felt slow paced and I would have preferred a faster paced beginning. Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to secondary school students because it contains crime, violence, sexism, arson, prison and grief.
Sophie
All That It Ever Meant
This is a fiction story about a girl called Mati and her family as the characters. This is quite an emotional book that has made me cry a few times. It wasn't the worst book that I've read but definitely not the best. I liked the fact that it was so realistically written, but didn't like how some of it was in reversed order in terms of words.
Pola
Play
This book is a fiction story with Mark, Luc, Matthew and Johnny as the main characters. This book was the kind that you cant stop reading and could spend hours on without realizing. It was a bit difficult at the start, with the four different perspectives, but got easier with the more you read it. This is a good book for teens for it involves Marks point of view on how he is being pulled into county lines without realizing. Overall a good quality book that I would read again.
Pola
Glasgow Boys
Glasgow Boys by Margaret McDonald is a book about the lives of Finlay and Banjo, who are two boys that have just been released from foster care. To me this book felt that it could be a reality, and it really kept me guessing. My favourite character was Finlay, as he was very kind and considerate towards others. Personally, it focused on a theme that I didn't enjoy as much, but I would still give this book a 4/5 star rating.
Oliver
The Things We Leave Behind
The Things We Leave Behind is a breathtaking book about a girl called Clem who is telling her story of how she got to Scotland. It was no longer safe for her and her half-sister Billie in London, where they lived, due to civil arrest so they had to move. My favourite character was Mischa because she is kind, always cared and was gentle towards Billie. However, she was also very confident and brave. Yet, I also was fond of Clem because she was always brave and never gave up even when things were hard, and she didn’t know what to expect or if she would ever be safe again. Most of all, I liked that whatever she went through she persevered and didn’t let it change her character and continued to care about other people. This book felt extremely real to me, and I think that it was good that it was written in first person because you could feel their emotions, their pain and happiness. This book was always keeping me on the edge of my seat and questioning what would happen next. I struggled to put the book down as it felt as if there was always something exciting about to happen. This book felt so emotional to me, and it made me cry. I really enjoyed the ending, and my tears turned into happy tears because it felt like the story was complete and everything was going to be okay. Overall, I thought this was an incredible and marvellous book. I would rate this book a 9/10.
Annabelle
The Final Year
The Final Year is a book about a young boy called Nate who in his last year of primary school. However, his year turns around when his friendships begin to fall apart and something terrible hits his family. I really enjoyed this book because of the way the author presented the family. It was amazing how Matt Goodfellow wrote such a lovely (and slightly problematic) family but made them feel so real. This story had me hooked from the beginning and I feel no part is bad. Despite personally finding it an easy read, if you don’t like books written in slang, this probably isn’t for you. I really enjoyed this book and would give it a 9/10.
Isla
Glasgow Boys
OMG! I loved this book so much, I especially liked how you can see the contrasts of the two personalities in each chapter. I also thought the “ Scottish dictionary” at the back was pretty cool!!! 11/10
scarlett
The Final Year
I really enjoyed this book. I love the humour of the book mixed with slightly more serious topics, I also liked how I could relate to the book in the aspect that it was the characters final year at school. I loved this book so much I read it all in one go in about 2hr 30min! 9/10
scarlett
The Things We Leave Behind
The Things We Leave Behind is a book about a possible image of the future where a prime minister is attempting to deport anyone with foreign heritage. In a terrifying turn of events, the protagonist, Clem, is separated from a member of her family and has to escape England in fear of the government. Towards the climax of the book, the author was very good at building tension and keeping me guessing. My personal favourite character was Billie. I feel that she was a very accurate and well written character but also someone you can easily become quite attached to. One issue I had with this book was the way it was written at some points. The book definitely confused me a little bit at first and I had to read it a couple of times to get my head around it. Overall I think it was a good book and I would definitely recommend it, especially if you’re a reader who likes dystopian novels. I would personally give this book between 7 and 8/10.
isla
The Final Year
The Final Year is about how a boy gets through his chaotic final year of primary school. I liked how the book was laid out as it was written like a poem. I had felt sympathy for Nate (the main character). As the book was in the style of a poem it was quick to read. I think that this book was a page turner and I was keen to find out what happened next. I think this book is slightly more for older readers as at some points it was a little emotional. I would give it 9/10.
Mason
Little Bang
Little Bang is based on teenage pregnancy and abortion. This book is about two people Mel, a science genius and church-raised, and Sid, who wants to be a musician and who is about to fail his GSCEs. When Sid and Mel get a surprising result of their first date, they don’t know what to do because they live in Northern Ireland where abortion is illegal. My favourite character is Lucille because even though at the start she was rude and didn’t have any confidence that Sid and Mel are capable, she helped Mel get past what she was going through. I liked about this book how it was from two different perspectives because you could understand and feel what the characters were feeling but also know their points of view. Although I enjoyed the ending, I thought it could have been a bit better because after all this time it seemed too simple and easy. Overall, I would rate this book for the ages from 13+ and a 7/10.
Annabelle
The Things We Leave Behind
This book is a fiction story with Clem as a main character along with her sister Billie. Their Grandfather is like a real person to me, as I have had the experience of Clem it that bit. This book made me tear up a few times but kept me guessing all through. The one bad thing is that I wish I could find out what happened to the character at the end. Overall this is a really good book and I would read it again.
Pola
Play
Play is a book highlighting the friendship between four boys: Johnny, Mark, Matt and Luc, following them throughout their path through secondary school, starting at year eight going all the way up to year eleven. It follows the boys separately from each chapter, taking up a different character every time, giving the reader insight into the feelings, emotions and motives of what they do. As you follow the book, you watch as things spiral out of control for the boys, having you on the edge of your seat and waiting to see what will happen to them, hoping they will be able to fix what they have done before it is too late. I liked this book very much because it had me on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what would happen next, keeping me guessing for what would happen to them, knowing inevitably that something would have to go wrong and that they would all get dragged down with each other. I liked how it was intricately written, letting you follow each boy's story; while also letting you follow the story as a whole, seeing from everybody's eyes as it happened before them. I don't have anything negative to say on the book, except how at the beginning I was confused on the different perspectives, getting to know the new characters, but other than that it was a brilliant read. Overall, I would recommend it to someone looking to follow an interweaving story, looking for a book with a dramatic ending.
Rowan
Little Bang
Little Bang is about Mel and Sid who get pregnant after their first date and have to face challenges in a country where getting an abortion is illegal. I really liked how the author made the characters 2 very different people and also how the book was written from 2 points of view. Furthermore I liked how they have to struggle with lots of obstacles like being really young and also not being able to get an abortion but also the fact that Mel’s family are really religious. However I did find the 2 different points of view very confusing because I kept forgetting who was speaking. Overall I thought this was a very good book but definitely think it is for an older audience.
Eloise
The Final Year
The Final Year is about a boy called Nate who is struggling with being in his final year of primary school and also has friendship issues. Nate copes with these changes by writing poems which is also shown as the book is written in verse. I liked this book because I thought it showed the worries and stress that some people feel when leaving primary school. However I didn't like how the book was written in verse because I found it confusing. Finally I would recommend this book to people who might have worries about secondary school because it is a relatable book.
Eloise
Glasgow Boys
Glasgow Boys is a book about the lives of two boys: Finley and Banjo, who live in Glasgow and have come out of the foster care system. The book describes how they are doing, and follows Finley's career path through university, while also following Banjo’s last year of Secondary school while giving flashbacks into their past. As you get deeper into the book, you begin to understand why they act the way they do and delve into their history. I liked the way Margaret McDonald slowly gives flashbacks throughout the book, revealing secrets and uncovering the past of the two boys, letting you understand them deeper and what has happened to them, giving spectacular plot twists as you come to understand what they have been through. I found the start of the book uninteresting as nothing was happening to them that was exciting, but as I came to the end it was page turning, wanting to know what happened to them in the past, and how things are going to turn out. Overall, I would recommend this book to a reader who enjoys a romance but also someone who likes the plot twists and trying to figure out what has happened before it is revealed.
Rowan
All That It Ever Meant
All That it Ever Meant is a book about how family copes with a lost family member and how they deal with the grief. This book made me want to read on and not put it down. Mostly it was written well but at some points it was a bit confusing.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and recommend it for older readers. I would rate it 9/10.
Mason
Glasgow Boys
Glasgow Boys is a book based around love, friendship, family and growing up. It is told from the viewpoint of two teenage boys- Finley and Banjo. Whilst Finley has just aged out of care and has left to go to Glasgow University without any support, Banjo is trying to settle in with his new foster family during his final year of high school. At the start of the book, my favourite character was Finley since I was interested in how his story would play out as he goes through university but towards the end of the book my favourite character changed to Banjo since he had quite a bit of character development as well as more of an insight into his past. One thing I didn't like about the book was the ending since I felt like it was a bit rushed and sudden with a lot happening in a short span of time. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes coming of age stories. Personally, I really liked Glasgow Boys and since I've never read a book told from two perspectives, I found that they intertwined nicely and would give it a rating of 4/5.
Tilly
Play
‘Play’ is a book about 4 teenage boys’ experience through secondary school. They play games, scoring points against each other but, eventually, these games turn into much more. I really like the poetic feel to it because although it wasn’t poetry, it was very rhythmic and had some repetitive elements.
It personally wasn’t my favourite book because I struggled with some of the choices the main characters made. I also didn’t really enjoy the themes; drugs, toxic masculinity and sexuality. This is because they’re not really my style however if you’re into novels about teenage experiences- this is probably for you. It reminded me of some Josh Silver novels like ‘Happy Head’. I would recommend it for ages 13+.
Hannah
All That It Ever Meant
The book ‘All that it ever meant’ by Blessing Musairi is about Mati and how she and her family deal with the grief of losing her Mama. Not long after she meets Meticais, someone she can talk to- but no one else can see them. My favourite character is Meticais because they’re really carefree and don’t care about others opinions. It made me cry quite a bit but there were really happy parts too. It felt really real and it was a really gripping book.
One of the things I didn’t like was the cliffhanger at the end because it was really frustrating. I would recommend it for ages 11+. It has many elements of African culture so I would recommend it for people who enjoy reading about other cultures. I would rate it 7/10.
Hannah
Little Bang
Little Bang is a book about teenage pregnancy and is set in Northern Ireland where abortion is illegal. I liked how real the characters seem, especially Mel when she was facing a life changing decision. I enjoyed how the story kept me guessing and how I didn't always know what was going to happen. I also liked the way the sad scenes were written. The only thing I didn't like was the fact that in the middle of the book it felt a bit slow paced and there wasn't much happening. Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to young adult readers but I might feel uncomfortable recommending it in person to my friends because it contains adult topics.
Sophie
The Final Year
The Final Year is a brilliant verse novel about a boy called Nate who has started his final year of primary school. However, when Nate and Parker Smith (PS) get put in different classes they drift apart, and PS starts hanging out with Turner, who Nate dislikes. If that’s not bad enough that he’s no longer friends with PS, a disaster occurs to his little brother Dylan. My favourite character is Mr Joshua (Nate’s teacher) because he teaches Nate how to make notes and write poems and gives him a book to write his ideas in. He also helps Nate with all the problems he has. I found this book wonderful because it was written in first person, which meant you could feel the characters emotions. It was as if you were in the book experiencing everything the character was going through within story which felt real. Generally, I loved this book and would rate this book for the ages of 10-13 and an 8/10.
Annabelle
The Final Year
The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow is an enthralling book about the relationship of Nate and his friends and family, which I could not put down!
I found this book very entertaining and it was quite an easy read, and the theme was overall very appealing to me.
At first I was a bit confused as to how it was written, but as I read on I enjoyed it more and more.
I think that this book could be appreciated by all age categories and I would give this five stars!
Oiver
The Final Year
‘The Final Year’ is a book about Nate’s final year at primary school. It’s about his journey through friendships, new teachers and his big emotions. I really enjoyed the use of verse because it made it more open to interpretation by the reader and it made it feel really rhythmic. It made me cry in some places, but overall it was a really good book. It personally wasn’t my favourite because I don’t really like books based on real life, I prefer fictional novels. I would recommend it to younger readers, especially those around year 5 or 6 because that’s Nate’s age. I would rate it 6/10.
Hannah
The Things We Leave Behind
‘The Things We Leave Behind’ is a dystopian novel about London being the centre of a refugee crisis. It’s about losing the people we love and having to keep going anyway. My favourite character is Billie because she’s so innocent but always trying to keep Clem happy. It personally made me cry quite a bit but I really enjoyed it. It was a really gripping novel- I couldn’t stop reading! Although I really loved it, I wish it was a little less sad because I feel like happy books are easier for me to read. However if you like sad books, this book is definitely for you. I would suggest this book for slightly older readers, because I know books with themes of refugees can be difficult for younger readers. I would rate it a 9/10.
Hannah
King of Nothing
King of nothing is an excellent book based on friendship and school life. This book is about a boy called Anton who thinks he is living his best life as king of the school with his friends, Kehinde, Caleb and Marcus known as the Manden, where they are mean to the teachers, mess around and think everyone respects them. His mum doesn’t like the way he acts at school though and takes away his internet and makes him go to a club called Happy Campers where he sees Matthew, who Anton thinks is one of the biggest losers in class. When he goes on a camp for the weekend Anton gets lost berry picking, and he gets stung by a bee but Matthew saves him with an EpiPen, and they become friends. This book is thoughtful as it shows how Anton changes around Matthew and by going to Happy Campers as you see him trying to become a better person. My favourite character was Rochelle because she looks after Matthew and has his back but also, she is clever and doesn’t judge Anton for his past and instead cares about who he is now. Plus, she is a very kind person who tries to help people. However, I also liked Matthew because he always sees the good things in the world and although I found him irritating at the start, he always means well. Overall, I loved this book and would rate it for the ages 10-14 and an 8.5/10.
Annabelle
Glasgow Boys
Glasgow boys, by Margaret McDonald, is a great book about two boys one called Banjo the other called Finlay. Banjo is living with his new foster family. He finds it tough at school as Kyle and his group of friends start making up names and bullying him. Until one day he gets a job at the café and meets a girl called Alena. Finlay has started studying for his nursing degree at Glasgow university and becomes friends with Derya and Jun. He meets on old friend from his past called Akash who at first, he can’t remember but then all the memories of Akash come streaming back to him. My favourite character is Alena because she was always kind to Banjo and made him smile even if he was having a tough time. Alena was even happy and cheerful when she didn’t feel decent but she didn’t take her anger out on people and just accepted it for what it was. I liked the fact that it was written about two different people, and it was one chapter on Banjo then one on Finlay because you weren’t just hearing about one person the whole way through, and it was nice to hear about their different lives. I also liked, how it would go back in time because we heard about their pasts’ and what it was like for them growing up. Overall, I would rate this book for the ages of 13+ and 10/10.
Annabelle