The Tiffin Girls’ Shadows

Glasgow Boys
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and ultimately would say it's my favourite book ever. This book delves into the alternate viewpoints of two teenage boys (Banjo and Finlay) who have had experiences in the foster care system together. They met three year prior to the events of the books and had a very deep connection before a tragic incident befell them. The two boys haven't met since the aforementioned accident but start to think more about each other by the start of the novel as Banjo (17) gets moved into a new house with new foster parents and starts at a new highschool and Finlay (18) starts his first year at University studying for his nursing degree. The book alternates between their viewpoints and describes Banjo as a loud, nervous, angry and sometimes even violent character and Finlay as a shy, also nervous character with deep feelings and a sense that he can never keep hold of the people he loves, whether it be in a familial sense like Banjo or in a romantic sense. I liked Banjo due to how relatable his character was as well as the deeper themes that are delved into within his chapters and yet, I liked Finlay more due to his nervous nature, his gentle way of speaking and helping others as well as how he gradually came more into his own, becoming braver, making new friends, finding his own found family and accepting himself, his situation and his feelings towards others. Within the duration of this book, Banjo and Finlay find their respective romantic partners Alena and Akash, whose relationships were often reflected throughout. I did like Alena as she was funny, sweet and a really good counterpart to Banjo. Her Crohn's disease was interesting to read about and I found she handled it very well and was always painted as optimistic and loving, even when struggling through her own challenges. Her family were also very supportive, funny and welcoming of Banjo in their house. However, my favourite character overall would have to be Finlay's love interest, Akash. He is a very funny, intelligent, dorky character and really compliments Finlay as a person. His experience as an older child in an Indian household was interesting to read about as well as the clear dedication he has to his studies and what he wants to do with his future. He was always helping others such as his siblings and Finlay and was overall portrayed as such an interesting character and probably my favourite of all time. Ultimately, Glasgow Boys is my favourite book as I felt it explored its themes in depth, especially due to Margaret McDonald's clear explanation and connection to the places, characters and situations she was writing about and I have already been talking about it all the time and recommending it to others and will continue to do so.

Lianna

The Things We Leave Behind
I thoroughly enjoyed this book as Clem's perspective was fascinating and made the novel more emotional on the whole. Clem as a character is interesting, clever and determined and I liked hearing about what happened to her and her sister, Billie as they tried to stay safe after they had to run away from home to her grandpa's house due to how dangerous it was now that immigrants were getting deported for no reason. Bille herself was fun, optimistic and really sweet and I liked how she and Clem would consistently comfort each other throughout the duration of the book. Another chatracter I liked significantly was Jonas Glass. He was the son of the leader of the village that Clem's grandpa lived in. Initially, he wasn't on the best terms with Clem but as the book went on, their relationship become deeper and it turns out that Jonas is a very sweet, caring and interesting character, who ends up loving Clem a lot. I also liked the dystopian theme laced throughout the whole book and how it linked back to themes prevalent in our modern day society and makes the reader reflect on them. Overall, this book is one of my fvaourites of all time due to its plot twists and character development as well and I would definitely recommend it.

Lianna

The Final Year
I enjoyed reading this book due to its relatable and deep nature. It explores the story of 10 year old Nate and his last year at primary school as well as the transition between secondary and primary. It also delves into Nate's anger which he refers to as this "Beast" and how he struggles to contain it as well as how to tame it to an extent. Nate also goes through friendship issues with his best friend, which I find relates deeply to the situation of many people during their last year of primary as well as how they resolved it. Nate's brother was also in trouble, allowing us to see the more emotional and deeper side of Nate which I enjoyed thoroughly. I also liked how it was in a poetic form rather than in prose and found that it helped me keep to the pace of the book. Overall, it was very interesting and I would reccomend.

Lianna

King of Nothing
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as it was gripping and had me interested throughout. At the beginning of the story, I didn't like Anton much due to his actions and the people he hung around, but throughout the book, Anton gets a more thorough understanding of right and wrong and develops into a better, more understanding person, overcoming challenges from past relationships and his own actions with the help of his new friend Matthew. Matthew is also a very interesting character and personally my favourite in the book. Initially Anton doesn't like him and tries to make Matthew somebody he's not so he can fit in with others and yet, by the end of the book, Matthew manages to find people like him who accept him and understand him for who he is. Both character arcs contribute to how well put together the story is and I would highly recommend it to others.

Lianna

The Things We Leave Behind
This book was really engaging and fast-paced. The plot was beautifully thought-out and I found myself connecting to the characters and sympathising with their lives. I think the book wrote about some issues that are prevalent in today's society and managed to turn them into a dystopian novel which is scarily realistic. The book was nice to read and I would recommend it to those who haven't read it.

Yashaswini

Glasgow Boys
This was definitely my favourite book out of all of them. It was light-hearted, funny and wholesome. I found it easy to connect to the characters and I thought that the plot was enjoyable and realistic. I really liked Banjo and I thought the writer shared some insightful points through the book which I normally wouldn't have exposure to, for example: the foster care system. Overall, this was a fun and lovely read.

Yashaswini

All That It Ever Meant
All That It Ever Meant was a beautifully written book that tackled the topic of grief in a very manageable way. It also tackled the way children of immigrants experience life, and the family dynamics were also presented well. The ending twist was delivered very nicely, and it was not expected. Overall, it was a fascinating read.

Saujanyah

The Things We Leave Behind
I really liked this book's dystopian themes and emotional moments as Clem struggles with her losses, and faces challenges and danger with her sister Billie. I thought it was beautifully written and very moving, as well as being relevant and well-thought out. I really liked the depictions of all the characters, in particular Clem, as I though that instead of portraying them as one-sided, one-dimensional people, they had real depth and emotions.

Eleanor

King of Nothing
I loved Anton's character loop throughout the novel, and how he realises he doesn't need to be the 'King of the School' to be happy. It's a great portrayal of societal pressures and toxic masculinity, and how Anton overcomes them with the help of his new friend, Matthew.

Eleanor

The Final Year
I really enjoyed this story, which follows a 10 year old boy called Nate, who is in Year 6, about to leave for secondary school. I loved the portrayal of his journey through his struggle to control his emotions and how his anger was seen as a 'Beast' that he has to keep restrained. I felt that this was a really profound portrayal of the transition from Primary to Secondary, and the struggles with friendship and your sense of self. It was really moving, especially when Nate's little brother is in trouble. I thought how the format was mainly lyrical was amazing, and such a good way of conveying Nate's internal monologue.

Eleanor

Glasgow Boys
I loved reading this book, and how it explored Finlay and Banjo's stories seperately until they meet again, bringing the whole story together. I also liked the depiction of both's experience of the foster system, and the portrayal of how they grow up.

Eleanor

Little Bang
Little Bang was an incredibly interesting and thought provoking book delving into normally 'hushed up' topics - like abortion and its ban in many countries. It explored themes of choice, bodily autonomy and difficult relationships between parent and child in a realistic, detailed way that made an instant connection to the reader. The book was easy to read and understand, and the portrayal of the struggles of decision making and other aspects of Mel and Sid's life made me sympathise with them a lot, and impacted me in a personal way. Overall, I think the book had a beautiful portrayal of teen characters whilst still talking about mature and relevent topics in an engaging way. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and recommend it a lot.

Nia