TPS Carnegie Collective

Little Bang
‘Little Bang' is a story of two young adults, Mel and Sid. When Mel gets pregnant things change, not just for her and Sid, but for their family’s as well. This book is for older people, with some swearing, yet it is still an intriguing story. The chapters switch between Mel and Sid, with different perspectives.’ Róisín

Róisín

Glasgow Boys
I think that in a way, this book was pretty inspirational. It’s about two different people who knew each other a while ago, and parted ways on bad terms. Also, the stress and problems in life that follows it, and the hope when they see each other again. It shows that sometimes you make wrong decisions, and end up carrying the guilt for a long time---but I probably just took it in a really deep way! Overall, I really enjoyed it, and would recommend.

Vanya

The Things We Leave Behind
I absolutely loved reading 'The Things We Leave Behind' by Clare Furniss! I felt that how to book was written from Clem’s point of view really kept me interested the whole time. The story is emotional and thought- provoking, making you think about important issues. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes character-driven stories. 9/10!

Natalie

All That It Ever Meant
All That It Ever Meant is a Strong and compelling book about Mati moving with her family to London. A different and contrasting book to the other books, themes of death and grief are really emotional and intense in this text. Personally this one was not for me but lots of different and interesting ideas which I liked. A nice ending and overall and Great Book

Harrison

Little Bang
‘Little Bang' tells the story of a teenager named Mel who faces an unplanned pregnancy and must make difficult choices about her future. The book deals with serious topics that feel more suited to older teens. While there are some emotional and funny moments, younger readers might not find it as engaging, and some themes may be too mature for them. It’s an interesting read, but I don’t think it is really for my age group.

Natalie

King of Nothing
King of Nothing has been a blast for me to read. I had found myself laughing at every page, and the use of slang was the main reason for my case of giggles. There aren't that many books that involve slang as part of the characters perspective, and this little detail is one of the main reasons why I enjoy this book, and I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys both a redemption story with a little comedy along the way.

Alex

Play
I really enjoyed reading 'Play'. The dual narrative kept me very intrigued with the plot, and I was constantly thinking ‘what would happen next?’ and couldn’t put the book down. Though I found it a bit confusing at times, I really enjoyed the ending; the way it was structured made it very captivating for me. I would recommend this book to others, but probably to people of a slightly higher age group.

Natalie

Play
I like this book as it: - Explored different people's perspectives on the story - Was a somewhat accurate description of school - Alerts people to the danger of drugs - Features good dialouge - Captures you and builds tension

yusuf

The Things We Leave Behind
it was a decent book, not bad by any means but not too good either but it got better towards the ending.

Davide

Glasgow Boys
honestly Glasgow Boys is one of the best books I have ever read, I would recommend it to anyone.

Davide

The Things We Leave Behind
"The Things We Leave Behind" is one of my all-time favourite books. It's a beautiful tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat, creating a narrative that's both suspenseful and heartbreaking. It reflects real life problems, and the characters are relatable. The only things I didn’t like was that at some parts it was slightly rushed and that it wasn’t longer! The story's emotional impact stays with you long after you finish reading, it is a truly unforgettable read.

Lily

Play
"Play" is a heart-wrenching novel with authentic and strong friendships. I enjoyed watching the boys' relationships grow and evolve alongside them. The story explores grief and loss in an impactful way. The characters' bonds are deep and meaningful, making this an emotional read. While some parts tackled mature themes, overall, it was a really good, engaging, thought-provoking and heart-breaking book (especially at the end).

Lily

Play
This literally sent chills through my body when I read it! The story of each of the boys’ lives and backstory was very interesting, including how different they are from each other. The wording was incredible, too! It was pretty hard to get into, though, and (in my opinion) a little slow. The ending left me feeling refreshed, and thinking about how the others’ lives must have gone. There’s a lot of lessons you could learn from this book. Would recommend! 8/10

Vanya

King of Nothing
Honestly, this was a great book, showing Anton’s personality shift, and how he got rid of the negative people in his life. It was funny, wholesome, and teaches you things about life as well! Even though I enjoyed it, it was pretty slow and I lost interest somewhere in the middle. But I picked it up again, and the ending met expectations! Would recommend, especially for people suffering from peer pressure. 7/10

Vanya

The Things We Leave Behind
I should know better than to judge a book by its cover, but The Things We Leave Behind caught my eye on my first day in the Shadowing group—in a good way! When I read it, it was like I was Clem, going through all her struggles. I felt all her emotions, even the little sparks of hope. I love how it’s written as if Clem is slowly opening up and remembering, telling us our story---and unlike other books, we didn’t really know what originally happened at all. There were many surprises, each one better than the other. It was sorrowful, intriguing, and much more. I would say that this book is recommended for all, 9/10!

Vanya

The Final Year
The Final Year ‘The Final Year is a book about a boy moving up to year six and experiencing change. Within this book he finds friendship and devastation. When Nate moves up to year six, his friendship with his best friend falls apart, and his ex-best friend becomes friends with his school bully, but Nate finds friendship with a student who’s also into art . This book had a brilliant story line, and I loved the writing style. After really getting into the book, you forget the books in verse. Although it had some slightly older themes, this book was more aimed at 11-year-olds and upwards.’

Róisín

Play
"Play" by Luke Palmer is a captivating exploration of creativity and the human experience. Palmer's writing is both engaging and thought-provoking, seamlessly blending humour with profound insights. The characters are well-developed and relatable, drawing readers into their journeys and challenges. The narrative flows effortlessly, making it difficult to put the book down. Palmer's unique perspective on the importance of play in our lives serves as a refreshing reminder to embrace joy. Overall, "Play" is a delightful read that inspires and entertains me, making it a great read for anyone looking to reconnect with their playful sides.

Harrison

The Things We Leave Behind
To put it simply, I loved it. the story had me really going and the plot twist at the end was mind-blowing. I would highly recommend the book, as it fills genres that i enjoy reading quite a bit and I believe that people would enjoy it! It captured my imagination, had me hooked, and I just enjoyed it in general. I could not find anything wrong with this book, and I would love to read more books like this.

Alex

The Things We Leave Behind
I think 'The Things We Leave Behind' is a brilliant action/adventure story. I like the book because it - Captured my attention - Kept me on the edge of my seat - Had a brilliant plot twist at the end - Had many elements of a fantastic story - Made me want to keep reading until the very ending. I honestly can't find anything to fault with this book and I'd love to see other books as good as this.

Yusuf

The Final Year
After reading "The Final Year "I think it wasn't for me because there wasn't enough action, and there weren't any big events apart from 1 or 2 Possibly because it was in verse rather than prose, I didn't like the language it used because it was too informal, and lastly it was a bit too short. So I think this book isn't for me.

Davide