VISTA Academy

Play
I neither loved nor hated "PLAY'. The book covered topics such as drug dealing, homophobia and toxicity. It was based off of four boys as they went through secondary school. The chapters were written from different perspectives of each of the four boys which helped build a stronger and better understanding of them, I found this helped with their character development. I didn't find he story to gripping or exciting and so really didn't enjoy it to much. I found the ending disappointing but overall I'd say it's definitely for more older readers.

Libby A

Little Bang
"Little bang" is a book based on two teenagers (Mel and Sid) who are quite literally complete opposites. Whilst Mel is smart and not shown as a 'typical pregnant teen' often seen in dramas and Sid is more into music- not as 'science-minded' like Mel. I liked that the book was written from both the perspectives of Mel and Sid with the story still being a smooth, easy to follow read. This also helped to show how the pregnancy affected both people. When Sid 'stepped up' and got a job so he could better support both Mel and the baby so he could be a good dad was one of my favourite parts; I loved the thought that he wanted to be better for them, to be able to provide for them. I really enjoyed this book as I got to read something I wouldn't normally read.

Libby A

Play
Four boys grow up together at school, wanting to get out of their town. They play games alot. Matthew slips into his imagination, Luc pushes his body to the limit, and Johnny who knows what Johnny's up to. But when Mark starts running errands for his older brother's mysterious associate, he thinks he's found the best game of all. There's money in his pocket and his friends have started looking at him differently. Then Mark breaks a rule, and quickly realises that the penalties in this game far outweigh the prizes.

Michelle

The Things We Leave Behind
The Things We Leave Behind follows a dystopian story of 16 year old Clem and her half-sister Billie, on a journey of refuge and heart-breaking loss, as they escape to Scotland and leave everything they loved behind. This was my favourite Carnegie's book, I loved the characters and the way it was written, giving us a closer look at the struggles and challenges refugees have to deal with on their journeys to better lives. I also liked the plot twists throughout the book, particularly at the end when something about Billie is revealed that changes the whole story. There wasn't really anything that I disliked, it was a great eye-opening book and I would recommend it to a lot of readers.

Emma M

King of Nothing
King of Nothing was a great book telling the story of Anton, and how him and his gang rule the school. But someone in his class starts to make Anton realise that being king might not be the best thing to be. I like this book and how realistically it was written - the story told could easily have happened in real life. My favourite character was Rochelle, a girl in Anton's class, because she always stood up for other people and didn't care what others thought. I also liked the way Anton became more aware of what he was doing at the start of the book and how as the story progressed he began to change. There wasn't much I disliked about King of Nothing, it was a great read highlighting the existence of struggles to do with friendships and school lots of young people are challenged with.

Emma M

King of Nothing
I liked this book as it shows that just because your parents made a bad choice it doesn't mean you have to. This novel's protagonist (Anton ) faces these struggles. It has a bit of conflict and this book was hilarious and full of love . I would defiantly re-read this as it is funny and I love Anton, and his growth through challenges at school, and home. I loved how this was portrayed in a non patronising way, yet the life lessons come thick and fast.

Isabella B

Little Bang
An excellent commentary on the contemporary views on abortion. It has a compelling narrative and looks at both sides thoughtfully in regards to its sensitive subject matter. Truly an eye opening experience. It's my usual genre, however I can understand the importance of the subject.

Theo U

Treacle Town
Con O'Neill, who lives in a town where gang violence, sectarianism, and personal tragedy are prevalent. Con is struggling to escape this environment and finds hope in the world of slam poetry. I didn't really enjoy this book because it wasn't the type of book that interests me

Michelle

All That It Ever Meant
I must say I didn't find this book particularly captivating where as others have. I thought that it lacked action and at some parts more description could have been included. To begin with it was hard to tell what was happening so that definitely made the book less enjoyable for me. I did however like the ending where they were at the funeral and we discovered something about the main character, that was a plot twist I'd least expected. Overall, I didn't love this book but people that don't mind less action packed books I think would definitely enjoy it.

Libby A

Play
Play was an engaging story of drug misuse and toxic masculinity, among other things. It was narrated through the perspective of four boys who each have a lot of character development. My favourite character was Johnny because he was the most intricate character. My favourite narrative, though, was Matt's, as his was the most interesting to read from. The extremely heavy drug usage and Luc's narrative really brought this book down, as I did not find either realistic or interesting, though the morals rang clear. The twist ending was slightly confusing (with Johnny pushing the needle) but still just as heart warming/breaking.

Elijah

All That It Ever Meant
All That It Ever Meant is a captivating book about a family who travels from London to Zimbabwe, after the death of their mother who was killed in a car crash. The story is written from main character Mati's perspective - and travelling with her is a spirit called Meticais - who only Mati can see and speak to. During the book the family learns how to overcome their grief and tie the strong connections they form over the trip. I enjoyed this story - my favourite character was Baba (the father of Mati and her siblings) because he always tried to do the best for his children and constantly supported them. I also like Chichi - Mati's older sister - because she became a better person as the story progressed. There was mainly one thing that I didn't like about All That It Ever Meant, and that was the ending. The twist at the end was very unexpected (I won't say because of spoilers) and I felt that it didn't really tie in with what was happening in the book previously. Overall, this book is written really well, it could've had a bit more action but it was compelling and a great read. I would recommend All That It Ever Meant to lots of readers!

Emma M

Play
Play is an eye-opening book telling the lives of four friends in alternating chapters. They play games at school, games out of school, each with their own rules. But some games don't always end happily. I enjoyed reading Play, its a story that feels like it could happen any time in real life. My favourite parts were the end of the chapters - the last sentences almost always spoke the feelings of each character and how the felt about themselves, or what they were doing. The story also kept me turning the pages right till the end - the building of tension was spread throughout the whole book. However, there was one main thing that I didn't like about Play. It felt like the ending could have been explained a lot more than it did, and through the voices of all the characters - how their lives turned out for each of them, narrated by themselves. But overall, this book was really good, and it makes us think of the realistic challenges any of us could one day face. I would recommend it to all young adult readers!

Emma M

The Final Year
Nate just started year 6 and he is sad that his friend ( P.S ) Is in a different class and P.S is also ignoring him. Nate teacher Mr Joshua notices that Nate loves reading and writing and he starts to encourage. So he gave him a special notebook so he can write his thoughts and anger. Something happened to Dylan and he was rushed to the hospital. Will he cope with what's happening with his little brother?

Michelle

All That It Ever Meant
This was an interesting book and it gave me mixed feelings . This book explores the life of the children and the father after the death of the mother , whilst also having interludes of being told how she died . It gave me mixed feelings because , whilst the book was entertaining and there was a great twist at the end , it got off to a very slow and quite confusing start . Overall , I would give this book a 3/5.

Holly H

The Things We Leave Behind
I enjoyed reading this book as it felt like I was there. The book was described beautifully, with three intertwined storylines- the past, the therapist and the story Clem wrote which echoes her own. My favourite character was Mischa because she was funny. I also enjoyed the short stint where Clem was at her Grandpa's house with Shaun and Jonas. The twist ending was not the twist I was expecting but was still better than I thought it would be. The happy(ish) ending felt a bit sudden and unrealistic though, contrasting with the stark reality of the rest of the novel.

Elijah

King of Nothing
I enjoyed 'King of nothing' it's based on a boy called Anton. Anton is popular and cares very much about his reputation however, his friends often criticise him for him for just being him. I enjoyed the fact that Anton wasn't what could be classed as 'perfect' and that yes he did make some bad choices. Also, I think his friendship with Mathew is highly important as it demonstrates that you don't have to be popular and I think this is what made Anton realise that popularity isn't something to be thought of as 'better' but kindness is. Overall this book was highly enjoyable and I'd love to read it again!

Libby A

Treacle Town
Treacle town was a very deep , heartfelt book . It taught many life lessons , the most important being that if you know what the right thing is , do it , don’t just follow everyone else . If I could change one thing about the book it would be the amount of swearing as I found a lot of it quite unnecessary. One of my favourite parts is the relationship that Con develops with his father throughout the book . Overall , I would give it a 4/5.

Holly H

The Final Year
I thought the book was a bit sad what happened to the younger brother Dylan .But also that the main character has problems and what there family is going through. In my opinion I liked the book and the form of how it was written in a poem.

Kayla

Glasgow Boys
Finlay just started school and met some new friends, and then a boy that went to his primary school but hadn't recognised him. Banjo has been to too many foster homes and he is finally settling with his foster parents. He had a troubling past so his anger gets a hold of him easily. Can both of them let go of their past? I really enjoyed this book because it made me not drop the book. I wanted to find out more that happened

Michelle

All That It Ever Meant
I enjoyed this book as it was interesting to read. The multiple twists at the end really surprised me, as I thought that the story was going in a whole different direction to what it actually was. The characters felt real to me, they were described very well. Though it felt a bit confusing in places, everything fell together in the end. 7/10

Elijah

Little Bang
Little Bang by Kelly McCaughrain is a compelling story alternately narrated two characters. A book about Sid: sixteen and heading towards the path of failing his GCSEs, and Mel: a perfect, mad about science daughter. On New Year's Eve 2017, their two universes cross, and the outcome of it all, is Little Bang. But in Northern Ireland, abortion is illegal... What do they do now? I really liked this book - the story was gripping, it made me keep on turning the pages ; some scenes (particularly the tense ones) were written very realistically - like it was happening in front of me. There wasn't much that I didn't like about the book, but one thing I disliked is towards the end of the the story it felt like Sid wasn't there for Mel when she needed him. Even though they had had an argument, Mel was going through the most difficult time in the book and Sid didn't support her then. Overall, this is a really interesting and eye-opening novel, It shows us the challenges so many young people face in the world today - the challenges that Mel and Sid faced. I would recommend to all young adult readers!

Emma M

The Things We Leave Behind
'The things we leave behind' was one of the most meaningful, emotional, beautifully written books I've ever read. Reading how the main character (Clem) deals with her pain and hurt shows what could happen if such a law happened to be passed in our modern world. Despite being a distopian book there was still a realistic feel to it and I could honestly see this one day happening in this world which I find fascinating. Whilst having some aspects of sadness (it had me sobbing!) I thoroughly enjoyed this and it ended on a somewhat hopefull note. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would fully recommend!

Libby A

Play
Overall , play wasn’t really my kind of book . I found a lot of the parts very confusing and the use of drugs was very heavy and almost took up all of the book . Descriptions of the book say it is mainly about friendship however , I didn’t really see a lot of that in the book . One good thing was that I think that Luc’s part was well written and engaging . Overall I would give this book a 3/5

Holly H

The Final Year
The final year was a nice refreshing change of pace from other carnegie books. The topics mentioned are less noticed by the general public, so it was nice to see child carers and bullying in the spotlight. I enjoyed the freeverse aspect and slang that made it more believable. Nate, though enjoying fifa and writing poetry, was a good brother to his little brothers, even when one was in hospital. The characters were engaging and relatable, my favourite being Nate's teacher, who taught him that ''every little thing is gonna be alright''7/10

Elijah

Little Bang
Little bang was an interesting book from start to finish. It was narrated by the two main characters, Sid and Mel, which worked quite well. I enjoyed the unique perspectives of Sid and Mel and the relationships that formed, for example Mel and Lucille, or Sid and Mel's dad. I enjoyed watching Mel change throughout the book, taking the influence of Sid and starting to swear. The twist at the end was so unexpected with Mel working independently from Sid. though a great read, the topics were quite heavy, and I feel that the book would have been better with some jokes or something to sort of soften the impact a bit.6/10

Elijah

Little Bang
It follows the lives of Mel and Sid in Northern Ireland, where abortion was then illegal. It tells you about the ups and downs of these teenagers dealing with pregnancy. I didn't really like it because it was very slow and hard to follow. It was clever how it switched between the two characters for each chapter, but sometimes it wasn't very clear which character it was on. I see why people enjoy this book as it is heart warming and also has a lot of drama in it, but this genre just wasn't for me.

Sophia

All That It Ever Meant
After Mati's mother died, Baba wasn't himself. So Mati and his family decided to go to Zimbabwe. On there way there were spirits that only Mati could see and he was wondering what they were. My favourite character was Mati because she showed how she handled the grief of losing someone. I didn't really enjoy the book because it wasn't a book I typically read and it wasn't really interesting.

Keira U

Little Bang
I liked this book as talks about the struggles of pregnancy for young mothers and how to deal with it. I also liked the connection between Mel and Sid as it showed they could still stay together and be in love. I liked it as it showed the ups and downs in their relationship , bringing them closer together.

Isabella B

All That It Ever Meant
It was very hard to understand but the message was clear about her mothers death. I think one of the people in the book that took it the hardest was the father and you could tell that when it says in the book " he was molten inside" which gives us the in-tell that he is broken and worn out

Kayla

The Final Year
In the 'Final year' the person who is the most important is Nate and his friend Dylan. They are in year 6 coming up to there SATS and their friendship is a key thing for them. The poem is written by Matt Goodfellow, he was a former primary school teacher, but now he is a full time Poet. He made collections for otter-Barry books and others. He talks about how much some people need their best friends in a time when some people don't stay or anything. I think the speed of the book is good and suitable for 12 year and older. It covers what happens in primary and what we forget about and it nice to go back and read something that might give us some memories maybe bad but good for having that time and being kids. I enjoyed this book a lot.

Dorothy

The Final Year
Wow! Is all I thought and felt when I finished 'The final year'. It was the first verse book I've read and I absolutely loved it! I couldn't put it down and grew so attached to the story. Straight away we find out about Nate (the main character who 'writes' the verses) and his small family consisting of his mum and two younger brothers. The final year made me smile, cry and everything in between. I really felt for Nate, he always stepped up, always tried his hardest even if deep down he was struggling. He didn't want to let people know. After reading I just wanted to read more- I want to hear about Nate going to secondary school, I want to know how his youngest brother Dylan is doing, how his other brother Jax is. I want to know everything. The final year was a journey through Nates life, his journey through year six, his highs (and lows) his friendships. Nates relationship with his teacher- Mr Joshua- is really somthing I think any student would want and deserves to have with a teacher. Mr Joshua always and never failed to make Nate feel like he had someone, like he wasn't alone. He took time to listen, took time to talk, took time to understand everything Nate thought or felt. He incoraged Nate hugely, helping him every step of the way, always telling him "every little things gonna be alright". I really loved this book so much and wish I could re-read it but in a way I can experience it all again for the first time. The excitement of starting a new book, the shock, the emotion- I want to experience it again as if it was the first time and I don't know what is going to happen. I would recommend this to anyone, absolutely anyone. Even if you don't like this kind of writting style I encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and just give it a go. I would rate this book a 10/10.

Libby A

King of Nothing
At the start of the book, it shows a life of typical bullies (Anton) that are accepted because of what they have ( e.g. parents in prison, pranking their teachers) ; and because of a kid (Mathew) ,that was a nerd and was was left out; that kid saved his life from a deadly allergic reaction. Then they become friends which is completely ironic. And because of Mathew , his life begins to change, changing not only Anton and also Mathew and others around him, creating a good atmosphere. I like this book because it has a moral which says " you always have a chance to change." My favourite part of the book is when Anton is being "tortured" in Happy Camp he meets Mathew which wont give up on knowing him and to become friends.

Michal

The Final Year
Wow! Is all I thought and felt when I finished 'The final year'. It was the first verse book I've read and I absolutely loved it! I couldn't put it down and grew so attached to the story. Straight away we find out about Nate (the main character who 'writes' the verses) and his small family consisting of his mum and two younger brothers. The final year made me smile, cry and everything in between. I really felt for Nate, he always stepped up, always tried his hardest even if deep down he was struggling. He didn't want to let people know. After reading I just wanted to read more- I want to hear about Nate going to secondary school, I want to know how his youngest brother Dylan is doing, how his other brother Jax is. I want to know everything. The final year was a journey through Nates life, his journey through year six, his highs (and lows) his friendships. Nates relationship with his teacher- Mr Joshua- is really somthing I think any student would want and deserves to have with a teacher. Mr Joshua always and never failed to make Nate feel like he had someone, like he wasn't alone. He took time to listen, took time to talk, took time to understand everything Nate thought or felt. He incoraged Nate hugely, helping him every step of the way, always telling him "every little things gonna be alright". I really loved this book so much and wish I could re-read it but in a way I can experience it all again for the first time. The excitement of starting a new book, the shock, the emotion- I want to experience it again as if it was the first time and I don't know what is going to happen. I would recommend this to anyone, absolutely anyone. Even if you don't like this kind of writing style I encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and just give it a go. I would rate this book a 10/10.

Libby A

The Things We Leave Behind
THE THINGS WE LEAVE BEHIND is a thought-provoking, heart breaking, but ultimately hopeful tale of a country turning on itself and a young girl’s attempt to survive and find safety. The story is split between Clem recounting what happened to her and Billie on their trip to Scotland and Clem struggling to find a new normal in Scotland. I liked the closeness of Billie and Clem as it shows just how much they love each other, and how much work and kindness it takes from strangers to reach out to those in need – which in a society is often looked away from and forgotten about.

Isabella B

All That It Ever Meant
After the death of Mati's mother, Baba decided for them to go to Zimbabwe from London, along this trip was Meticias, a spirit, who Mati can see and talk too. I really got fasinated by this book because I wanted to know what really happened next with Mati and his family

Michelle

The Things We Leave Behind
Wow. How do I even start . This is one of the most heartbreaking yet meaningful books I’ve ever read . It really taught me about the struggles refugees face while escaping their home country , and how hard it was to simply live their life without being harassed , arrested or even killed . The characters in the book were so deeply described that they almost felt like real people . There was also a twist at the end which gave the story and even higher rating on my scale . This book had me sobbing , and because of that I have to give it 5/5 stars

Holly H

The Final Year
The final year gave me mixed feelings . On one hand the topics that were explored were very deep , making me feel many different emotions but on the other hand the storyline didn’t interest me that much . My favourite character was Nate’s teacher because I found he was such an important part to Nate’s life and story . Overall , I would give it a 3.5/5

Holly H

The Final Year
Wow! Is all I thought and felt when I finished 'The final year'. It was the first verse book I've read and I absolutely loved it! I couldn't put it down and grew so attached to the story. Straight away we find out about Nate (the main character who 'writes' the verses) and his small family consisting of his mum and two younger brothers. The final year made me smile, cry and everything in between. I really felt for Nate, he always stepped up, always tried his hardest even if deep down he was struggling. He didn't want to let people know. After reading I just wanted to read more- I want to hear about Nate going to secondary school, I want to know how his youngest brother Dylan is doing, how his other brother Jax is. I want to know everything. The final year was a journey through Nates life, his journey through year six, his highs (and lows) his friendships. Nates relationship with his teacher- Mr Joshua- is really somthing I think any student would want and deserves to have with a teacher. Mr Joshua always and never failed to make Nate feel like he had someone, like he wasn't alone. He took time to listen, took time to talk, took time to understand everything Nate thought or felt. He incoraged Nate hugely, helping him every step of the way, always telling him "every little things gonna be alright". I really loved this book so much and wish I could re-read it but in a way I can experience it all again for the first time. The excitement of starting a new book, the shock, the emotion- I want to experience it again as if it was the first time and I don't know what is going to happen. I would recommend this to anyone, absolutely anyone. Even if you don't like this kind of writing style I encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and just give it a go. I would rate this book a 10/10.

Libby A

The Final Year
The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow is a captivating story of main character Nate, who is in his final year of primary school - desperately hoping to be in the same class as his best friend PS. But when Nate struggles with friendships as he transitions into Year 6, and catastrophe hits for his little brother Dylan, his whole world turns upside down. I enjoyed this book, when I was reading it I found that I didn't want to put it down! My favourite character was Caleb, who Nate sits next to in class and becomes friends with as the novel progresses. I liked him because he was a calm and quiet character, not wishing to seek any attention or constantly be in the spotlight. Caleb was also always there for Nate during his tough times, and this drew me towards him. Even though there are many positives of the book, there are some things I disliked about it. For one, I found the story being in verse a bit frustrating - some lines sounded like they rhymed, but others didn't, and because of this I was often reading over what I had just read, to fully process what had been written. However, I really liked this book - it was a story who a lot of people can relate to when they were that age, and the overall novel was immersive and entertaining. A definite recommendation!

Emma M

Glasgow Boys
Glasgow Boys is a compelling story of two boys - Finlay and Banjo - who three years ago took separate paths and never saw each other again. Finlay goes to university, struggling to find paid work and living off instant noodles, but then he meets someone who he just cannot stop thinking about. Meanwhile Banjo is in foster care, and has joined the athletics club in his last year of high school. He too finds someone who begins to occupy his mind constantly. But will their two worlds eventually connect together again? My favourite character in this book was Alena, who showcases in Banjo's story. This is because she always smiles, always has a good thing to say about people, and her positivity never falters when something doesn't go right. What I also liked about the novel was that there were two different stories alternating between chapters - I was either reading about Finlay's life or Banjo's. I enjoy this way of structuring a book - it allows you to take a break from one of the characters and cone back to them later after reading about another. However, there were some things I disliked about the book. Even though I liked the two different stories going on at once, it was a bit confusing at times with the flashbacks randomly happening in chapters, and then going back to the present tense of the book. To end on a positive note, this was a very good novel - it was an insightful story telling us about the world of young people and the challenges the can face. I would recommend this to all young adults, it was a worthwhile read!

Emma M

Glasgow Boys
This book was truly amazing and I struggled to put it down! So many topics of distrust,love, hate, envy and fear all expertly written so that I ,as a reader, was able to grow almost attached to the the two main characters (Banjo and Finlay). I found that the flashbacks were a nice touch and eventually I was able to find out the whole story and helped the story line to flow nicely. Overall, this book covers topics that are sadly common in society today (such as anxiety and suicide) and it was written so attentively, helping me to understand what Banjo and Finlay were feeling throughout the story. I would recommend this to anyone and would love to re-read it! I also really appreciated the 'Scots dictionary'.

Libby A

The Things We Leave Behind
I thought it was brilliant,I loved how it was different to other refuge novels and also since it was set in London I could relate to the characters feelings about the country. At the end I felt that they shouldn't of made Billie die because it would of gave it a happier ending I also thought that maybe they should of found the dad again in the end but other than that I loved the writers wording and how they described how Clem was feeling and I also liked the little Mischa voice in her head at all times.

Sophia

Glasgow Boys
This book surprised me, as it is not a book I would usually read. it is a great novel, and, though I didn't expect it to be, I found this book difficult to put down. The flashbacks break up the writing nicely, and the different, yet intertwined, story line flowed well. Unlike other books in the Carnegie shortlist, the author used swear words sparingly yet effectively. The relationships worked well, and the fostering element added another layer but all the different layers of hate, love, distrust, jealousy and fear between the two protagonists worked really well. The inclusiveness in the book was also very heart-warming. over all, I have nothing bad to say about this book, other than the fact that it is not my preferred genre. 8/10

Elijah

Treacle Town
This book is a moving book, starting with the death of Con's best friend, Mark(Biscuit). It touches upon the death (suicide) of Con's mother and drug and alcohol misuse, but has gang violence and toxic masculinity as the larger problems for the protagonist. It introduced me to slam poetry, which before I had not heard of. on the other hand, however, it uses more swears than are really necessary, with the book dragging on a bit from the swears and the book was slightly depressing. I have seen other reviews where they have said that the Glaswegian dialect was confusing, however, I did not find this a problem, as long as you know the context it is used in. I would not recommend for readers who do not like to read foul language but it is good for young adults and older. 6/10

Elijah

Glasgow Boys
In Glasgow boys, there are 2 kids who grew up together but found out they are not close friends. Banjo and Finlay both got separated so Finlay is at university studying to be a nurse and Banjo is still in high school. They both are also described as resilient and perseverant and also confident in life

Ellie J

Glasgow Boys
This book made me feel more emotions than I thought was possible . I felt happy , sad , confused , excited , angry , you name it , I felt it . While the topics were very deep I also couldn’t put this book down . The relationships that were developed were also very moving . However , if there was one thing I would change about this book , it would be how it was written in the the 3rd person . Overall , I would give it a 4/5 .

Holly H

Little Bang
Sid had a crush on Mel ( a class mate) and he decided to invite her to his new year party. They started dating and something unexpected happened, Mel got pregnant but she struggled a lot so she secretly went to London to get an abortion because abortion was illegal in Ireland. Her loved ones and her friends were really angry at her including Sid. No spoilers, you will need to read the book to find out what happened to Mel and Sid in the end. It was interesting learning about the different rules in Ireland and understanding the different beliefs people have about abortion.

Michelle Ogunbode

The Final Year
This was a really good book. I really enjoyed reading it. This book was full of different emotions. This was my first long book I ever read but I really loved reading it. The most emotional part was when Natey's brother didn't wake up from his bed and had to go through an operation. At first I found it hard to get used to the word "Summat" which mean "something" from a 10 year old boy's language ,but it shows that it's the way different people write. Even though this was my first time doing Carnegies I really love this. This is one of my favourite book I've ever read. I would rate this a 10/10. I would definitely recommend this.

Hannah S

King of Nothing
King of Nothing is a laugh out loud novel concerning women’s rights and what it means to be a man. It includes witty characters such as Rochelle and Grandma. I loved reading about the unlikely friendships and funny misadventures of Anton and Matthew at the happy campers and beyond! It had a slow start but completely made up for it by the end. 8/10

Elijah

Glasgow Boys
This book was an uplifting tale of two boys who couldn't be more different to one another, learning to overcome their pasts and hope for a better future. I thought that this was expertly written, in a way that had me rooting for the characters from the start, the sheer amount of personality present in even the minor characters being a highlight that made this a very compelling, and overall satisfying read.

Eleni O

Little Bang
Little bang was a great read . It explored teenage pregnancy in a emotional , heartfelt way . I really enjoyed Mel and Sid’s relationship and also the relationship that is built throughout the book between Mel and Lucille . However , I didn’t really like the end as it wasn’t very satisfactory . Overall , I would give it a 4/5

Holly H

Play
I loved this book as it took me out my comfort zone making me try new books. It was really enjoyable as I learnt about different peoples perspective, when usually it is only one person writing and how they develop as characters. It focuses on drugs, sexuality and friendships. I would rate this book 5 stars as the writing was nice and I couldn't put it down.

Isabella B

The Final Year
I liked it the most when Nate writes poems about different people. The teacher (Mr Joshua) is a teacher that always helps him through life, for example, when he cheered him up even if his youngest brother was in hospital with his heart disease. I love the characters the most in this book because they show the life of actual people.

Michal.M

The Things We Leave Behind
In the book there is this girl called Clem who has a birthday, so she decides to have a party with a picnic somewhere for her 16th birthday, because there is a lot happening in her life that is upsetting. She wants to move away to Scotland with her sister to start her new life because she wants to be in a healthy and peaceful environment not a nasty one .She doesn't want to ruin the memories with her family.

Ellie J

Treacle Town
'Treacle town' was a book that if I saw on a book shelf or in a shop I would probably not pick it up. Not because the book is bad (it's fantastic) but because I don't typically read this genre. I'm so glad I got the chance to read this book, learning about some of the pressure and experiences people go through relating to gang violence was something I enjoyed because I'm not as educated in the topic. As I read the book I got to discover more and more about Con's struggles with his best friend Mark's (Biscuit's) passing. How his friends are always telling him 'do it for Biscuit'. I really admire Connors resilience to them saying this (although at times he may crumble and give in) I think them saying this really makes it harder for him to cope with the grief and struggle of his friends passing which is why SLAM poetry and some of the connections he makes with it is so vital for his character development. In addition, I like the idea of starting off the book with everyone at Biscuits funeral- this made me want to learn more, want to know how he died. It felt like I was there- in the moment. Overall, I enjoyed this book however some of the foul language and slang is ,at times, unnecessary and also a bit confusing. Finally, I would rate this book a 6/10

Libby A

Treacle Town
Treacle Town is about main character Con - he is trapped in his town, surrounded by gang violence and occupied with the constant thought of his best friend Mark 'Biscuit' McVitie, who has been murdered. He needs to find a way to get out, and when he discovers slam poetry, it presents itself to Con as his perfect escape route. My favourite character was Con, because he was resilient - throughout the book he was pressured into doing things he didn't want to do, and even though sometimes he gave in, towards the end of the story he made a decision and stuck with it, refusing to let anyone change his mind. I also liked the fact that some scenes were written very well. For example, at the start of the book at Biscuit's funeral, the atmosphere and mood were described in such a way that I felt as if I was there in that moment, feeling the grief and guilt of his friends and family. However, I think that there didn't have to be as much swearing or foul language, while it may add to the story and make it more interesting, Brian Conaghan could have used different words that potentially might not be as offensive to other readers. I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to young adult readers who like learning about challenges some individuals face in different parts of the U.K or other countries.

Emma M

The Final Year
Discovering the final year was as though I had been walking through my local library like a long street on a cold day, windows frosted. Until I wondered upon a brightened window among the darkness, clear in its view. Reading the final year was like looking through this window and in to the perspective of what many people in Britain today experience. It inspires a new sense of compassion and understanding in those who have many luxuries that most cannot afford. It bridges a gap in our minds, taking across new logical steps. The hopeful and relatable story of the final year humanises the people who most of the time are reduced to a percentage of those in the lower poverty brackets. Truly a wonderful experience.

Theo U

Little Bang
This book was a hauntingly human exploration of the complexities of self discovery as well as the conflict between the self and the ideas friends and family have of what that self should look like. I thought that the depictions of Mel and Sid were expertly crafted to juxtapose their youth with the adult struggles that they go through. Additionally, their relationship was not only very sweet and wholesome, but also realistic of two people their age thrust into such a difficult situation. The characters stayed consistent through their journey, and although the gradual decent into keeping secrets from one another was devastating to read, it felt like the natural progression for two teenagers under intense amounts of stress. Overall, my favourite features of this novel was the characterisation which I felt was expertly done and compelling.

Eleni O

King of Nothing
I really enjoyed this book . I was a bit sceptical at first because I don't tend to like these sorts of books , however I was in for a surprise . This book took me on a roller coaster of emotion and taught me many life lessons , such as , appreciate the people who love you and support you and to not take the wrong path just because it might be easier . Overall , this was a great book full of friendship , loss , family and finding yourself . It was also very funny . Not many books succeed in making me laugh out loud but this book succeeded many times over ! As a final score I would give it a 4.5 / 5 .

Holly H