Glasgow Boys - Margaret McDonald

This one really got me.

Glasgow Boys follows Finlay and Banjo, two young men who have grown up in the care system in Glasgow and are now trying to work out what adulthood is supposed to look like. Their stories explore friendship, belonging, and identity.

This book is emotional, really emotional in places, but it’s also incredibly warm. I loved both of the main characters and, more than anything, I loved how much this book allows its boys to be vulnerable. They’re messy, funny, defensive, loving and trying their best, and their friendship is the anchor for everything that happens throughout the narratve.

There are some difficult themes here, particularly around the care system, trauma and mental health, so this is definitely one I’d recommend for older teens. But it never felt relentlessly bleak to me. There’s so much hope and humanity running through it too.

It’s also exactly the sort of book I want to put into the hands of teenagers who think reading isn’t really “for them”. The characters feel real, the writing is accessible and there’s plenty to connect with emotionally.

Age: KS4+
Difficulty: Accessible
Themes: Friendship, Care experience, Masculinity, Mental health, Belonging, Growing up
My verdict: Tender, emotional and full of heart.

A brilliant book about boys, friendship and being allowed to need other people 4/5. ⭐⭐⭐⭐