A striking debut exploring the power of identity, community and the Scottish working class. This coming-of-age story is an incisive look at young masculinity and the way even the most fraught childhood is not without hope.
Neither Finlay or Banjo can remember the last time they had a hug. Against all odds, 18-year-old Finlay has begun his nursing degree at Glasgow University. But coming straight from the care system means he has no support network. How can he write essays, focus on his nursing placement and stop himself from falling in love when he’s struggling to even feed himself? Meanwhile, 17-year-old Banjo is trying to settle into his new foster family and finish high school, desperate to hold down his job and the people it contains. But his anger and fear keep boiling over, threatening his already uncertain future.
Underpinning everything is what happened three years ago in their group care home, when Finlay and Banjo were as close as brothers until they stopped speaking. If these boys want to keep hold of the people they love, they have to be able to forgive one another. More than this, they must find a way to forgive themselves.
Format: Paperback
Pages: 352
Imprint: Faber & Faber
Publication date: 02/05/2024
Glasgow Boys
By Margaret McDonald
Review by Genna
This gritty, emotional coming-of-age novel is easily one of my favourite reads of 2024. The story follows Finlay and Banjo, two boys who grew up in the care system and were once close, but are now navigating very different paths into adulthood.
Told from both perspectives, the book does a great job of showing how their shared past still affects them in different ways. Set in Glasgow, it feels raw and real, with characters that are easy to care about even when things get messy.
A Young Mungo or Shuggie Bain for young adults, Glasgow Boys isn’t afraid to tackle tough topics head-on. It’s a heartfelt, honest and powerful debut that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading. I can’t wait to see what Margaret McDonald does next.
