Reviews

The Young Team by Graeme Armstrong

addie225's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

mollyc98's review against another edition

Go to review page

  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A real page turner. I thought reading in dialect would put me off but it was actually quite refreshing to read in a way stories are often told. I was really rooting for Azzy everytime you think he's going to make a change you're hooked to see if he will manage it.

cadianook's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

andrewharron's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark funny hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

toppreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark hopeful reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

proudlocks's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Wow.

I grew up in SW Scotland a few years before the book was set, but holy shit if this wasn’t life.

I’d recommend this read to any Scottish person (it’s in slang, or I’d recommend it to everyone, but the Scots will get the slang faster).

scottishbanana's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

morgannjessica's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

quokkaboba's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

“If an opportunity comes up in life yi ought tae take it, so wit it didnae work oot. It's huvin the baws tae try that's important, both small step n giant leap.”

what a beautiful book, set in Lanarkshire, Scotland, and written in Scottish. The Young Team talks about gangs, violence, drug addiction and alcohol abuse, but also about humanity, exploring mental health and how second chances are everything.

i honestly loved it. it was so pure, raw and true. TYT cracking with teenage energy and what it feels like to be running with a team. i learned a lot through the story of Alan, Azzy, Williams, living at the heart of post-industrial Scotland, from a place both geographically and socio-economically that we don’t often hear/read from.

as for the writing, it took me a few chapters to get used to the slang, but once i got it, i couldn’t put it down. it felt like poetry, the words being chosen leaving me feeling dazzled, charmed.

“Ironic, int it? The place yi wur so desperate tae escape wid noo be a near paradise. Normality, the elusive state ae peace, which we take fur granted and mourn only when furthest fae it. Self-inflicted, no sympathy.”

allanrodger's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark funny inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0