1 / 5Glasgow Boys: Carnegie Medal for Writing 2025 winner
Carnegie Medal Writing: Glasgow Boys is a young adult novel about Finlay, a care leaver studying nursing at university, and Banjo, a teenager settling into a foster family. Their stories explore friendship, love, trauma and the challenges of building a support network.
At a glance
- The story follows two boys dealing with care experience, isolation and uncertainty about their futures.
- Finlay is studying for a nursing degree at Glasgow University while facing financial and emotional strain.
- Banjo is trying to settle with his new foster family and manage anger and fear.
- The listing identifies the book as a winner of the 2025 Carnegie Medal for Writing.
Often bought together
Pros and cons
Pros
- Two connected character stories give the novel scope to explore both university life and foster-family adjustment.
- The listing gives a clear intended reading age of 14 years and up.
- Customer feedback describes the writing as engaging and emotionally affecting.
Technical specifications
10 specifications| Publisher | Faber & Faber |
|---|---|
| Publication date | 2 May 2024 |
| Edition | Main |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 352 pages |
| Reading age | 14 years and up |
| ISBN-10 | 0571382975 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0571382972 |
| Weight listed | 280 g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 13 x 2.3 x 19.8 cm |
What to know before buying
- The description covers trauma, care experience, financial hardship and emotional distress, which may be difficult subject matter for some readers.
Who is it for?
A good fit for
- Readers aged 14 and up interested in contemporary young adult fiction about friendship, care experience and personal resilience.
- Readers looking for a character-focused story set around university and foster-family life.
Less suited to
- Readers seeking light, plot-free reading or wishing to avoid emotionally difficult themes.
Customer reviews on Amazon
- 5 stars
68% 68% - 4 stars
21% 21% - 3 stars
8% 8% - 2 stars
1% 1% - 1 star
2% 2%
Customer feedback highlights engaging storytelling, memorable characters and emotionally powerful themes, with some readers saying the book stayed with them after finishing. These are reader impressions rather than guarantees. The reported emotional impact may matter particularly to readers drawn to the novel's themes of care experience, friendship and trauma.
Positive themes
- Readers describe the story as engaging and the characters as memorable.
- Feedback praises the storytelling and describes the book as thought-provoking and emotionally powerful.
Frequently asked questions
What is Glasgow Boys about?
It follows Finlay, a care leaver studying nursing at Glasgow University, and Banjo, a teenager adjusting to a new foster family. Both are trying to manage difficult past experiences and uncertain futures.
What age is Glasgow Boys intended for?
The listing gives a reading age of 14 years and up. Its themes include trauma, care experience and emotional distress.
How long is the book?
The listing specifies 352 pages.
Which award is Glasgow Boys listed as winning?
The title and description identify it as the winner of the 2025 Carnegie Medal for Writing.
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