A review by pomoevareads
Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad 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

5 emotionally wrecked stars

I’ll start by saying this book is not for every reader. It has some tough content and requires self-care while reading it.

Protestant, 15 year old Mungo from Glasgow meets a young Catholic James. It is the first time that Mungo has had the feelings that boys his age in the Thatcher era are expected to feel, only towards girls. His elder brother Hamish is a gang leader who has a reputation to uphold and a violent streak. His sister Jodie is a smart 16 year old who makes sure that Mungo is fed when their alcoholic mother Maureen takes off to be with a man. 

Every character in this book is carefully drawn out and three dimensional, even the very minor ones. The settings are vivid. The way the author has chosen to play with time created a tension where, while the reader knows something awful is likely to happen soon, one must turn the pages quickly. The trauma in this story is not for the faint of heart and may be very triggering to many. 

I have not yet read Shuggie Bain and now intend to but need a break for a little while before I am ready to tackle it. 
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