A review by catalinamunoz
Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

There are some books you remember not only the story but the experience of reading them, and this one is one of those. Young Mungo is a family drama, a sweet love story between two fifteen-year-old boys and a coming of age set in a macho and homophobic Glasgow of the 1980s.

The main character, Mungo, is born into a Protestant family. He is forced into street violence with Catholics and falls in love with a Catholic boy named James. As you read, you'll find yourself sitting in the front row, experiencing a beautiful, devastatingly moving romance.

I constantly felt and feared that something terrible was going to happen. This is a sad book, yet it doesn’t feel like sadness is its purpose. The writing is so descriptive that you feel like you are alongside Mungo. It has beautiful storytelling, exceptional writing, and both lovable and detestable characters. 

Read at your own risk