Farewell Tour of a Terminal Optimist (KelpiesEdge)

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Somehow, Connor and Skeates find common grounds, escape before their hearing and start a trip from the isle of Lewis to Shotts, near Glasgow, where Connor’s father is incarcerated. I wish there were half stars, because this is really a 3.5 book. It has some great things: Scottish slang, wild plot, male characters that are not overly sentimental and thus might be relatable to a certain kind of reader, but all the aspects that make it good are also the flaws. I normally dislike books about dying teens, but this one had me feeling all the feels. I laughed (often), my heart raced during the get-aways, and yes, I even cried. Real tears!' Dodging the police, joy riding and extreme partying - if Connor's dying, he might as well enjoy one last wild adventure. But Connor's left two things behind -- the medication he needs to keep him alive, and the girl who makes living bearable.

At least the adult reader sits there knowing this will not, cannot, end well. But what kind of not well will it be? How soon might Connor die? Or will Skeates or the Glaswegian football supporters kill him before the cancer does? Or maybe the skiing in Aviemore, wearing unsuitable clothes? The joyriding? But Connor’s left two things behind — the medication he needs to keep him alive, and the girl who makes living bearable. Hello Yellow - 80 Books to Help Children Nurture Good Mental Health and Support With Anxiety and Wellbeing - Probably my favourite thing about this book though was the fact it was set in Scotland and done really really well. I have never read a book with such realistic representation of what it is like to live here , the culture , the language, the people , the description of the places they go. Much of the dialogue is written in a Scottish accent and there is loads of slang and Gaelic. I really really loved this , I thought it was done really well. I wish there were more books like this that in set in Scotland and accurate to what it is like to live here. If you are not from Scotland I think some of the slang would be hard to get and the Gaelic obviously but you can easily judge by context what they are saying.Any number of people had reason to assault Harry Bains but his seventeen year old step son Lorn McGregor is the one in custody, and he needs to get out. Douglas Johnstone is a writer and freelance journalist, based in Edinburgh. Originally from Arbroath, he studied physics at University, and has a PhD in experimental nuclear physics. Johnstone spent four years designing radar and missile guidance syste … Rok of Arkady, an alien shape-changer on the run from dangerous assassins, seeks refuge in the far reaches of the galaxy, alighting on a small and insignificant planet - Earth. To conceal his presence Rok adopts the identity of the first person he encounters - bad boy footballer Kyle Dixon - and as Dixon he develops an unexpected but all-consuming love for 'the beautiful game'. Can Rok steer lowly Radford Reds to an unlikely Cup win - or will the assassins find him and bring his footballing career to a shuddering end?

John Young is a writer who is originally from Belfast and lives in Edinburgh. A former lawyer, he helped to found The Teapot Trust, a children's art therapy charity, with his wife Laura. He was a Scottish Book Trust New Writer Award winner in 2013. Press Articles I loved that the novel was set in Scotland! I liked the characters Connor and Skeates, and enjoyed the evolution of their relationship which was really sweet. It was exciting to read as you never knew what trouble or difficulty they would run into... overall I think it was a great debut novel.' Not only is Farewell Tour of Terminal Optimist on the shortlist for Cheshire Schools Book Awards - it is off for a reprint already! Twelve-year-old Omar and his brothers and sisters were born and raised in the beautiful and bustling city of Bosra, Syria. Omar doesn't care about politics - all he wants is to grow up to become a successful businessman who will take the world by storm. But when his clever older brother, Musa, gets mixed up with some young political activists, everything changes . . .

But don't worry. I'll find out the truth about my dad before I snuff it. I have to. Just call me terminally optimistic. Normally I don't like this type of YA book, but what I really liked about this one was the Scottish setting. It's like John Green but with a little bit of Scottish culture... I would recommend this book to people who like reading YA books about reality, and people who enjoy stories set outside the US, because the Scottish setting is a great bonus.' Unfortunately Connor escapes Stornoway without his medicines, and he’s not sure he can trust Skeates. It’s a good thing he’s feeling adventurous and positive towards most of the often illegal suggestions Skeates makes. I did initially think it was a little unrealistic that Connors sister died AND his dad was in prison AND his mum was having a nervous breakdown AND he had cancer . This is completely made up for by the ending though which was unexpected and ties Connor and Skeates together in a really interesting way . I thought it was amazing .