By Brian Conaghan (author)
"Can Con ever escape the sticky morass of gang violence and tragedy in his home town?"
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October 2023 Book of the Month
Set in the author’s hometown of Coatbridge, this hard hitting, shockingly authentic and unforgettable novel will sadly be all too relevant to far too many other places where poverty, gang violence and substance abuse are rife. He is shining a light on overlooked and ignored communities and the metaphor of the title is poignantly apt for the young people who can see no way out and no future.
It opens with a funeral and ends with one, young lives brutally and needlessly cut short. Our narrator is Con, a young man who is no stranger to death, his mother took her own life, and his father has since retreated into a competitive bodybuilding obsession.
Friends are all he has left, but, while grieving for Biscuit, killed by a rival gang, he has no desire, despite constant goading, to perpetuate the grim cycle of retribution and revenge. Con, Wee-Z, Trig and Nails are all vividly created characters and the banter between them is fast, often funny, sometimes furious and always foul mouthed, but unmistakeably realistic. The book is labelled as unsuitable for younger readers and that is undeniable, but nevertheless this is a book which needs to be read and which should be a wakeup call to those with the power to do something about the future for young people and communities.
Although a tough read there is hope for redemption. Con discovers slam poetry, discovers there is something that maybe he can do, something that can help him break free, rekindling ambition and father son relationships. A hope that survives the guilt and despair of the grim conclusion. This is Conaghan at his brilliant, heartbreaking best. An absolute must-read.
Con O'Neill is stuck in a world of brutal gang violence, sectarian vendettas and personal tragedy. The lack of opportunities for him and the rest of his gang is all too apparent. No money. No prospects.
Read the full description
A social design that entraps inhabitants of Treacle Towns up and down the country. Connor is desperate to get away, to find another life where he can experience happiness and fulfilment. When he stumbles upon the new world of slam poetry, Con senses a glimmer of hope - a hope that might just lead to his escape from Treacle Town. But it won't be easy.
'An absolute must-read; tough, in your face, and pulls no punches' -- Melvin Burgess
'This story of loss, loyalty and fighting for who you need to be is yet another slice of pure dead brilliance from Brian Conaghan. The writing is breathtakingly powerful. The emotion is deep and raw. It's a book as grim as it is gorgeous' - Keith Gray
Brian Conaghan lives and works in the Scottish town of Coatbridge. He was a teacher for many years, and his novel When Mr Dog Bites was shortlisted for the 2015 Carnegie Medal. The Bombs That Brought Us Together won the 2016 Costa Children’s Book Award, The Weight of a Thousand Feathers won the 2018 Irish Book Award for Teen/YA Book of the Year, and We Come Apart , a verse novel co-authored with Carnegie Medal-winner Sarah Crossan, won the 2018 UKLA Book Award. Cardboard Cowboys , Brian’s first middle-grade novel, published in 2021 and is full of his trademark heart, humour and crackling dialogue.
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Con O'Neill is stuck in a world of brutal gang violence, sectarian vendettas and personal tragedy. The lack of opportunities for him and the rest of his gang is all too apparent.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Treacle Town and determined it is suitable for children aged 13-18 years old
Treacle Town features in the following genres: Books of the Month, Recommendations, Featured Books for Young Adults, Gritty Reads, Personal Social Health Economic (PSHE), Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Star Books, Stories about Family and Friends, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Featured Books for 13+ readers
Paperback. £8.09, down from the £8.99 cover price. In Stock.
Treacle Town was written by Brian Conaghan and published by Andersen Press Ltd
Treacle Town has 295 pages
£8.09, reduced from £8.99. In Stock.
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