Young Mungo

A story of queer love and working-class families, Young Mungo is the brilliant second novel from the Booker Prize-winning author of Shuggie Bain.

Acclaimed as one of the best books of the year by NPR, Kirkus Reviews, Time, and Amazon, and named a Top 10 Book of the Year by the Washington Post, Young Mungo is a brilliantly constructed and deeply moving story of queer love and working-class families by the Booker Prize–winning author of Shuggie Bain. Growing up in a housing estate in Glasgow, Mungo and James are born under different stars—Mungo a Protestant and James a Catholic—and they should be sworn enemies. Yet against all odds, they fall in love as they find sanctuary and dream of escape in the pigeon dovecote that James has built for his prize racing birds. But when Mungo’s mother sends him on a fishing trip to a remote loch with two strange men, he will need all his strength and courage to find his way back to a place where he and James might still have a future.

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416 pages

Average rating: 8.02

92 RATINGS

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4 REVIEWS

Community Reviews

KatieKaz
Sep 20, 2023
10/10 stars
Possibly one of my favorite books ever. I recommend the audio performance to get the full impact of the accents and slang. I had teared up a few times throughout, but by chapter 24 I was sobbing. The book is pure poetry. So many times I had to stop and grasp how beautiful a line was and how vivid the imagery appeared in my mind.
Janet H
May 06, 2023
The poverty, violence, alcoholism and neglect is oppressive. I had nightmares about Mo-Maw.
OG Tom
Mar 25, 2023
8/10 stars
A beautifully written book about a teenager growing up in dire circumstances in Glasgow, Scotland. His mom in an alcoholic who abandons her children for weeks at a time; his brother is a brutal thug and gang leader. His sister is the only stable and caring person in his life. The story alternates between family drama at home in Glasgow and Young Mungo's unfolding relationship with a young man who lives in the same tenement, and a camping trip wit...read more
Kneadsright
Mar 03, 2023
8/10 stars
This is a very tough read. Though I couldn’t put it down. The author is so gifted in his description that you can imagine the scenes vividly… a bit to vividly for me. Content is very disturbing, but that’s not to take away from the authors masterful writing. Definitely not a ‘beach’ read though!

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