Kieron Smith, Boy
ABOUT
THE BOOK
Rejected by his brother and largely ignored by his parents, Kieron Smith finds comfort – and endless stories – in the home of his much-loved grandparents. But when his family move to a new housing scheme on the outskirts of the city, a world away from the close community of the tenements, Kieron struggles to find a way to adapt to his new life.
In his brilliantly evoked post-war Glasgow, Kelman depicts the city during a period of profound social change, with flourishing sectarianism, yet high hopes for the future. And in his central character, he creates a universal portrayal of the unique obsessions of childhood, whether fishing, climbing, books, brothers, dogs, ghosts, faces or souls…
NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS
Another account of a 1950’s childhood, this time throught the eyes of a boy in Glasgow, first in a city tenement, later in a new housing scheme. Written in the vernacular it describes his thought on family, friends, school, right and wrong so sharply you almost become Kieron.
The best book about growing up we’ve read. It won Glasgow’s Aye Write Book festival price for Scottish fiction.