THE BEST OF SCOTTISH BOOKS

1914. Edinburgh’s Heart of Midlothian Football Club have won nineteen of twenty-one matches and stand on the brink of becoming Scottish League Champions.

In a remarkable show of comradeship and courage, thirteen players volunteer to serve together in McCrae’s Battalion destined to fight in France.

This is their story: an evocative, dramatic journey led by the players/soldiers in a unique site-specific performance, from the football fields of Gorgie, to the battlefields of the Somme.

1916. The men fight on the Western Front. The women work in the factories, and form football teams, playing other factory teams across Scotland and raising money for the war effort. Women’s football fast becomes the most popular game in the land. Fearful that the men’s game is being eclipsed, the football authorities ban the women’s game in 1921. Inspired by true events, Sweet F.A.tells the vibrant story of one women’s factory football team from Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, their friendships, loves, losses, and battles with their fierce rivals from Leith.

Sweet F.A. is the latest play from This Is My Story Productions – the producers of the five-star, sell-out A War of Two Halves, which played to rave reviews and fantastic audience acclaim at Tynecastle Park as part of the 2018 and 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Sweet F.A. blends history, humour, passion and poignancy with live music and song and dramatises the little known truth about what happened to the women’s game. It premiered to great review at the 2021 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Almost all Shetlanders in 1773 lived a hand to mouth existence, even in good years. But, for the inhabitants of the crofting-fishing township of Waas, the unexpected arrival in October of a shipload of poor Caithness emigrants bound for North America is about to change their lives dramatically.

This is an authentic, if fictionalised, retelling of events, we are transported to that place and that time. We see through the life of a young Waas lass, Mary Johnsdaughter.

There are parallels that will appeal to readers about today’s migrations: people washed up on poor shores, at the mercy of strangers whose tongue is unfamiliar. And lives dominated by small powerful elites.

Powerful, emotive, unforgettable – Mama speaks to all mothers in the international language of love.

This is a stunning collection of vivid portraits and intimate reflections on motherhood from around the globe. Mama uniquely portrays the emotions and experiences that unite mothers from different times and diverse cultures.

Twenty-one striking watercolour portraits and lively pencil sketches by acclaimed artist Quentin Gréban are paired with Hélène Delforge’s lyrical words to create a thought-provoking celebration of motherhood in all its complexity: the satisfaction and the sadness, the frustration and the fun — and, always, the love.

This moving and joyful book is a perfect gift for mamas everywhere.

This book is about two unlikely friends. One born in 1970s Britain to Indian immigrant parents, the other arrived from Nazi Germany in 1939, fleeing persecution.

This book is about common ground. It is a story of migration, anti-Semitism, racism, family, belonging, grief and resilience.

This book is about the past and the present. It is about the state we’re in now and the ways in which we carry our pasts into our futures.

This book is about homelands.

The extraordinary, powerful second novel from the Booker prizewinning author of Shuggie Bain, Young Mungo is both a vivid portrayal of working-class life and the deeply moving story of the dangerous first love of two young men: Mungo and James.

Born under different stars, Protestant Mungo and Catholic James live in a hyper-masculine world. They are caught between two of Glasgow’s housing estates where young working-class men divide themselves along sectarian lines, and fight territorial battles for the sake of reputation. They should be sworn enemies if they’re to be seen as men at all, and yet they become best friends as they find a sanctuary in the doocot that James has built for his prize racing pigeons. As they begin to fall in love, they dream of escaping the grey city, and Mungo must work hard to hide his true self from all those around him, especially from his elder brother Hamish, a local gang leader with a brutal reputation to uphold.

But the threat of discovery is constant and the punishment unspeakable. When Mungo’s mother sends him on a fishing trip to a loch in Western Scotland, with two strange men behind whose drunken banter lie murky pasts, he needs to summon all his inner strength and courage to get back to a place of safety, a place where he and James might still have a future.

Imbuing the everyday world of its characters with rich lyricism, Douglas Stuart’s Young Mungo is a gripping and revealing story about the meaning of masculinity, the push and pull of family, the violence faced by so many queer people, and the dangers of loving someone too much.

The Fortification of the Firth of Forth describes the story of the great Forth Fortress from 1880 to 1977, when the final traditional defensive capabilities were abandoned. The authors combine archival sources with new fieldwork and oral histories to not only describe what was built, but when and why. They also show how the defences were expected to be used, in rapidly changing strategic circumstances and in the face of increasingly sophisticated and powerful naval weapons. Increasingly complex defences were built between the Isle of May and the Forth Rail Bridge to detect, block and sink enemy warships and submarines. The threat of an expansionist Germany across the North Sea increased the importance of the Forth as the site of the northern naval dockyard. The defences reached their zenith in 1916 17 as preparations were made for the Grand Fleet to move from its northern anchorage at Scapa Flow. The estuary was re-armed in 1939, and the coast defences were wound up in 1956 before being finally abandoned in 1977. Today, many of the surviving features remain visible in and around the Firth of Forth. This meticulously researched, richly illustrated volume relates the defences in the Forth to the wider political and military context and also describes the human side of the defences: the men and women who manned the fortress. This is a fascinating resource for those interested in Scottish military and naval history, and conflict and battlefield archaeology.

Tamlin is a short graphic novel reimagining of a classic Scottish folk ballad written in fluid verse. Aven Wildsmith creates a magical and atmospheric tale through colourful and queer lens – creating room for queer love and queer hero in Scottish folklore.

Janet takes refuge in the forest and falls asleep, only to be awakened in the starry night by the etheral presence of Tamlin. As they get to know each other, they fall in love, but Tamlin is not free – not free to love and embrace Janet or leave the fairy realm in which she is trapped. In order for Tamlin to be free of the Fairy Queen’s hold and to be held by her loved one, Janet must step forward and break the spell.

The shark was beneath my bed, growing large as the room, large as the lighthouse, rising from unfathomable depths until it ripped the whole island from its roots. The bed was a boat, the shark a tide, and it pulled me so far out to sea I was only a speck, a spot, a mote, a dying star in an unending sky…

Julia has followed her mum and dad to live on a remote island for the summer – her dad, for work; her mother, on a determined mission to find the elusive Greenland shark. But when her mother’s obsession threatens to submerge them all, Julia finds herself on an adventure with dark depths and a lighthouse full of hope…

A beautiful, lyrical, uplifting story about a mother, a daughter, and love – with timely themes of the importance of science and the environment.

This comprehensive 640 page introduction to Scottish literature spans centuries of fiction, poetry and drama from the likes of Robert Henryson to Irvine Welsh. Authored by Alan Riach, Professor of Scottish Literature at Glasgow University, the book balances a study of individual literary works and writers, the historical context that surrounds them, and commentary from Riach himself.

Scottish Literature: An Introduction begins with two questions: ‘What is Scottish Literature?’ and ‘Why should you read it?’ A chronological series of 80 chapters on authors and works forms the core of the book. These include neglected writers and works alongside well-established ones subjected to a new revaluation. Incorporating his own experiences in studying these texts throughout, Riach imbues the work with an enthusiasm developed over a lifetime.

You already know the stereotypes. The strong, independent woman who strips to support her own sumptuous lifestyle choices; the smart, sassy student who strips to pay her way through university; or the savvy immigrant who sends money to her family back home. Or what about the wayward party girl rebelling against her strict upbringing, or the single-mum raising her child with precious little in the way of resources?

In this powerful book, Stacey Clare, a stripper with over a decade of experience, takes a detailed look at the sex industry the reality of the work as well as the history of licensing and regulation, feminist themes surrounding sex work, and stigma. Bringing her personal knowledge of the industry to bear, she offers an unapologetic critique and searing indictment of exploitation, and raises the rights of sex workers to the top of the agenda.

The Ethical Stripper rejects notions of victimhood, challenges stigma and shame, and unpacks decades of confusion and contradictions. It s about the sex-work community s fight for safety and self-determination, and it challenges you to think twice about every newspaper article, documentary and film you have seen about stripping and sex work.

Think you know about strippers? Think again.

This is the story of a baby coming into the world, and of her first year in that world altered beyond recognition by a virus born into our lives at nearly the same time. It is a song of breath, and of light. It is a collection of love poems, and a cry flung into the universe echoing the cry of all babies, a cry of loss and of nearly unbearable love. It is a book not just for pregnant women, or new mums and dads, but for all people who have entered through that small crack into the light of this life, and for all who have parents and have grappled with the joys and challenges of those most intimate of relationships. It is a song of light, and of breath. It is a story of where we come from.

Welcome to life. Teenage life. The most awkward 7 years you’ll ever have; 84 months of change, 364 weeks of weird and 2,555 days of scrolling and inconvenience. In the grand scheme of life, it’s not a lot. Unless you’re an actual teenager, in which case, it’s EVERYTHING!

“It’s the best years of your life!” they tell us.

And yet, while it should be, for so many it just doesn’t feel like it. For most it’s an emotional assault course of acceptance, stress, anxiety, heartbreak and peer pressure, all whilst navigating the ‘hashtagony’ of social media. Misunderstood by society and misrepresented by the media, teenagers have it tough.

A Head Full of Everything demonstrates that being a teenager doesn’t have to suck. And when it does, there’s some cool things you can do to make it suck a little less. This book will challenge you to embrace your inner weird, to never grow up, be true to yourself, protect your mental health and be sure that for your 7 glorious teenage years, you act your age. Literally.

Bestselling author, award-winning comedian and international keynote speaker, Gavin Oattes has written a personal development title for teens with a difference – there’s no waffle, no dad chat, no fluff. Full of hilarious, real-life inspiration and a few crazy ideas along the way, A Head Full of Everything will leave you feeling motivated, energised and reassured that nobody has life all figured out.

The final instalment in the breathtaking Orphans of the Tide trilogy, which The Times calls ‘Unputdownable’.

The seas have parted to reveal the remains of humanity’s lost empire and opened a path from Shipwreck Island to the Enemy’s City. Now only Ellie Lancaster and her orphan friends can prevent a terrible war.

As Kate marches north at the head of her army, panic infests the City as the Enemy’s strength grows. For the parting of the seas has also uncovered the Eternity Engine, a dreadful machine from before the Drowning, with the power to remake the world – or destroy it forever . . .

The critically-acclaimed Orphans of the Tide trilogy reaches its spine-tingling climax and dramatic conclusion. Perfect reading for fans of His Dark Materials or Vashti Hardy.

A brilliantly funny and original picture book featuring a feisty female detective who is absolutely the BEST Finder-Outer-in-the-Whole-Wide-World!

Penelope Snoop has a new case to solve – her favourite toy, Sidney the Smelly Sock Snake, has disappeared. With her trusty sidekick, Carlos the dog, Penelope sets out to uncover the mystery – and begins a search for the Sock Snake which will take them right up into outer space!

Hilarious, original and fabulously illustrated, this is an irresistible picture book from the bestselling, award-winning Pamela Butchart.

The strangest things happen at Wigglesbottom Primary! When Year Two is chosen to look after some eggs that are about to hatch, they KNOW somthing is strange about one of them. What if it’s not a chick egg, but a DINOSAUR EGG???

Perfect for Easter reading, these are more funny school stories from award-winning Pamela Butchart, brilliantly colour-illustrated by Becka Moor.

A heartbreaking, compelling and timely story for older readers about teen pregnancy, family trouble and unlikely friendships, set in 1960.

When Laura meets a French exchange student, Leon, she is flattered by his interest in her. She’s never had any sort of boyfriend before.

One night, Leon walks Laura home – and her life will never be the same again.

Things start to change for Laura – first her moods, and then her body. Laura isn’t prepared for what she learns next – and doesn’t even know how it could have happened.

When her family learns her secret, they are horrified. Sent away to save them from shame, Laura meets girls just like herself, whose families have given up on them – and they become a family for each other at the most difficult time in all their lives.

An emotional and moving tale for fans of Dear Nobody and Juno.

Lynn and Sandra left their friends, family, and jobs in England to travel north to Scotland to find a bit of land that they could call their own. They had in mind keeping a few chickens, a kitchen garden, and renting out some camping space; instead, they fell in love with Lynbreck Croft—150 acres of opportunity and beauty, shrouded by the Cairngorms and deep in the Highlands of Scotland.

But they had no money, no plan, and no experience in farming.

In Our Wild Farming Life, Lynn and Sandra recount their experiences as they rebuild their new home and work out what kind of farmers they want to be. They learn how to work with Highland cattle, become part of the crofting community and begin to truly understand how they can farm in harmony with nature to produce wonderful food for themselves and the people around them. Through efforts like these, Lynn and Sandra have been able to combine regenerative farming practices with old crofting traditions to keep their own personal values intact.

Florence. Spring, 1537.

When Cesare Aldo investigates a report of intruders at a convent in the Renaissance city’s northern quarter, he enters a community divided by bitter rivalries and harbouring dark secrets.

His case becomes far more complicated when a man’s body is found deep inside the convent, stabbed more than two dozen times. Unthinkable as it seems, all the evidence suggests one of the nuns must be the killer.

Meanwhile, Constable Carlo Strocchi finds human remains pulled from the Arno that belong to an officer of the law missing since winter. The dead man had many enemies, but who would dare kill an official of the city’s most feared criminal court?

As Aldo and Strocchi close in on the truth, identifying the killers will prove more treacherous than either of them could ever have imagined . . .

The Darkest Sin is an atmospheric historical thriller by D. V. Bishop, set in Renaissance Florence and is the sequel to City of Vengeance.

After a stressful winter, DSI William Lorimer is enjoying some time away from Glasgow. He and his new friend, Daniel Kohi, have retreated to the wilds of the Scottish Highlands to unwind. But what awaits them is far from a holiday.

Despite its troubled history, the mountain village of Glencoe is now a popular resort, famed for its close-knit community, its breath-taking scenery and the warm welcome it offers weary travellers. So it’s particularly shocking when two bodies are discovered in quick succession on the nearby peaks . . .

With a potential serial killer on the loose, Lorimer’s Major Incidents Team are drafted in from Glasgow. It’s clear that a dark secret lurks beneath the wild beauty of this place. But will Lorimer manage to root it out before the killer strikes again?