BOOKS
Kelvin MacGregor
THE SAPLINGS OF SARAJEVO
Kelvin's new novel, The Saplings of Sarajevo, will be published in April 2027. More details will be announced soon.
Kelvin MacGregor
HERE WE GO!
(Published by Random House)
" ... I enjoyed the story, and the style - the way you tell it sparely, with not a word out of place. You do it so well and with absolute authenticity ... "
Alan Sillitoe, author of Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner
A contemporary coming-of-age novel about first love and football, HERE WE GO! covers the slice-of-life, feel good themes made popular by American teen movies: love, infatuation, friendship, death are all explored warmly, understandingly and humorously. It's a book about and for teenagers, while the sentiments at the heart of this fast-paced, fun read carry a nostalgic echo for any adults who read it.
Meet Joey! He's good-looking, football crazy, almost seventeen and desperate to snog Melanie Anderson, the school babe. Then there's Sal, his next-door neighbour, a feisty goalkeeper with attitude. Can she help Joey to score with Mel? Or does this particular goalie want to save Joey ... for herself!
"The book's a beautifully written first person narrative. Its characters are three dimensional and its hero is actually someone pretty cool whom all boy readers will want to be, and all girl readers will want to date. It also leaves you with a tingling sensation down your spine because you really come to care for these characters and what happens to them."
Random House editorial
REVIEWS
Joey's a cute 16-year-old boy who's a whiz at footie and obsessed with the school babe, Melanie Anderson. He lives next door to Sal, who he's known for yonks, and suddenly finds out she fancies him like mad! Find out, from a boy's point of view, the lengths a girl will go to to score with the boy of her dreams ...
Sugar Magazine
You don't have to be a footie fan to be engrossed by this book. But you do have to be a fan of romance! Joey and Sal have known each other for life, and share a passion for football. Then Mel comes on the scene and Joey's attention starts to wander. But why's Sal so bothered? This is a perfect holiday read!
TV HITS Magazine
Joey is nearly 17 and mad about football. He is also about to leave school. Before he does though, he is desperate to go out with the gorgeous Melanie, but she is already dating his worst enemy, Slimie Climie. His next door neighbour, 14-year-old Sally, says that she will help. My favourite character is Sally, a tomboy, who still likes being girly and who is a bit like me. It was strange to read a story of everyday teenage life written from a boy's point of view. On the outside he's a typical hard guy, but through his thoughts the reader gets to like him and to sympathise with him. I would recommend this book.
School Reader Review
Joey Burns is the 16 year old son of a late football hero. A lot is expected of him from all corners, not least his own. Will he follow in his father's footsteps and join the local football team? He has the talent, but is his obsession with the school 'babe' diverting his attention? A classic tale of young teenage life in Scotland, this story deals with many of the issues young people go through in every day life. Not only is it a great read, but it's almost a 'self help' book for teenagers.
Amazon Review
Kelvin MacGregor does a great job here of understanding the tender experience that teenage boys and girls go through as they grow up. There are shade of Adrian Mole in Joey, a 16 year old footballer, who falls in love with Melanie, while Sally his next door neighbour secretly pines for him. Written with younger readers in mind, this book could easily appeal to adults too.
Richard Ratcliffe, reader HERE WE GO! audio book, Calibre Audio Library
HERE WE GO! became the first book to be published in audio form by the Calibre Audio Library for blind people on the same day the book was available in shops.
Kelvin is grateful to Creative Scotland for awarding him a Writers' Bursary in fiction.
