Nicking Time (Kelpies)

In this original adventure by T. Traynor, a group of boys plan an action-packed summer in the late 1970s on Glasgow's Southside. Their escapades range from hanging out in their den, conquering the streets, playing fitba, and re-enacting battles, to scheming a break-in at the old Hampden Park stadium. Among the group is Midge and his eclectic mix of friends: ginger-haired Bru, wild Skooshie, brave Hector, and the mysterious Lemur, who knows an unsettling amount about the past. Lemur's knowledge surfaces when he shares a ghost story about two tragic deaths from over a century ago, leaving the boys to wonder about his eerie familiarity with history. The narrative, rich with the thrill of a boys-only summer, won the Kelpies Prize and beautifully captures the essence of youthful adventure and camaraderie.