‘Not too boring’

“A no-nonsense, politically serious critique of class inequality and youth justice from a writer with skin-in-the-game. Parents don't read books like this to their kids, but perhaps they should.”

Darren McGarvey, Author of Poverty Safari and The Social Distance Between Us, Winner of the Orwell Prize for Writing 2018

“Beautifully written, raw and real, the characters feel like flesh and blood and the pacing is ‘edge of your seat.’

Margaret McDonald, author of Glasgow Boys,

(Youngest ever) Winner of the Carnegie Medal for Writing 2025

“'An important read about the glamour free YOI custody experience in Scotland for young people, anyone working around or concerned with youth justice (we all should be).'.”

Graeme Armstrong, author of The Young Team

Winner of the Betty Trask Award, Somerset Maugham Award and Scots Book of the Year 2021

I read this book in one sitting, just wanting to know what happened next. I found it heart punching and heart warming, bringing a necessary light of compassion into places where people and systems live in the dark and shadow of social exclusion.

This book shows us why we need change to our prison system, especially for young men.'

Dr Gwen Adshead, author of The Devil You Know

BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week and Sunday Times bestseller

“Writing a fictional story that reflects this complexity is a rare and difficult task. Too often, such experiences are either romanticised or reduced to cliches. What Sara has done in ‘Blood Red Sky’ is something far more valuable. She has created a story that does not shy away from the realities, but neither does it sensationalise them.” 

Fiona Dyer, Director, Children & Young People’s Centre for Justice

‘An important read and conversation.’

Lynn is an Irish politician who has served as an independent senator for the Dublin University Constituency in Seanad Éireann since 2016.

Author of ‘People Like Me’