HEART-warming is a word that is often overused in relation to books but in this case, it is absolutely the right word.

This is a wonderful story of the trials and tribulations of a young boy brought up in a Glasgow tenement during and just after the Second World War.

Life was hard and money was scarce but everyone was in the same boat and neighbours and friends helped each other out where possible.

You might suppose that this would make it a rather grim read but there is so much humour here and the characters are bought to life with such a deft touch that one minute you will be laughing and the next moved almost to tears - but always wanting to read on and find out what happens next.

Young Robert had a very difficult relationship with his father but his mother was a wonderful woman and their best times were when his dad was away at the war.

There is so much detail in his account of his childhood that you are swept up in his life and really care about him.

The dialect used on occasions helps to place the action in its setting but even if you don't know Glasgow at all, you will feel you do by the end of his tale.

A smashing book, I can't wait to read his next instalment.

Borrow this title now from Redditch Library and the follow-up, Somewhere to Lay my Head, due in stock shortly.

M.Griffiths