Scottish Book of the Week: Ice Cream Boy

For this week’s instalment of reading my way around Scotland through children’s books, we visit the city of Glasgow, with Ice Cream Boy by Lindsay Littleson.

Book Details

Title: Ice Cream Boy
Author: Lindsay Littleson
Genre: Family Drama
Recommended reading age: 9+
Trigger warnings: Divorced parents, incidents of racism, dementia of a grandparent

Scottish Setting

The story is set in Glasgow. Real-life street names mentioned include Pollockshaws Road, Shawhill Road, Tassie Street and George Square, as well as local spots such as Glasgow City Chambers, Buchanan Street Bus Station, Glasgow Central Station, and Queen’s Park. Other place names that are referenced include Ayr (“like Glasgow but smaller”), Edinburgh Airport, Livingston Shopping Centre, and the Clyde river.

“One of Nonna’s favourite facts was that there are ninety parks in Glasgow. It seemed a massive number, even for a big city, but it was impossible for me to check, as Nonna stuck rigidly to Queen’s Park (…) Queen’s Park was a brilliant park to walk through, a huge area of hills and grass and towering trees right in the middle of the city’s Southside.” (Chapter 1)

Plot Summary

Twelve-year-old Luca Verani lives in Glasgow with his mum and his nonna. His father has been absent since Luca was little, having moved to Italy, and Luca has always pictured himself taking over the family’s ice cream café. But when his aunt says she wants to sell the struggling business, Luca is determined to do something about it.

“I closed my eyes, trying to imagine the taste of my grandfather’s incredible home-made ice cream. Fluffy, soft and golden, melting on the tongue. Rich, creamy, delicious. Heaven in a bowl. “The best ice cream in Scotland, if not the whole world!” – that was the quote on the ancient, yellowing Verani’s menus we had piled in the back room with other old café memorabilia.” (Chapter 3)

At the same time, his nonna’s memory is beginning to fade, and Luca has to get used to the changes that brings at home. As he tries to keep things together, saving the café starts to feel like part of a much bigger set of challenges, and Luca begins looking for ways to help.

Conclusion

This was an enjoyable read. I liked the balance between Luca’s own story and the wider world around him, so the actions never felt isolated. The story feels contemporary and very relatable, with familiar details like starting a new school, family dynamics, friendships, a sick grandparent and the way racism can affect the people around you.

At the same time, there’s a real sense of tension running through the story, with questions about what will happen to Nonna and whether Luca can save the café. The ending felt satisfying without being too neat. I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy realistic children’s fiction with heart and a strong sense of place.

Ice Cream Boy is available from uk.bookshop.org (Affiliate Link) or you can order it from your favourite indie bookshop.