Divided City

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It seems that one has to treat another just like another stranger and best be on his way out. Atmosphere in which live each of them should have big influence on them. But, they become good friends, although they have different world outlook, they believe in different things, support different teams. Essence of Glasgow is what this book is about. The cover speaks eloquently of the division in the city - Protestants on one side, Catholics on the other. It is a difference that spreads out from religious belief to take in every aspect of life: school, work, and most especially football. The Celtic/Rangers matches and the Orange marches highlight this gulf, and Breslin has cleverly and economically built her more intimate story of two friends around these more public events. He was walking fast, eating from his bag of hot chips as he went. Taking a detour via Reglan Street. The kind of street his parents had warned him never to be in. The kind of street where your footsteps echoed loud, too loud – because there was no one else about. Graham shook his head. The older boy was half out of it with drink or drugs or both. The rest of them ran on. They shouted from further down the street. Ultimately, these activities are designed to encourage young people to form their own points of view and feel able to respectfully challenge those with whom they disagree.

Divided City - Wikipedia

The book is very easy to read. It has a good plot which moves along at a good pace. The book is well constructed and well written. The author uses language which is easy to understand without making the book simple and boring. A 'must read' for all teenagers and adults!Best of all are Joe and Graham. We like them both. We understand their dreams of footballing glory, and admire the way they negotiate a complicated minefield of prejudice and misunderstanding.

Divided City by Theresa Breslin | Waterstones

A variety of activities are utilised with many drama activities incorporated which support young learners to walk in the shoes of people with different viewpoints and beliefs. Graham pressed himself against the door, glad of his skinny frame. The remainder of the gang came down the street, veering onto the pavement as they spotted him. Divided City is a novel written by Theresa Breslin and published on 5 May 2005 by Doubleday. The novel is written for teenagers and adults concerning the problems of sectarianism in Glasgow and racism against asylum seekers. [1] When I finished this book, I was a bit puzzled. I still couldn't understand, that the whole city is divided into two parts, having different religions, different traditions, different football teams... If there are so many differences, what connected these groups? Why there are living together?

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But this is where Divided City is too diagrammatic. Nearly every domestic conversation in the book centres on sectarianism and how the “others” mistreat “our” side. That we can accept each other for who we are and that we can be allowed to have different views and opinions is very important. But to realise that we can we work together and be greater than the sum of us as individuals for all that is even more. From either side the dark openings of the tenement building mawed at him. It was the beginning of May and fairly light at this time in the evening. But even so . . . Graham glanced around. The sky was densely overcast and shadows were gathering. He shouldn’t have lingered so long after football training.