In the shadowed corners of Glasgow's sprawling housing estates, where the lines between love and loyalty blur, "Young Mungo" unfolds the tender yet tumultuous tale of two boys, Mungo and James, divided by faith but united by an unspoken bond. As Mungo, a Protestant, navigates the treacherous waters of adolescence, his path crosses with James, a Catholic, in a city where such alliances are tantamount to betrayal. In the secrecy of a pigeon dovecote, they forge a connection that dares to defy the sectarian prejudices engrained in their community. With each stolen moment among James's prize racing birds, they carve out a haven from the harsh realities outside, dreaming of a future where their love need not be cloaked in shadows. Yet, the world outside is relentless. Mungo grapples with the crushing weight of expectations, hiding his true self not only from the prying eyes of the estate but from the iron grip of his brother Hamish, a figure of fear with a reputation soaked in violence. When a supposed fishing trip orchestrated by his mother turns into a harrowing journey with two men whose intentions are as murky as the loch they visit, Mungo's resolve is tested to its very limits. Stuart Douglas weaves a narrative of exquisite depth, exploring the brutal confines of masculinity, the scars left by sectarian division, and the perilous journey of young love in a world brimming with danger. "Young Mungo" is not just a story of surviving, but of the audacity to hope for more in the face of overwhelming odds.