| Title | : | Shadow |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0007339593 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780007339594 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 288 |
| Publication | : | First published September 30, 2010 |
| Awards | : | Red House Children's Book Award (2011), Carnegie Medal (2012) |
Shadow Reviews
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One of the most hard-hitting middle grade biographical fiction I have ever read!
Morpurgo's books are so well written with such realistic characters and storyline that it's difficult to ignore them. Once you start reading one of his books, you won't be able to stop. At least for me, it's always like that! I discovered his books at a bookfair held at the beginning of this year. Before that I was unaware of his work. And whoa, am I lucky or what?!
This book didn't disappoint me! It's well-written with strong characters emphasising war time, the people who suffered because of it, (and as for Morpurgo's books, there's always an animal we would always get attached to) there's Shadow, the dog, which had a very beautiful story to tell in the book. And then there's these two boys, one of them in an asylum with his mother, and the other, Matt, who's his best friend at school, who would try to get them out of there with the help of his grandfather.
I cried a bit towards the later half of this read. I just get what hardships the mother and the son had to go through having made to move to England from Afghanistan because of the war leaving everything behind, having to face deaths of their dear ones in front of them for nothing, having to go through hunger and near death experiences all the way through. It's just heartbreaking to know many people like them had to live without hope in such conditions.
But the book ends on such a beautiful note. I really appreciate that.
However, I feel like the ending was a bit rushed up and made to be so convenient for the characters to get what they wanted in such a short period of time.
Nevertheless, I liked everything about the book.
A memorable read indeed. -
Morpurgo kitaplarını küçükken keşfetmeyi çok isterdim, kim bilir nasıl özel dokunulmaz gelirdi gözüme. Gerçi hala öyle.
Tarzını ve hikaye akışını çok tahmin edilebilir bulsam bile: İnsan olmanın ne demek olduğunu en gerçekçi haliyle okura aktarmasını çok seviyorum. Mesela Gölge! Özellikle çocuklar için dostluk ve empati konusunda kıymetli bir rehber bence.
Konusu gereği hassas bir kitap; yazar her şeyi olabildiğince anlaşılır işlemiş olsa da savaş/kayıplar trigger sayılabileceği için ısrarla öneririm yazmıyorum ama sakıncalı olduğunu da düşünmüyorum. Yine de aklınızda bulunsun derim işte. -
The book was ok. I believe it was written for a youthful audience but talking about abuse while in Afghanistan and the war is heavy stuff. I guess I don't like thinking about Afghanistan, especially since Biden gave it back to the Taliban after all the sacrifice that was put into it. (I know we had to get out of the country but it was handed back to the Taliban in a transition that was worse then Vietnam).
The story was ok. Matt in England has a friend Aman and his mom who are in Yarl's Wood, an immigration removal center in the UK. Matt's grandfather visits Aman, we are told the family's story that get them to England, and a story of a dog in Afghanistan of importance. Then Matt and his grandfather work to help get asylum for Aman and his mom. -
Estou bastante tocado e emocionado com o livro que não vou esquecer tão cedo!
A história é contada por três pessoas: o Matt, o seu avô e o Aman.
O Matt é um rapaz britânico de 14 anos e o Aman é o seu melhor amigo afegão/hazara da mesma idade. Este juntamente com a sua mãe são presos por serem imigrantes ilegais e têm que ser deportados de volta para o Afeganistão. Já estavam em Inglaterra há 6 anos e não tinham obtido asilo.
A pedido do neto, o avô que é jornalista reformado vai visitar o rapaz afegão na prisão...
O relato de Aman que é de tocar profundamente o coração...
Amei a cadela Sombra! Foi ela que o salvou e a sua mãe.
É muito chocante o modo de como os imigrantes são tratados como lixo, e ainda mais chocante quando são as crianças que morrem durante as viagens muito deploráveis. Isto tem que parar!
Recomendo altamente o livro!
E gostei muito das ilustrações. -
The good thing about Michael Morpurgo books is they do not delve into politics, but focus on the human cost and the lives of ordinary people effected by events outside their control.Imagine your are living in a good country your family can make a living and you have freedom, education,the country has history of ancient civilisation. Then one day you are invaded by a foreign power (Russia ) the fighting starts and goes on for years and you gradually lose everything , then the Russians leave and you think things will improve and go back to the way it was, but no the Taliban take over and make everyones lives hellish. Aman ends up living in a cave with his family having lost everything, when a springer spaniel appears at the mouth of the cave lost and starving, the 2 build up a bond,the family start a treacherous journey to England, on the way you learn why the family have ended up in the cave. You also find out the dog is a British military dog who has got lost and is also trying to find his way home.The family find their way to England and settle down and try to start their lives again but it is not to be, and they are uprooted once again and put in danger.This time they have made good friends in England who want to help them and will pull out all the stops to do so but will it be enough ..... This book will keep you hoping and your heart in your mouth until the end.
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I am a huge fan of Morpurgo's book but sometimes find him a bit 'samey'. This knocked my socks off. A stunning story and very relevant to today. I would love to read this to a class of children. The discussions it would raise on asylum seekers, war torn countries, the empathy it could bring out.
I also cried buckets! -
I own this book.
This book tells the story of an Afghanistani asylum seeker and his mother who have been placed back into the system to be deported back to Afghanistan from England and how his best friend from school misses him dearly. Matt, the friend, tells his former journalist grandfather who goes to visit Aman and his mother in a detention centre and becomes engaged in their story. This is a good book, harrowing, sad and it doesn't soften the blow of experiences of asylum seekers coming from war-torn countries even though this is even a kid's book. Which is also why it's getting three stars and not higher, I know kids must be introduced to tough topics, but as a 23-year-old, even I found this book difficult to read at times and had to set it down a couple of times to regather my thoughts. -
War, human beings, animals and the relationship remain central to the stories of Michael Morpurgo. Only difference this time modern time war struck Afghanistan. Captivating story with the narrative style made me stick to the book till the last page.
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Izzie and I were blown away by this book, another absolutely gripping story from Michael Morpurgo, this time set in Afghanistan and England. Told by three different voices, Grandpa, Matt and Aman, 'Shadow' tells of how Aman and his mother, helped by the stray dog they call Shadow, escape from Afghanistan and the Taliban to move to England and a better, safer, life with Uncle Mir and Aunt Mina.
Morpurgo yomps the reader across the terrors of Afghanistan under the Taliban, and introduces us to the people who turn to 'fixers' - themselves dangerous men - desperate to escape the dangers of life in the country. This is a hard hitting book and tears were shed both in the back of the dark and claustrophobic truck and in Yarl's Wood Detention Centre, where Aman and his mother ultimately find themselves.
'Shadow' raises many questions - why do we keep children in prison? Why can't grandpa bring in presents for Aman? Why do we send people back to dangerous countries? What are asylum seekers? Could we find ourselves suddenly deported to a strange and dangerous country? This is a great book to use when discussing the plight of refugees; Morpurgo takes the often faceless masses seen on the TV news and re-humanises them.
Totally recommended. -
This book is by the same author who wrote War Horse, and while that might be a plus for some it was off putting for me. Although I haven't read War Horse, I was in the minority that didn't like the movie. I actually bought this book months ago, so I took my time to read it!
Basically this is the story of Aman, a refugee from Afghanistan. He has lived in England for almost six years since escaping his war torn country, but wakes up one day to find that his asylum has been denied and his mother will be flow back to Afghanistan in a few weeks. His best mate Matt tells the sad story to his Grandfather, a journalist, who visits Aman in the detention centre and gets his story to the world.
I enjoyed the personal effect of the story being told to another, and the breakdown of chapters. I liked the realism of the story, and the illustrations are gorgeous. This book probably suits preteens best, but there is some very serious themes here. I liked the dog too, Shadow is a great little character.
Definitely five stars, parents read along with your children so you can explain some of the darkness to them. -
This book has opened my eyes to the horrors families like Aman’s have had to face from their treatment in their own country, their journeys to seeking asylum, to then being detained in the country that is their new and rightful home.
I was unaware of detention centres such as Yarl’s Wood and it’s in the county I live in. Shadow has been an incredibly informative read for me as an adult so this is one I would highly recommend to middle graders and adults alike. -
I read this to my 7yo and he loved it. So did I.
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I was recommended this book for my February reading challenge (book set in Afghanistan) and I'm so thankful to that person for bringing it to my attention. What a heartbreaking, yet touching story of one boy and his mother's treacherous journey from Afghanistan to England, seeking a safer life.
Told from three different perspectives, we follow Aman's story about how a brave and loyal dog took refuge in Aman's cave (his home in Afghanistan) and formed an instant friendship with the boy. When Afghanistan is no longer safe, the dog leads Aman and his mother to safety. After six years in England, they are suddenly ripped from their lives and taken to a jail-like detention centre where they will be deported to Afghanistan against their will. Aman's best friend, Matt, and his grandpa hear Aman's story and fight to help him and his mother remain in their true home.
This is a great book to start with for those who want an introduction to Afghanistan's history and war, and the distressing, often impossible journey that many refugees must make in order to seek asylum in a safe country. It is a simple read, easy to get through in a few hours, yet is by no means de-sensitised. Told from the eyes of a young boy, the story is perhaps even harder to digest, as you imagine him living this dangerous journey, terrified, distraught, hopeful. It's not an easy read and it will make you think hard about those that do not have the comforts and safety often taken for granted in first-world countries. I would highly recommend for both adults and children, and believe this is one of those books that everyone should read, to gain insight into a world we could never even imagine.
Rating breakdown
Plot/narrative - 4.6
Writing style/readability - 4.5
Characters - 4.5
Diverse themes - 4.8
Ending - 4.3
Overall - 4.5 -
Ce minune de carte!🥰♥️ O poveste despre putere, speranta, curaj si inteligenta unui catel🥰♥️ Este povestea unui baietel afgan, Aman si a curajosului catel Shadow(Polly).
Aman, un baietel de 8 ani, reuseste sa scape din iadul razboiului, din Afganistan impreuna cu mama lui si indragitul catel Shadow, o faptura minunata capabila de loialitate, perseverenta si curaj. Insa drumul celor 3 catre Manchester se dovedeste a fi anevoios, cu pericole pandind la tot pasul iar cu timpul, Aman afla ca Shadow nu este un simplu Springer Spaniel, ci unul special.
Timpul in schimb nu le rezerva numai lucruri bune, asa ca dupa 6 ani de azil, Aman si mama lui sunt inchisi in timp ce autoritatile incearca sa ii deporteze inapoi in Afganistan😞
O poveste extrem de emotionanta pentru mine. Finalul mi-a fost pe suflet!🥹
5🌟/5🌟♥️🌸 -
Did both me and kiddo cry when reading this book? Yes. Yes we did.
This was incredible. How refugees are treated in the UK (not well). The war in Afghanistan. How it is to flee and get… “help”... from smugglers.
It’s very dramatic, quite horrific at times. But there’s hope just the way a child can have, and there’s a dog that helps said child to keep said hope. And it is absolutly brilliant. I don’t know how else to describe it. Both me and kiddo bawled our eyes out at the end, which made it quite problematic to read loud.
I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s so amazing. And perfect these days to understand all the refugees. -
Amazing!
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omg i remember SOBBINg over this book as a child
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A real eye-opening story! This story really teaches children about events that happen in the world every day. Some of the story was based on true events. E.g. the asylum centre is in Bedfordshire. This is about a boy who is an asylum seeker who is is at an asylum centre waiting to be deported back to his home country. He really doesn't want to go after settling into England - he has lived there for six years now with his mother. His friend is desperate to stop him being deported with the help of his grandfather. They visit him in the asylum centre and listen to his story of why and how he got to come and live in England. Eventually, the boy and his Grandad win!
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Beautiful story. Read it like 4 times, it's just so emotional and touching and so very realistic. Definitely recommend this book for people who love a good emotional story, and especially if you like dogs.
Review edit
I rate this book 9/10. As I just said it's such a beautiful story. The only flaw is the writing style is a little simple and I'm kind of only interested in the past not the present aspect, but luckily it is mostly the back story of Aman so this was a beautiful book. I cried the first time I read it when I was much younger, it is a great book. -
He tackles very deep subjects with enormous tact and care giving children – and adults - the chance to explore serious issues. As always this book is beautifully written with warm characters and a hefty dollop of reality.
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Michael Morpurgo does it again.
Takes a difficult but modern and relavant event and turns it into a masterful, gripping story. This book is bang up to date and the twist at the end is brilliant. -
Great story, written for children. Author of "War Horse." Inspirational story of friendship and sacrifice.
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This is an amazing amazing book !!!!!!! i loved it soooooo much. It brought the emotions out of me :D i would 100% recommend it :)
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DNF I wish I read this book when I was younger as I would of loved it..but now the writing style is way to simple and plain...sorry
