Shadow is an award-winning book, written by Michael Morpurgo and is illustrated by Christian Birmingham. Shadow is about a boy (Aman) who lives in war-torn Afghanistan, and his subsequent journey to England. Aman is held captive by the police after six years of living in England and is preparing to be deported back to Afghanistan, when a prison visit turns into an attempt of getting Aman and his mother out of prison. It is a book that describes life in areas like Afghanistan and really, it could be quite a reality check for some people.
I like this book as its plot constantly changes. You never really know what will happen next and the authors use of language helps to create an atmosphere that is incredibly powerful. The book is written around a true event, when the Taliban arose to power in Afghanistan in 1996, and the book describes a journey many people risk taking in hope that they will live better lives. The book is also based in real places; an example of this is Yarl’s Wood in Bedfordshire, where women and families stay while they await deportation from the UK.
This book would be of interest to readers who are passionate about military, war and everything in between. This story gives a first-hand account of what life is like for a refugee and how war can devastate homes and villages, and even families. I advise this book is for those over the age of 10 but please do note that it does contain content, such as a small amount of bad language, which some readers may find upsetting or offensive.
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