SHADOW by Michael Morpurgo

Morpurgo, Michael. Shadow. New York: Feiwel and Friends. 2012.

ISBN: 978-0-312-60659-6

Plot Summary:

Fourteen-year-old Aman and his mother are living in a cave in war-torn Afghanistan.  Life is extremely difficult, but the sudden appearance of a stray dog, a Spaniel, in the cave gives comfort to Aman.  He takes care of the dog and becomes attached to her, finally naming her Shadow because she always seems to be there when Aman needs her.  Aman and his mother decide to try and escape to England and Shadow accompanies them, leading the way.  Along their perilous journey their faith in the human race and their will to survive are severely tested.  Aman and Shadow become separated and Aman is heartbroken, but he and his mother must continue their journey to England. Even after arriving in England, safety is still fleeting for Aman and his mother.  They must rely on Aman’s friend, Matt, and Matt’s grandfather to bring attention to their plight.  What about Shadow?  What became of her and will Aman ever see her again?  This is a story of resilience, love, friendship and loyalty.

Critical Analysis:

Michael Morpurgo tells this moving story against the backdrop of life in Afghanistan and in England during the current war.  The story is told in three voices; that of Aman, Matt, and Matt’s grandfather.  Each chapter is told from the viewpoint of one of these characters, sometimes alternating and sometimes having the same narrator for several chapters.  This technique allows readers to understand the depth of emotion of the characters.  Aman and his mother are portrayed respectfully and authentically in their Afghan culture as they struggle to escape the horrors of the war and to acclimate to a new country (England) as asylum seekers. Although Aman’s mother does not have much dialogue throughout the story, she always reminds Aman of his rich Afghan heritage and that he must maintain pride in his culture through such things as speaking his native language with her and not abandoning his beliefs even in the face of oppression.  The story portrays the feelings of Matt and his mother as refugees seeking asylum, of the American soldiers who are performing the duties assigned to them, and of Matt and his grandfather as they learn Aman’s story of his escape from Afghanistan.  The details provided evoke reflection on the part of the reader as one cannot help but contemplate the plight of the Afghan people as they are caught in the war.  The importance of perseverance on the part of Aman and his mother and of persistence on the part of Matt and his grandfather are themes woven throughout the story as readers are caught up in this heart wrenching tale.   

           

Review Excerpts:

“…heart rending and heart-affirming.”  ~Kirkus, starred review (November 1, 2012)

“Shadow succeeds in evoking empathy and inspiring readers to take a stand for their beliefs.” ~School Library Journal (November 1, 2012)

“…the animal story, along with the personal war survival drama is heartrending.” ~Booklist (November 1, 2012)

Connections:

**Other books by Michael Morpurgo:

            War Horse by Michael Morpurgo

            An Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morpurgo

**Students could use S-H-A-D-O-W as an acronym and brainstorm words to describe characteristics of the dog and its relationship with Aman.

**Books about Afghanistan and/or the war in Afghanistan

            Shooting Kabul by N.H. Senzai

            Afghanistan the People (Lands, Peoples, & Cultures) by Erinn Banting

            Afghanistan the Culture (Lands, Peoples, & Cultures) by Erinn Banting

            Afghan Dreams: Young Voices of Afghanistan by Michael P. Sullivan and Tony O’Brien