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Shadow - A Book Review

Shadow

by Michael Morpurgo




Shadow written by Michael Morpurgo is a story of friendship between two boys, Aman and Matt. Aman along with his Mother stays in Manchester as an asylum seeker. Aman’s Mother and Aman along with their dog Shadow, had fled from Afghanistan dreaming a peaceful life. After staying with his uncle for 6 years and as they slowly started to adapt to the new life, the government officials took them away to a detention centre for having them deported to Afghanistan. With the help of Matt’s journalist grandfather, he cooked up a brilliant scheme to get the government agree to let them stay. The dog Shadow had a great role in buying Aman and his Mother freedom they wanted.
The idea for the story Shadow is inspired by a similar incident that actually happened during the war time, where the sniffer black Labrador went on missing and was returned 14 months later in good health. The author has told the story in simple words and managed to picture the life in Afghanistan during the post war without the gruesome details. He has successfully drawn the warmth of friendship and loyalty between Shadow and Aman that touches the heart of any reader who reads it. The book has wonderful illustrations by Christian Birmingham who is one of the brightest stars of children’s book illustration, known for the beauty, power and luminosity of his work.

                 

The story Shadow by Michael Morpurgo not only celebrates the friendship between Aman and Matt, Aman and Shadow, the dog, but also throws light to the violations of human rights and miserable living conditions of people of Afghanistan under Taliban rule.

Age Group: 9 Yrs and Above


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