Thursday, October 31, 2019

Brainstorm 191: Shadows

Our daylight doesn’t change that much here in the tropics, but it does change a little and the shadows are starting to lengthen. So it seems like the perfect time to talk about shadows as characters in books. Probably the most iconic literary shadow is Peter Pan’s rebellious counterpart, but here are some others that you may or may not be as familiar with.


Attack of the Shadow Smashers (Notebook of Doom, #3) by Troy Cummings
Alexander starts noticing the shadows in town acting really strangely. And they aren't the only things acting strange, so is his friend Nikki. Can Alexander figure out two mysteries before the town gets taken over by monster shadows?

Target Readers:

  • Fantasy Fans, Monster Story Fans, Mystery Fans, Friendship Story Fans, Would-Be Scary Book Readers Not Really Ready for Truly Scary Books, Lower Grade Readers


The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente, ill. by Ana Juan (Fairyland, #1)
September is taken into Fairyland by the Green Wind, who just might possibly have some ulterior motives (such as getting her to help depose the wicked Marquess). So as soon as September steps out of 1940s Omaha and lands on the shore of Fairyland she is off on an adventure that is entirely unpredictable and imaginative such as you have never quite experienced before though it might remind you of a hint of Oz, with a dash of Wonderland, and a pinch of Willy Wonka-run enterprise. September is a noble little girl, with just enough heartlessness and pluck to help her survive and make her an atypical heroine in Fairyland. Oh, and she has issues with her shadow.

Target Readers:

  • Fantasy Fans, Adventure Fans, Imaginary Land Explorers, Beautiful Writing Fans, Independent Shadow Fans, Middle Grade Readers on up


The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There (Fairyland, #2) by Catherynne M. Valente, ill. by Ana Juan
September manages to get back to Fairyland, only to find that more and more shadows have been stolen in the time she has been gone. And the departure of the shadows for Fairyland Below has created a dire situation in Fairyland Above for the shadows have taken much of the magic with them. Since the shadows are led by her own shadow, Halloween, September feels somewhat responsible and decides she must go on a quest to put things to right. And so on a quest she goes, falling into some rather unusual places and meeting all sorts of strange creatures along the way.

Target Readers:

  • Fantasy Fans, Adventure Fans, Imaginary Land Explorers, Beautiful Writing Fans, Independent Shadow Fans, Middle Grade Readers on up


Hortense and the Shadow by Natalia & Lauren O’Hara
Hortense doesn't like her shadow. She thinks it constantly taunts her. One day she's had enough and cuts it off. She is delighted to be free. But when danger comes one night, an unexpected ally comes to Hortense's rescue.

Target Readers:

  • Fans of Atmospheric Eastern Europe-flavored Reads, Art Lovers, Those Who Want to Talk about Jumping to Conclusions about People’s Motives, Fans of Independent Shadow Characters, Picture Book Readers


My Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson, ill. by Sara Sánchez
Robert Louis Stevenson's classic poem about a child's wonder over their shadow brought to life with Sara Sánchez’s illustrations.

Target Readers:

  • Poetry Lovers, Playful Shadow Explorers, Realistic Poetry Fans, Classic Fans, Picture Book Readers


Shadow by Suzy Lee
A little girl, alone in the attic with a back light, a pile of miscellaneous stuff and a great imagination has a grand wordless adventure before dinner.

Target Readers:

  • Wordless Book Fans, Imaginative Readers, Art Lovers, Picture Book Readers


Shadows by Robin McKinley
Maggie’s mother has just remarried a man named Val. Maggie is still recovering from her father’s tragic death years ago, but that isn’t the main reason that Val gives her the creeps. The real reason is the hoard of unnatural, wiggling shadows with too many feet that seem to follow Val around. Newworld is supposed to be safe because they put their faith in science. Science will save them from the cobeys and the silverbugs and all the illegal magical stuff that shady magicians were in charge of dealing with over in the Oldworld. Magicians were totally not allowed in Newworld. Anyone with magic in their genes gets it cut out when young to keep others safe. Another reason that Val and his weird shadows gives Maggie the creeps is because it shouldn’t be possible. Maggie finally has had it up to here with the creepy shadows and confronts Val in front of Mom about them. But Maggie soon finds out she has a lot to learn, not only about Val and his shadows but the world as it really is, and learn fast, if she is going to survive. Because for all the army wants them to believe that science is going to keep the cobeys (magical rifts) at bay and the Newworld under control and safe, they are so super mistaken it could mean the end of Newworld if someone (or a couple someones, a pack of dogs, a maniacal cat, and an algebra book) doesn’t step in to help. An utterly unique read.

Target Readers:

  • Fantasy Fans, Contemporary Fiction, Interesting World Building Fans, Unique Magical System Fans, Young Adult Readers


Smoot: a Rebellious Shadow by Michelle Cuevas, ill. by Sydney Smith
Smoot the Shadow is bored of his boy's life. They never do anything exciting. Smoot dreams of doing something exciting, and one day he gets the chance. But soon many other shadows are getting bold and taking on the shape of their dreams. Can Smoot figure out how they can have fun but not drive the world into chaos? A pretty deep picture book with lots of great potential discussion points for lower graders on up.

Target Readers: 

  • Discussion Starting Book Fans, Independent Shadow Fans, Imaginative Readers, Fantasy Fans, Philosophical Book Fans, Picture Book Readers on up



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