January 1, 2004
Gr 9 Up-Ernest (Shadow) Thompson is beginning his first year of high school, and he has worked hard to cultivate his apathetic persona, complete with an all-black wardrobe and sunglasses. He has just turned 15, the age at which his brother left home, 7 years ago. Shadow idolized Daniel for the first half of his life, and then he was gone without a word, leaving his family to wonder what became of him. Suddenly, all of that uncertainty is changed when Daniel calls from jail to tell his parents that he's been arrested for murder. When he reappears, Shadow's life is turned upside down; no one seems to care about him anymore and Daniel is the focus of his parents' concern. With help from new friends on the forensics team, Shadow does his best to deal with these dramatic events. Rottman has a history of creating male characters that are dead-on, and Shadow is no exception. His struggle to be recognized as a unique person is something every teenager goes through, and the added stress of his brother's return exacerbates the situation. The unusual plot gives the book its strength and appeal, and the realistic ending adds to its credibility and message.-Lynn Evarts, Sauk Prairie High School, Prairie du Sac, WI
Copyright 2003 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
November 15, 2003
Gr. 7-10. Shadow Thompson's fifteenth birthday marks seven years since his brother, Daniel, ran away. It also marks his first day in high school, which has its own challenges. When Daniel unexpectedly surfaces, accused of murder, family life is once more torn apart, miring Shadow in conflicting feelings. Rottman, the author of " Stetson" (2002), creates a three-dimensional, introspective protagonist facing difficult circumstances and choices. Shadow's dilemmas and changing perspective are realistically portrayed, as are his vacillating feelings, from resentment to confusion. Particularly notable is Rottman's insightful depiction of family dynamics, which demonstrates the range of responses to crisis. The conclusion, though open-ended, seems hopeful, providing a stepping stone to exploring issues of family loyalty, responsibility, and the legal system. Tough Shadow, clad in black, reveals his vulnerability, which reminds readers, as does the somewhat heavy-handed story, of the importance of looking beneath the surface. A thought-provoking novel that highlights the difficulties and rewards of second chances and new beginnings.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)
January 1, 2004
Shadow Thompson has just begun his sophomore year when his older brother, who ran away seven years earlier, returns home facing a murder indictment. The novel is sometimes awkwardly plotted to emphasize drama at the expense of plausibility, but Shadow's wide-ranging emotions--anger, loyalty, and even jealousy over losing his role in the family--are convincingly portrayed in the first-person narrative.
(Copyright 2004 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)